MARIA PETROU

Dr. Maria Petrou is a graduate of the Department of Preservation of Antiquities & Works of Art of TEI of Athens. She holds a PhD in the conservation and management of wetlands of archaeological interest from the University of Bradford in England.

The last decade, has been working as a freelance conservator in the preservation of antiquities and works of art and has participated / undertaken various projects related to the study and maintenance of collections with works of wood, metal, ceramic, stone, plaster and composite modern materials. Recent collaborations include large private collections of works of art and sculptures (George Economou Collection, American College of Athens – Deree Collection) folklore collections (Folklore Museum of the Anavyssos). She has also worked with large industrial archaeology collections, such as the Mastic Museum of Chios, as well as the museum collection of the Holy Monastery of Penteli Attica.

She has also collaborated for 6 years with the National Sculpture Gallery, National Gallery, Alexandros Soutzos Museum, in the conservation of sculptures from the museum collection with materials such as wood, metal, ceramic, plaster etc. Among the projects she undertook at the National Gallery, was the recording, documentation of the preservation state and conservation of the wooden sculptures collection of the museum in Aegina. She also participated in a big project dealing with the packaging and transportation of the sculpture collection of the National Gallery to their new storage areas.

She is a lecturer and laboratory teaching assistant of the TEI of Athens, Department of Preservation of Antiquities and Works of Art for the last 10 years. In the undergraduate level she has been teaching ‘Conservation of organic materials’, ‘Conservation of sculpture’, and  ‘General principles of conservation science’. She has also taught in postgraduate level in the module “Lesson 06 – Special issues of pathology and decay of organic materials of cultural heritage” in the Postgraduate Program of Cultural Heritage Preservation of the University of West Attica for 2 years. Her experience in teaching includes teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in the University of Bradford, in England. 

Another collaboration with the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, was as an external collaborator / researcher of the main research team of the research project Thalis: “MERMAID, with scientific manager Dr. Anastasia Pournou. Her responsibilities in the project included the research and study of archaeological finds, first aid of finds, documentation and recording of their preservation state, maintenance and conservation of finds, student seminars, publication of research work, etc.

She has also participated in various programs related to the assessment of biodegradation, analysis and conservation of waterlogged archaeological material in Greece and England. Has extensive research experience in the study and conservation of organic materials of plant origin and in particular in the mechanisms of alteration and their conservation methods. In a previous collaboration with the Laboratory of Anatomy and Wood Technology of the Forest Research Institute, she has been involved in the study, evaluation and identification of forestry archaeological / historical wood and charcoal species.

Her research career, collaborations and work are supported by her publications in conferences (international and national), reputable scientific journals and newspapers.