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Section II: Summary of the Periodic Report on the State of Conservation, 2006

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Section II: Summary of the Periodic Report on the State of Conservation, 2006 State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II giving vast valuable data for the study of the written GEORGIA language in general and making it possible to deal with the origin of Georgian written language anew. Historical Monuments of Mtskheta As provided in ICOMOS evaluation Brief description The nomination dossier submitted by the Republic of Georgia was accompanied by a number of books The historic churches of Mtskheta, former capital of and other documents. Most of these are written in Georgia, are outstanding examples of medieval Russian or Georgian, neither of which is a working religious architecture in the Caucasus. They show language of the World Heritage Convention. The the high artistic and cultural level attained by this most useful book, Georgien: Wehrbauten und ancient kingdom. Kirchen, is in German, another non-working language. More importantly, the only map provided 1. Introduction showing the “Protective Zones of Mtskheta”, was a very small-scale photographic print of a much larger Year(s) of Inscription 1994 map; the barely decipherable legends were, in any case, all in Georgian. However, new maps showing Agency responsible for site management the areas proposed for inscription on the World • World Heritage National Committee, Ministry of Heritage List, together with buffer zones, were Culture supplied to the mission, together with a summary of 4, Sanapiros St., 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia the Georgian protection legislation, as required by E-mail: [email protected] the Operational Guidelines. Website: www.mc.gov.ge Recommendation: That this property be inscribed on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria iii • Mtskheta Museum-Reserve and iv: 54, Agmashenebeli St., Mtskheta, Georgia Phone +995 93 35 18 14 Criterion iii: The group of churches at Mtskheta bear testimony to the high level and art and culture of the vanished Kingdom of Georgia, which played 2. Statement of Significance an outstanding role in the medieval history of its Inscription Criteria C (iii) (iv) region. Criterion iv: The historic churches of Mtskheta are Justification as provided by the State Party outstanding examples of medieval ecclesiastical City-museum, architectural reserve, Mtskheta is a architecture in the Caucasus region. multi-layered monument, testifying to the great scope of building activity and high culture of the Committee Decision country. Preserved architectural monuments and Bureau (July 1994): The Bureau recommended the unearthed archaeological material testify to the high inscription of this property on the World Heritage artistic value of building and minor arts in various List and suggested to the State Party to change the epochs, beginning from the 2nd mill. B.C. up to our name to "Historic Churches of Mtskheta". days. Committee (1994): The Committee, in inscribing Architectural monuments of Mtskheta, being stage- this property on the World Heritage List, suggested making in the development of Georgian architecture to the State Party to change the name to "Historic are at the same time extremely significant for the Churches of Mtskheta". study of the medieval architecture of the whole Christendom. Besides they are striking examples of • Statement of significance adequately defines the unity of architecture with the surrounding the outstanding universal value of the site landscape. • No change required by State Party Of special value from the artistic and historical Boundaries and Buffer Zone points of view are the monuments of monumental painting (mosaic floor in "Dionysius Maison" in • Boundaries are not reflecting adequately site’s Szalisa, 2nd c. A.D.) and metalwork (goldsmithery) significance. Only some of monuments of discovered in Mtskheta. Special place in semitic Mtskheta – which State Party considers are of epigraphics is occupied by Armagi inscriptions, outstanding universal value - are inscribed on the World Heritage List. Georgia intends the State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II subsequent extension aiming to include on the • The current management system is not World Heritage List new components of the effective Greater Mtskheta • The protection/buffer zones have been defined Actions proposed: for the site, but still are not formally adopted as • Establishment / implementation of the it is required according to the State Party appropriate management plan based on the national legislation. Adopted in October 2006 existing Heritage & Tourism Master Plan • Reorganisation and capacity-building of the Status of Authenticity/Integrity Mtskheta Museum-Reserve • World Heritage site values have been maintained. There have not been significant changes in the authenticity of the site since 5. Management Plan inscription, except for two individual • State Party in collaboration with UNESCO and monuments: Six-Apse Church in Armaztsikhe UNDP prepared Mtskheta Heritage and (complete loss of authenticity) and Small Tourism Master Plan which is under Church in Jvari Monastery (use of inappropriate examination for formal approval by the Ministry materials during the “restoration” works). Loss of Culture. Management Plan will be completed of some bas-relies on the façades of Mtskheta in 2007 Jvari Church caused by stone demolition • Responsibility for over-seeing the implementation of the management plan and 3. Protection monitoring its effectiveness: Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia, Legislative and Administrative Arrangements Mtskheta Museum-Reserve • In October 2002 the Constitutional Agreement (Concordat) between the State and the Georgian Orthodox Church has been signed. 6. Financial Resources According to this Agreement all ecclesiastic Financial situation properties located in the territory of Georgia • State Budget: for the Mtskheta Museum- have been handed to the Church Reserve: EUR 7488 (staff costs and • The protection of the Historical Monuments of administrative charges). Examination of the Mtskheta is based on the law “On the protection state of conservation: EUR 1300 (from the of cultural heritage” Ministry of Culture) • The protection arrangements are not effective • WHF: USD 18000 (Mtskheta Master Plan), USD 19000 (Implementation of Master Plan, Actions taken/proposed: Mtskheta), USD 35000 (Study and • Application of the adequate protective regime development of Mtskheta Master Plan), USD within the buffer zone 75000 (with UNDP, Study and development of • Timeframe: Since 2007 Mtskheta Master Plan) • UNESCO Participation Programme: USD 4. Management 15000 (Conservation project for Jvari Monastery) Use of site/property • Georgia-ICCROM joint project of the Study and • Urban centre, religious use, free visitor Conservation of Jvari Monastery attraction • Funding is insufficient Management /Administrative Body • By the end of 2006, Ministry of Culture, 7. Staffing Levels Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia plans to set up the Steering Groups for some of • Number of staff: 27 Mtskheta’s Monuments, namely for Jvari Rate of access to adequate professional staff Church and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral across the following disciplines: • Site manager on full-time basis • Good: interpretation, education • Levels of public authority who are primarily • Average: conservation, promotion involved with the management of the site: • Very bad: management, visitor management national State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II 8. Sources of Expertise and Training in Conservation and Management 12. Factors affecting the Property (State of Techniques Conservation) • Scientific institutes of the Georgian Academy of Reactive monitoring reports Sciences • World Heritage Committee sessions: 23rd • Conservation Laboratories of the Centre of (1999); 25th (2001); 26th (2002); 27th (2003); Archaeology and National Museum; 28th (2004); 29th (2005) Conservation Chair of the Academy of Fine Arts • No management training opportunities Conservation interventions • Conservation/restoration works: Jvari Monastery: 9. Visitor Management 2001-2002 – Restoration works on Small Church • No visitor statistics (intervention has been halted as erroneous) 2005 - Joint Stone conservation/training project of • Visitor facilities: No visitor facilities exists at the the Ministry of Culture and ICCROM site, excluding shops selling the objects for religious use (souvenirs, icons, prayer books, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral: candelas etc) 2002-2003 – Removal of the earth layer in the • There is a need of skilled guides, promotional courtyard (inappropriate intervention) (printed, audiovisual and multimedia) products 2003 – Restoration and consolidation of the Gates and of the development of tourist infrastructure of the Melchisedec Catholicos Palace 2002-2003 – “Reconstruction” of the Anthon 10. Scientific Studies Catholicos Palace (inappropriate intervention) 2003-2005 – Restoration/reconstruction of the Bell- • Engineering and geological study of the Tower Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Georgian Engineering 2004 – Cleaning works of the part of mural painting Academy, 2003), ICOMOS Mission (2003), in the interior Monitoring Missions of the Ministry of Culture (2003, 2004, 2005), Archaeological surveys of Armaztsikhe-Bagineti: the majority of Mtskheta’s components regularly 1998 – Conservation of the Roman-type bathes conducted by the Mtskheta Archaeological 2001 – Reconstruction of the Six-Apse Church Expedition and the Mtskheta Museum-Reserve (inappropriate intervention resulted by complete loss of authenticity of the monument) 11. Education,
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