Implications for the development

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Sidonia Petronela OLEA
doctorand, Universitatea „1 Decembrie 1918”
Expert restaurator Muzeul Național al Unirii, Alba Iulia
email: [e-mail]
CERCETAREA CIMITIRULUI EVREIESC DIN ALBA IULIA.
PROPUNERI DE BUNE PRACTICI ÎN CONSERVARE ŞI RESTAURARE
Summary
. 
Research of the Jewish cemetery in Alba Iulia. Proposals for good practices in con-
servation and restoration.
The history of a community is closely related to the cultural heritage left 
to the descendants. Speaking either about historiography or making reference to the actual history 
embodied by monuments, which can be perceived as “documents”.
Hereinafter I want to focus on the Jewish cemetery of Alba Iulia, whose monuments are under an 
ongoing serious istorigraphic research, inventory, and also an intervention of active conservation.
1
The mentioned activities are focused on a selection of elements chosen together with Mr. Daniel Du-
mitran, associate Professor
2
. 
The Jewish history abides the longest from a temporary point of view, being over thirty centuries 
long. Furthermore, Transylvania is a spreading area in which Jewish settlements are of great interest.
In order to save this hystorical domain, it is essential to preserve the funerary monuments, be-
cause they usually offer big amount of information aboit, about the deceased but also information 
about a certain religious community.
Another element we have to mention is the research enablement of these funerary monuments, 
after the interventions imposed by the preservation status analysis Their cleaning is an essential step, 
so that the legibility of the inscription improves along with the description symbolism. 
To illustrate this we are going to present a case study: Funerary monuments from the historical 
part of Jewish cemetery in Alba Iulia
3
. The project, initiated in 2014, is a research of the Jewish ceme-
tery by the Department of History, Archaeology and Museology from “1 Decembrie 1918” University 
of Alba Iulia, in partnership with Alba County Council, Jewish Community from Alba Iulia, Federa-
tion of Jewish Communities in Romania and Center for the Study of Jewish History in Romania. 
The project required planning the first restoration camp, focused on funerary monuments that 
were in an advanced state of degradation. The project was initiated by Associate Professor Mr. Daniel 
Dumitran. Appointed as supervisors for the restoration camp were Valentin Stefan and the under-
signed Sidonia Olea (Neagoie).
Keywords
: the Jewish cemetery in Alba Iulia, funerary pieces, open-air museum, photographic 
documentation, conservation and restoration of the monument.