5. Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reserves NCSO

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1 5. Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reserves NCSO ICOM National Committee of Armenia Davit A. Poghosyan - Armenia ICOM definition of site-museum (archeological site-museum) opens a wide museological context for further preservation of vast cultural and natural heritage in South Caucasus region. According to Kenneth Hudson, one of the renowned researchers in the museum world, the main four types of site-museums (Ecological, Ethnographic, Historical and Archeological) give us a right to consider a great amount of museums as sitemuseums [5, Hudson K.,1987, pp ]. As it is obvious from the concept given in the definition and included in the background of this actual conference the main components of such kind of museums are the in situ and completely preserved and interpreted heritage (movable and immovable, tangible and intangible), related site or environment, landscape with its peculiar features and attractions among which is the classical type of museums and collections. In the centre of such kind of musealisation is not the collection-centered, but the heritage site-centered (sometimes with the community living on the area as in the case of ecomuseum) processes that today have a big educational, spiritual potential as well as perspectives of sustainable development and growing cultural and especially heritage tourism. The traditional form of in situ musealisation or musification in Armenia is the process of creation of classical museums near the archeological sites or architectural monuments or the organization of exhibitions inside the monumental constructions. Though such kind of museums are called and adopted as Historical and Cultural s, memorial museums and complexes in the country, but they can wholly be integrated under the ICOM definition of Site-Museums [10, Poghosyan D., 2013, pp.24-25]. Specially protected nature areas (state reserves, state reservations, national parks) can be described as another big group of site-museums covering more than 12 percent of the territory of the country [12, p. 30]. Recently the issues of protection of the intangible heritage and new concept of Cultural territory also can be shaped by the principles of the Site-Museums : now there are already two living historical settlements adopted by state as a cultural territories (village Areni and Gyumri city) in Armenia[1]. Following the classification of the main types of site-museums we ll have a kind of scene in the republic as follows: 1. Less than 15 archeological, historical and cultural museum-reserves and reservations can be considered as archeological and ethnographic site-museums 2. More than 30 memorial museums and complexes generally refer to historical site-museums 3. For ecological site-museums match more than 30 specially protected nature areas (the monuments of nature are not included) SITE MUSEUMS TIBLISI, GEORGIA 25

2 However, I am going to speak about process of creation of Archeological and Historical- Cultural s based on archeological sites and group of architectural monuments preserved in their historical environment, as well as on the collections excavated or discovered, systematized and exhibited in them. This kind of open-air museums are the classical manifestation of the site-museum in Armenia and are in the professional sphere considered as a special type of in situ musealisation and preservation of historical-cultural monuments. Beginning from the last century the main principles of in situ musealistion we can see during the second archeological mission ( ) to Ani, the historical capital of Armenian Bagratuni kingdom (now in the territory of Turkey). Under the supervision of prominent orientalist and linguist Nicholas Marr during the excavation of medieval Armenian city ruins the archeological findings were gathered in one of the monumentbuildings called Minuchihr Mosque, which was arranged as an archeological museum. The second museum in the historical environment was built by the support of Armenian community donations (1908), which was followed by the third one organized in the Bolorak Prkich (Redeemer) church. Scientific researches and some exhibiting activities were conducted in these archeological museums. However these three museums were not enough to keep, investigate and exhibit all the excavated artifacts. By the opinion of Hovsep Orbeli, one of the participant of the scientific mission, outstanding Armenian orientalist and academician, the archeological researches must be continued to discover and reconstruct the city as it had been [8, Orbeli H., 1911, p.53]. Unfortunately this archeological site with its museums was destroyed during Turkish invasion (1918) and only a small part of collections were survived and now is under the protection of History Museum of Armenia. Nevertheless the experiences gained in Ani were not lost and during the soviet period it was actively used in the process of transformation the former churches and other spiritual constructers into the enlightenment organizations in the framework of Soviet state cultural policy and ideology. Particularly, two models of in situ musealisation of the historical monuments and museum collections were put in practice: 1. In the monumental complexes that had been officially proclaimed as archeological areas there were organized thematic exhibitions on the base of near found specimens and scientific-supporting materials. This model started to be realized by organizing an archeological museum in the building of St. Hripsime (VII century) in 1930s [6,Ghafadaryan K., 1939, pp.1-11]. 2. Second model of site-museums influenced by the musefication experiences of Ani s scientific mission, was the building of classical type of museums near the excavated archeological site. The artifacts excavated from their historical placement and supported by scientific and educational materials were collected, systematize and exhibited in such kind of museums. One of the first examples of this model was the special museum built near the ruins of Zvarnots or St. Grigor Cathedral (VII-X cc.) and opened to the public in In 1939 Karo, Ghafadaryan, one of the distinguished Armenian archeologists, while describing the first scientific exhibition in this museum, emphasized the fact that the Zvartnots museum had been organized in such way that inside the its walls the visitors could find all the answers about the excavated and open-air preserved ruins of Zvartnots cathedral after looking at them in their historical environment [7,Ghafadaryan K., 1939, p.2].these two models were prevailing type of musealisation of historical and cultural monuments during all soviet period. However, in honor of the 2750th anniversary of Yerevan the creation of the Yerevan Foundation Museum on October 19, 1968, near the excavated and partly restored Urartian Erebuni fortress (782 BC) was crucial for the 2014 SITE MUSEUMS TIBLISI, GEORGIA 26

3 acting site-museums before. This Archeological museum with the special architecture and the vast collection from the near Archeological sites shortly became the scientific-methodical centre with its branch-museums established around the historical environment [9, Piliposyan A., 1987, pp ]. In 1970 another archeological museum based on the excavations of Metsamor archeological site opened its doors to the public. Under the influence of Russian professional sphere the term started to be used from Particularly starting from 1980s another successful practice was developed by musefication of historical parts of the cities (Gyumri, Dilidjan) and organization of a system of environmental museums or Historical and Cultural s. The best example of such an experience was the foundation of Kumayri State Architectural on the base of protected historical part of Leninakan (Now Gyumri), primarily around the group of buildings from 19th -20th centuries used with their primary functions [3]. By the end of 1980s the centralized network of Historical and Cultural s and Reservation had been established under the system of protection and usage of historical and cultural monuments in the territory of Armenian SSR. In 1988 United Directorate of Historical and Cultural s and Historical Environment was established under the coordination of The General Agency for the Protection and Usage of Historical and Cultural Monuments, which became methodical and governing body for more than 30 museum-reserves created almost in all regions of the country by musefication of monumental complexes and related historical environments, museum collections [4]. The centralized coordination of site-museums included museum-reserves based on some principles of Cultural Landscape as well. Professor Lavrenty Barseghyan, the initiator of systemized governance of musefied monumental complexes, in the Typical Statute of Historical and Cultural (1990) pointed out that s was being organized on the base of historical and cultural monuments, sites or spaces which are interconnected and have geographic, ethnic, landscape and aesthetic similarities [2]. Socio-economic and political changes in post-soviet period stopped the further enlargement of system of museum-reserve. Instead of development of state network of site-museums, on the contrary, approximately the half of the in situ protected museum-reserves lost their status and staff. Though the most archeological museumreserves and memorial museums have state s support, but less than a dozen of Armenian site-museums mainly located in the regions face different problems: lack of staff and resources, unbalanced, seasonal tourism, undeveloped facilities and so on. Now the efforts of effective management of the vast historical and cultural heritage in the territory of Republic of Armenia (for example more then registered immovable monuments per square km2), sustainable and balanced development of different regions of the country are an accordant base for further development of site-museums as a local tourism attractions and cultural-educational powerful resources. If we draw the present situation in the country we will have such kind of table (table 1) of in situ preserved cultural heritage institutions without the memorial museums which are more collection-centered though they are created mainly on base of the environment related to famous Armenian writers, artists, politician, composers and scientists SITE MUSEUMS TIBLISI, GEORGIA 27

4 Table 1. The Historical and Cultural s of RA Nr. Site-Museum Place Authority 1 Zvartnots Historical and Cultural 2 Garni Historical and Cultural Museum- Reserve 3 University of Gladzor Historical and Cultural 4 Metsamor Historical and Archeological 5 Dilijan National Architectural Museum- Reserve 6 Erebuni Historical and Archeological Karmir Blur Branch Shengavit Branch 7 Kumayri Historical and Cultural Armavir province (marz), RA, Vagharshapat city Kotayk province (marz, RA, Garni village Vayots Dzor province (marz, RA, Vernashen village Armavir province (marz), RA, Taronik village Tavush province (marz), RA, Dilijan city Yerevan city Gyumri city Ministry of Culture RA Service for The Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reserves SNCO Yerevan Municipality Gyumri Municipality The following issues are listed in the Strategy for Development the System of Historical- Cultural s and Reservation in The Republic of Armenia worked out by the Service for The Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reserves: Reduction of quantity of historical and cultural museum-reserves and problems concerning decentralization, post-soviet changes of the governing system of the historical-cultural heritage institutions. Though the acting historical and cultural museum-reserves and reservations are popular and attractive cultural-educational, touristic centers often exceeding other types of museums by the attendance level, however their huge educational content and socio-economic development potential isn t being fully utilized yet. Museum-reserve as a unique cultural organization is not comprehensively interpreted in the legislative field and scientific researches. The main financial source for the museum-reserves is the state budget and these institutions, as a rule, are not included in community development programs. Museum-reserves as an effective form for the protection and management of the cultural heritage are not used in all territory of the country and the acting museum-reserves don t reflect all the cultural diversity of Armenia. The allocation of the museum-reserves is not equal in the territory of the country and acting museum-reserves are on different development positions in terms of tourism, professional staff and facilities. The most of museum-reserves are not included in touristic activities which is the main economical factor of their influence to the local and sustainable development processes. [11,Poghosyan V., 2012, pp ]. This list can be replenished by the recent conflicts between the museum-reserves and the near communities because of the lack of knowledge about the site-museums as a special kind of museums with it s nowadays requirements of enlargement of touristic 2014 SITE MUSEUMS TIBLISI, GEORGIA 28

5 infrastructures. The local authorities are not inclined to see the site-museums as a partner and active resource but a passive cultural relics or a supplement to the private business initiatives. These issues are appropriate background for putting the further professional efforts into the dealing with this difficult situation. Hence by the example of museum-reserves we are going to present subsequently the effective working network of site-museums in Armenia by following points which are also relevant to the strategy talked above: The reinvention of acting museum-reserves for making them an effective sօcio-economic development factor and sustainable development mechanism. Raising the importance of the museum-reserves in the regions of the country and developing new mechanisms or projects to realize comprehensively their educational, social-cultural and economical potential. Interpretation of the museum-reserves in the legislative field and creation advantageous workfield for the development of these important social institutions. Implementation complex and systemized protection and management of cultural heritage in all regions of the country by organizing interrelated network of site-museums which will express all the cultural diversity of the country. Development fiscal, investment, funding privileged environment which will allow site-museums to become an attractive resources for tourism infrastructure development, the factor for creating new working places and the base for activation of cultural life in regional communities. Generating special training and education programs to prepare new skills and capacities of the staff working in the site-museums and implementing new research methods for evaluation the current activities [1, pp ]. In this context the concept of site-museum opens new perspectives not only for further development of the museum-reserves network and open-air heritage sites, but the memorial museums and sites, the specially protected nature areas as well. Site-Museums can be observed as flexible mechanisms of heritage protection and actualization at the same time. REFERENCES 1. Annex 2, Decision of The Government of RA 214, 1st of March, 2012, List of Cultural Territories of RA, The Official Bulletin of RA, , Yerevan, 16/ Annex of the Order 59, 7th of February, 1990, General Agency for the Protection and Usage of the Historical and Cultural Monuments adjacent The Council of Ministers of Armenian SSR. Typical Statute of Historical and Cultural, Archive of the Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Historical and Cultural Museum Reserves. 3. Decision of The Council of Ministers of Armenian SSR 463, 5th of September, 1980, About Creation of Kumairy State Historical-Architectural, The Decisions and the Orders of The Council of Ministers of Armenian SSR, Yerevan, 1980, August, pp Decision of The Council of Ministers of Armenian SSR 380, 14th of July, 1988, National Archive of Armenia, Collection 113, List 160, Document file 349, pp Hudson K., Museum of Influence. Russian translation, Novosibirsk, "Sibirskii Chronograph" Ghafadaryan K., the Archeological Museum of Vagharshapat, 1939 (in Armenian). National Archive of Armenia, Collection 1063, List 1, Document file 1142, pp Ghafadaryan K., Museum of Zvartnots, 1939 (in Armenian). National Archive of Armenia, Collection 1063, List 1, Document file 1143, p Orbeli H., the Ruins of Ani. History, Current Situation, Excavations (in Armenian), Vagharshapat, Printing House of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Piliposyan A., Erebuni (in Armenian), Annual Monument, Yerevan, Vol. A, 1987, pp SITE MUSEUMS TIBLISI, GEORGIA 29

6 10. Poghosyan D., About Traditional and Modern Approaches on Creation of Open-Air Museums in Republic of Armenia (in Armenian), The Problems of the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage. Materials of the International Conference, 25-27th of September, 2013, Yerevan, pp Poghosyan V., The Conceptual Settings for Development System of the Historical-Cultural s and Reservations in The Republic of Armenia (in Armenian), The Historical-Cultural Heritage of The Armenian Highland, Materials of the Internatioanl Conference, June 24th - July 1st, 2012, Yerevan-Stepanakert, 2012, pp Specially Protected Nature Areas and Forests of Armenia, Yerevan, WWF-Armenia, The Concept of Strategy for Development the System of Historical-Cultural s and Reservation in The Republic of Armenia (in Armenian), project, Yerevan, Service for The Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural s, SITE MUSEUMS TIBLISI, GEORGIA 30