Maria Lluïsa Serra Belabre

Maria Lluïsa Antònia Joana Serra Belabre (born June 21, 1911 in Maó , Menorca ; † November 19, 1967 ibid) was a Menorcan librarian , historian and archaeologist .

Life

She was the daughter of the ironmonger Juan Serra and his wife Maria Belabre. At the age of 33, she decided to go to university. She studied history at the University of Barcelona from 1944 to 1949 and was already involved in archaeological excavations under the direction of Lluís Pericot (1899–1978). It was also influenced by the historian Jaume Vicens Vives (1910–1960). In 1951 she became interim director of the Palacio de Archivos, Bibliotecas y Museos de Menorca and, in January 1953, director of the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts. From February 1955 she headed the Maó Public Library and the Historical Archives. It is thanks to them that a network of local libraries has emerged in almost every municipality in Menorca . In 1957 she became director of the House of Culture ( Casa de Cultura ) in Maó, for which she developed a concept that served as a model for other institutions of this type throughout Spain. From 1964 until her death she was part of the editorial team of the Revista de Menorca magazine .

From 1958, together with Pericot, she carried out archaeological excavations at numerous sites of the Talayot ​​culture , such as Sant Vicenç d'Alcaidús , Torelló, Son Mercer de Baix , Talatí de Dalt , Son Catlar , Torre d'en Galmés , Na Comerma de Sa Garita , Rafal Rubí and Torrellafuda . In 1959 they excavated the Naveta des Tudons , which they restored in 1960. Serra was the first to identify the circular stone structures ( cercles ) found in many places as the residential buildings of the late Talayotic era. She was also involved in the discovery, excavation and restoration of early Christian basilicas ( Illa del Rei , Es Cap des Port de Fornells , Son Bou and Es Fornás de Torelló ).

Serra was actively involved in the preservation of Menorca's archaeological heritage, which led to the island's prehistoric sites being listed as historical monuments in 1966.

She died at the age of 56 as a result of her cancer.

Maria Lluïsa Serra was a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando . In 1956 she was awarded the Order of Alfonso X the Wise .

literature

• Luis Pericot: María Luisa Serra Belabre (1911-1967) . In: Pyrenae . Volume 3, 1967, pp. 165-166 (Spanish).
• Margarita Orfila: María Luisa Serra Belabre (1911-1967). Una precursora de su tiempo: arqueóloga, archivera, bibliotecaria, directora de museo, animadora cultural . In: Arenal . Volume 19, No. 1, 2012, pp. 201-225 (Spanish).
• Octavio Torres Gomariz: De arqueología menorquina: Maria Lluïsa Serra Belabre y los círculos talayóticos de Sant Vicenç d'Alcaidús (Alaior, Menorca) . In: Panta Rei . 2016, pp. 19–36 (Spanish). doi: 10.6018 / pantarei / 2016/2

Web links

• Maria Lluïsa Serra Belabre in the Diccionari biogràfic de dones Consultes (Catalan)
• Maria Lluïsa Serra Belabre 1911–1967 on the website of the city council of Maó (PDF; 121 kB; Catalan, Spanish, English)