Traditional Lime Kiln Archive Open Resource

The traditional lime kiln culture of Greece and Albania stands as a powerful example of shared knowledge shaped by place, labour, and collective memory. We’re excited to share that the full documentation of Burning the Bones of the Earth is now available online. The project was grounded in extensive field research across Epirus (NW Greece) and Southern Albania. It traces the craftsmanship of wood-fired, flare-type lime kilns on both sides of the border, exploring their technical practices, social contexts, and cultural significance.

In November 2025, the archive was uploaded to the British Museum Digital Resources and is now fully accessible to the public.
Beyond research, the project also unfolded in physical space through the exhibition “Burning the Bones of the Earth: Stories of Lime Kilns on Both Sides of the Greece – Albania Border,” which welcomed over 200 visitors. Through these visits, stories of lime, labour, and landscape were shared with wider audiences, opening up meaningful dialogue around material heritage and its contemporary relevance.

The project is coordinated by Boulouki in collaboration with  Anisa Loja, Faidon-Moudopoulos-Athanasiou, and Athina Siafaka. The research and development of the archive is supported by the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme of the British Museum. The exhibition was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the Council of Europe and the opening was organized as part of the European Heritage Days (EHD) 2025.