Bartolomé Ruiz González facts for kids

Bartolomé Ruiz González (born in Casabermeja, Málaga, in 1954) is a Spanish archaeologist. He has worked to manage and protect cultural sites in Andalucia since the late 1970s. Today, he leads the important Archaeological Ensemble of the Antequera Dolmens. He is also the director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antequera.

Education and Early Research

Bartolomé Ruiz studied Philosophy and Arts, focusing on Geography and History, at the University of Málaga. He graduated in 1977. In 1980, he earned high honors for his thesis on prehistoric sites in Málaga.

During these years, he worked on many archaeological digs. He explored ancient burial sites (necropolises) in Málaga, Cádiz, and Granada. He also excavated at the Las Palomas de Teba cave in Málaga. Later, he worked at the famous Cave of Nerja. In 1988, he visited the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome. There, he learned about how Italy manages its cultural and environmental treasures. His studies focused on archaeology, heritage, and cultural management.

Today, he helps with research at the El Toro cave in El Torcal, Antequera. This research is part of big projects looking into early societies in southern Spain. He also works on a project about the amazing megalithic landscape of Antequera.

Career Highlights

Bartolomé Ruiz is a public official who works as a Historical Heritage Curator and Archaeologist. He has held many important jobs in the government of Málaga and the Regional Government of Andalusia. His work has always been about managing culture and protecting historical heritage. This includes administration, research, protection, preservation, and sharing knowledge.

Archaeologist for Málaga Government (1979-1983)

He started the Archaeology Department for the Provincial Government of Málaga. He created plans for archaeology in the province. He also made a "Catalogue of Archaeological Sites" to help protect them. This was a new idea at the time. It focused on "urban archaeology," which means finding and protecting old sites in cities. This new way of working won the National Urban Planning Prize in 1980.

Director of Cultural Heritage for Andalusia (1983-1984)

In 1983, Bartolomé Ruiz became the Director General of Cultural Heritage for the Regional Government of Andalusia. He helped create the new historical heritage administration for Andalusia. He also helped pass important laws about libraries, museums, and archives. These laws were very new for Spain and even came before the national law on historical heritage.

He also helped start a modern art magazine called FIGURA. It was well-known both in Spain and internationally.

Director of Fine Arts for Andalusia (1984-1986)

During this time, the Regional Government of Andalusia took over managing historical heritage from the Spanish Government. This included the famous Alhambra and Generalife in Granada. Bartolomé Ruiz was in charge of this big transfer.

He also started a special plan called PAEMBA in 1985. This plan had a budget of 3 million euros. Its goal was to check the condition of cultural properties. Many people were hired for this project.

He also worked with the Council of Education to create "Pedagogical Cabinets of Fine Arts." These programs helped students learn about historical heritage. The idea was to make sure that everyone could enjoy and learn from these important sites.

Director of Cultural Properties for Andalusia (1986-1988)

Bartolomé Ruiz helped create the first General Plan for Cultural Properties (1989-1995). This plan was a guide for managing cultural heritage in Andalusia. It covered four areas: ethnology (study of cultures), archaeology, movable objects, and real estate. It also set out five main actions: research, restoration, preservation, protection, and sharing information. This was the first plan of its kind in Spain.

This plan led to new laws and the creation of important institutions. These included the General Archive of Andalusia and archaeological sites like Medina Azahara and Italica.

A very important part of this plan was the "Andalusian Model of Archaeology." This model saw archaeology as a way to research history while also protecting sites. It encouraged sharing research results every year. However, this model faced challenges, especially when urban development projects clashed with protecting old sites. In 1987, a conflict happened in Málaga when a city council tried to tear down ancient walls for a car park. Bartolomé Ruiz stopped the work to protect the walls. This led to his dismissal in May 1988.

Director of Santa María de las Cuevas Monastery (1989-1994)

Bartolomé Ruiz became the director of the newly created Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas in Seville. He led the project to restore this important monument. It became the Royal Pavilion for the Seville Expo '92. This project was special because it involved many experts working together. After the Expo, the monastery became home to three cultural institutions: the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage, and the International University of Andalusia. This restoration project won the "National Award for Monument Restoration" in 1993.

Deputy Minister for Culture for Andalusia (1994-1996)

As Deputy Minister, Bartolomé Ruiz helped create the second General Plan for Cultural Properties (1996-2000). He also worked on rules for protecting heritage and managing museums.

Director of Santa María de las Cuevas and Curator of Contemporary Art (1996-2004)

He returned to his role as Director of the Santa María de las Cuevas Monastery. He also became a General Curator at the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art, which was also located there.

Director of Antequera Dolmens (2004-2010)

He started the process of protecting the Archaeological Zone of the Antequera Dolmens. He helped create its first Master Plan (2011-2018) for restoration and promotion. The Antequera Dolmens were declared a "Property of Cultural Interest." He also promoted scientific activities like a journal and conferences about prehistory. He began the process for the dolmens to be recognized on the European Heritage Programme List.

Secretary General for Cultural Policies for Andalusia (2010-2012)

Bartolomé Ruiz promoted a new system for cultural planning in Andalusia. This included creating general plans for cultural properties, institutions, artistic creation, and cultural resources. He also pushed forward the application for the Antequera Dolmens Site to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Director of Antequera Dolmens (2012-Present)

Since 2012, Bartolomé Ruiz has continued to lead the Archaeological Ensemble of the Antequera Dolmens. He oversees the ongoing application process for the Antequera Dolmens Site to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Professional Roles and Awards

Bartolomé Ruiz has been a member of many important groups and institutions. These include the Urban Planning Board of Andalusia, the Council of the Alhambra and the Generalife, and the Spanish Historical Heritage Council. He has also been on the boards of the Picasso Málaga Museum and the Federico García Lorca Centre.

He has received several awards for his work:

• National Urban Planning Prize (1980) for his pioneering work in urban archaeology.
• Málaga Citizen of the Year Award (1983) for his archaeological work.
• National Award for Monument Restoration and Preservation (1993) for his work on the Santa María de Las Cuevas Monastery.
• Adopted Son from Antequera (2014).
• Academic Member of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (AESAL) (since 2016).
• VII León Prize of the Lions Club of Antequera (2016).
• X Villa de Casabermeja Award (2017).
• Medal of Merit of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Granada (2017).
• Estrella Feniké Award for Culture (2019), Heritage section.

Since 2013, he has been the Director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antequera.

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See also

In Spanish: Bartolomé Ruiz González para niños