One of the main activities in the framework of the project ««ARCHAEOLOGY, AUTHORITY & COMMUNITY: cooperation to protect archaeological heritage» is organizing cooperation with municipalities. Partners from Russia held several meetings and seminars with the representatives of municipal authorities. The most significant event of 2013 was the seminar «Preservation, use, popularization of archaeological heritage. Challenges and perspectives for cross border cooperation», which was held on December 19, 2013 in the conference hall of “Dvor Podznoyeva” hotel complex in Pskov.
The organizers of the seminar were: the State Committee of the Pskov Region on Culture and the partners of the Project – Pskov State United Historical, Architectural and Fine Arts Museum-Reserve, The Archaeological Center of the Pskov Regionand Pskov Archaeological Center..
The representatives of Bezhanitsy, Gdov, Loknya, Pechory, Pliussa, Porkhov, Pskov, Pustoshka, Pushkinskiye Gori, Pytalovo, Sebezh, Strugi Krasniye, Usvyaty districts of the Pskov Region, responsible for the preservation of objects of cultural heritage, took part in the seminar. Among them were the representatives of the Administrations of Pskov and Velikiye Luki.
The program of the seminar included the discussion of a wide range of questions, connected to the changes in the laws determining the preservation of objects of cultural heritage, in particular, the monuments of archaeology. Great attention was paid to the successful practical experience of preservation and popularization of archaeological objects. One of the key issues was the discussion of mutual measures of counteracting illegal activities in the sphere of archaeological heritage. Moreover during the seminar perspectives and risks of incorporating objects of cultural heritage into tourist sphere were discussed. A separate discussion was dedicated to the possible variants of museumification of separate monuments of archaeology as well as complex archaeological sites. During the seminar the participants were asked to complete questionnaires about the preservation of the historic and cultural heritage of the region.
The experts of the seminar: Volova Nadezhda Ivanovna – the head of the Department of Legal Expertise and Statutory Regulation in the Sphere of Preservation of Objects of Cultural Heritage of the State Committee of the Pskov Region on Culture; Volochkova Olga Kuz’minichna – the director of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Pskov Archaeological Center”; Zarutskiy Anton Anatolyevich – the Head of the Department of State Control and Supervision in the Sphere of Preservation of Objects of Cultural Heritage of the State Committee of the Pskov Region on Culture; Korolyova Elvira Valeryevna – the head of the Department of the Preservation of Archaeological Collections of Pskov State United Historical, Architectural and Fine Arts Museum-Reserve; Mikhailov Alexander Valeryevich – the head of the Department of Field Studies and Cameral Treatment of “The Archaeological Center of the Pskov Region; Yakovleva Elena Aleksandrovna – the Head of the State Committee of the Pskov Region on the Preservation of Objects of Cultural Heritage.
The organizers of the seminar printed leaflets to be distributed in the Pskov region, informing about the responsibility for the illegal use of metal detectors.
Next seminar will take place in 2014. On the agenda of this seminar there will be discussions of mutual measures which can be taken to prevent damages to the monuments of archaeology.