Building Archaeology in Support of UNESCO Rural Heritage Projects: The Case of Fortified Church of Viscri (Romania)

The multi-ethnic village of Viscri, the subject of numerous projects aimed at regenerating-built heritage, traditional crafts, and agricultural practices, has gained considerable prominence in recent years. However, the systematic inventorying of its built heritage values and the rigorous documentation of these in both the field and archives – to support the quality of ongoing projects and create a sustainable archive for the future – are still in their early stages. The fortified medieval church, which is a key landmark of the site and the oldest built core, lacks up-to-date scientific information (both on-site and in print or online publications), with available syntheses dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Between 2020 and 2024, extensive research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team using building archaeology and German Bauforschung methodologies. This research has provided more precise and nuanced historical data regarding the evolution of the complex from the 12th century to the present, as well as insights into the historical roles of its spaces and fittings. The primary objective of this paper is to present the synthesis of the new information and discussions, which may be valuable to specialists, the ongoing restoration and regeneration project (which began in 2023), and the general public. Considering the extended duration of the project and the need for continued research and precise documentation, the second objective of this paper is to provide a list of significant open questions that can guide future studies of this case, which is relevant to world heritage.