Ecological restoration mortars and plasters designed with raw material from the island of GavdosEcological restoration mortars and plasters designed with raw material from the island of Gavdos Πλήρης Δημοσίευση σε Συνέδριο Conference Full Paper 2022-08-012020enGavdos, is an island of ca. 34 km2 located to the south of Crete, Greece, that marks the southernmost European territory en route to Africa. Systematic archaeological survey conducted by the University of Crete with the KE’ Ephorate revealed that the island was inhabited with consistency since the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic period. The local landscape is rich in clay material of great diversity located in the flysch of Pindos Zone and in neogene sediments which occupy the vast majority of the island. The use of clay since the Neolithic Age is confirmed from the dense surface pottery of excellent quality and traces of pottery kilns. The limited natural and human-made resources are persistently recycled forming the built structures of the island and determining the island’s sustainable local tradition. In the framework of this research, areas with clay soil were identified using studies of geological survey and taking into account testimonies of local inhabitants. The earthen samples were characterized with physicochemical analyses and the most appropriate were selected for thermal treatment in order their pozzolanic properties to be investigated. Aim of the research is the use of this local clay material, in raw or fired state, as a pigment and pozzolanic additive, respectively, in restoration mortars. The output of the project will be the design of mortars and plasters that will be economic, easy to be produced and applied, energy efficient and compatible with the existing substrate of local structures and the vernacular heritage of the island of Gavdos. The characterization of 13 clay samples revealed that the majority can be used as additives in external lime plasters providing colour surfaces in perfect line to the ancient Polygnotus coloured scale. Two types of clays exhibited exceptional pozzolanic properties upon low temperature firing, due to their high kaolinite and low calcite content.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/1482 - 14898th Euro-American Congress on Construction Pathology, Rehabilitation Technology and Heritage ManagementProceedings of 2020 8th Euro-American Congress REHABEND Fotiou Afroditi Φωτιου Αφροδιτη Oiry Claire Oiry Claire Kapetanaki Kali Καπετανακη Καλη Perdikatsis Vasilis Περδικατσης Βασιλης Kallithrakas-Kontos Nikolaos Καλλιθρακας-Κοντος Νικολαος Maravelaki Pagona Μαραβελακη Παγωνα University of Cantabria - Building Technology R&D Group Calcined clays Luxan method Pozzolanic activity Restoration mortars Thermal analysis