Usually
there is a degradation of archaeological sites due to natural
disasters, changes in vegetation cover,
intensive agricultural use, various land and building works and
treasure hunters.
Usually
we archaeologists
do not admit that
even our work has
degrading effects
on archaeological sites. But at this point I do not mean
archaeological excavations in the so-called rescue archaeology. Rescue
excavations and archaeological research is
usually done
because of construction
work in the area of archaeological site and
it is only way to save it.
Here
I write about archaeological excavations and research, that is done
on exclusively research and study basis. I will present one case
where archaeologist left archaeological
site in "disarray" and neglected. It
is meant on one hand as critique of management of excavators and on
the other hand a reminder to our-self. In what state do we leave
archaeological site behind.
One
example of poor
management is the condition of the
archaeological site
Ajdovščina, that I wrote about previous
month. Archaeological research was
conducted in the 80s
and 90s by
the Department of Archaeology Faculty of
Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Situation
already shocked me
few years ago when I visited the site for
the first time, and disappointed and angry by the condition of some
archaeological features. When I visited it
this year I decided that because nothing
had changed and on some parts situation is getting worse I have
to write something down and also inform Department of archaeology of
the unfinished business they left up there.
What
follows are photos of degraded
and neglected areas left by archaeological research.
|
Poles that marked grid for geophysical survey. As they are made from wood they do not represent an environmental problem. More a visual garbage and it looks as someone will build something up there. |
|
The section of the main bank. Because left open it has started to slide and fill by natural destruction of still standing bank. The section also degrades the whole view of the majestic ruins of the main wall around the main entrance to hillfort. |
|
Section made through the ruins of main wall. Sliding of material is seen on bout edges. |
|
Spoil heap of material from ruins of main wall, that is left on the bank. |
|
Shed for tools left standing on the top of the hill. |
|
PVC foil left laying around. Started to tear and pollute whole site. |
|
PVC foil left laying around. Started to tear and pollute whole site. Spoil heap of main excavation on left. |
|
Spoil heap of main trench on the top of the hill. |
|
PVC foil left on the excavated late antiquity foundations. Started to tear as trench wasn't properly filed back. Foundations started to crumble. |
|
PVC foil left on the excavated late antiquity foundations. Started to
tear as trench wasn't properly filed back. Foundations started to
crumble. |
|
PVC foil left on the excavated late antiquity foundations. Started to
tear as trench wasn't properly filed back. Foundations started to
crumble. |
|
Teared PVC foil now seen almost on half of the whole site. |
This
image of the archaeological site of the so-called "research"
excavations is inadmissible. Similar is
the surroundings of cave site
of Mala Triglavca near Divača,
especially plastics and PVC that are lying
around. I urge the Department of
Archaeology, to activate and clear all PVC
at least.
For
me personally such an attitude indicates a
stance and that archaeological sites are
only information carrier. We need only to
dig them and then, take away all the data to study it in the comforts
of our chair. Who
gives a s*** about what we left when we dug it.
Archaeological
sites are the living remnants and witnesses of life of ancestors.
Archaeological sites are vital part of any
landscape. Every archaeologist would have
to take care and respect the environment and
archeological sites and leave minimal
impact on them.
We musnt let this bad examples to message to public: Archaeologists
were here and we don give a f***for the
environment and archeological site itself..
Ni komentarjev:
Objavite komentar