[MSN] Georgia. Black Archaeology-- big business in Abkhazia. Instead of discovering and preserving the history of Georgia, cultural artifacts are being pillaged in the separatist region of Abkhazia.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Black Archaeology-- big business in Abkhazia  
 
Instead of discovering and preserving the history of Georgia, cultural
artifacts are being pillaged in the separatist region of Abkhazia.

The practice of black archeology (excavation for the purpose of robbery)
began several centuries ago. However, even now, it is easy to find numerous
artifacts from Abkhazia and all of Georgia on the Russian and European black
markets. Just recently, Joseph Stalin's pool table, kept in his villa in
Ritsa, was sold to a Russian executive for $50,000. 

Our cultural heritage is being taken away and the process is so irreversible
that even Abkhazians have begun to take it serious. Aleksandr Ankvab,
premier-minister of de facto authorities, made statements on this issue and
confirmed that valuable museum exhibits, historical monuments and precious
icons are indeed being taken away from Abkhazian territory.  

Items found during archeological excavations in Abkhazia, exhibits from the
Sokhumi state museum, icons and other units of cultural meaning are being
sold in Russia. Some are sold illegally, others "officially"-like the
medieval frescos from ancient Georgian churches-under the guise of
rehabilitation and maintenance.  

Abkhazia's museum exhibits are taken to Russia on the basis of an agreement
between Sokhumi and Krasnodar territory museums to rehabilitate icons and
mosaic coatings. They are taken from Abkhazia for rehabilitation but then
they are never returned.  

This comes after the destruction of frescos and Georgian inscriptions in
churches. Reportedly, the church inscriptions in Abkhazian villages of
Likhni and Ilori have been removed. XIII century Bedia church and the grave
of Bagrat III, the Ambari basilica, and the famous "Kelasuri wall" have been
badly damaged.  In addition, King Tamar's bridge, the basilica in Gantiadi
(II-III century), the Gentsvishi fortress (early medieval period), the Ilori
Saint George church dated XI century, the Mokvi church, and the Tsebeldi
fortress have been desecrated.     

Russian experts estimate that the budget of illegal archeological business
in Russia is tantamount to the budget of the average region. The major
portion of archeological findings appear on the black market and then later
in private collections. Many artifacts are taken to Europe, as Europeans
know where to invest money. For this reason, Moscow has adopted a special
law against "black archeology".     

 

Georgian culture and frescos are disappearing

Malkhaz Baramidze PhD, head of the Bronze Era Department of the Archeology
Research Center and a member of Abkhazia's Academy of Science, leads a group
working on current, problematic issues in Abkhazia. Baramidze says that this
topic is not new and that the materials found during archeological
excavations in Abkhazia later appeared in the museums of Sochi or
St.Petersburg and that many Georgian inscriptions dating from the early,
middle and late medieval period have disappeared. In order to rescue
Georgian monuments in Abkhazia the Georgian government asked UNESCO for
help.

"We are often informed that Georgian cultural monuments are damaged on the
territory of Abkhazia. However we are not eligible to check this
information. In this regard we demanded to implement monitoring of Georgian
cultural monuments in Abkhazia in partnership with UNESCO representatives.
In 1996 the program was launched.  We demanded to involve Murtaz Uridia, one
of the best specialists in this group. He used to be engaged in
rehabilitation of Bedia church. Though unfortunately the monitoring of
Georgian monuments on the territory of Abkhazia was not carried out, as
Abhazians did not allow the group to the territory due to the lack of
security guarantees," states Baramidze. 

 

Georgian cultural monuments in Abkhazia are being badly damaged during the
"rehabilitation" activities. Reportedly, the firm of uncertain origin
"Baroque" is rehabilitating the churches of New Athens and Pitsunda. 

The Georgian Patriarchy has repeatedly expressed its resentment that the
rehabilitation process may cause serious damage to ancient frescos, icons
and churches themselves. According to Paata Davitaia, former Minister of
Justice of Abkhazia's legitimate government and leader of the political
party "We Ourselves", many samples of Georgian art were kept in the Sokhumi
museum. Icons were there, along with wine pitchers, vases, pots, various
jewelry, weapons and other items found in graves during archeological
excavations. Currently there is almost nothing left in the museum.  

Davitaia explained that the premier of de facto authority, Ankvab, has made
statements about it. He spoke on the TV channel NTV. "Recently studio
'profession reporter' made a program 'Abkhazia's black archeology' depicting
black archeologists arriving in Abkhazia, hold archeological excavations and
take away found masterpieces of art and culture. In this regard Ankvab
expressed his resentment and declared that Abkhazians blocked the border and
strengthened control. Besides the frescos remained at churches are taken to
Russia as if for the rehabilitation works. Then they are taken to various
countries from Russia" stated Davitaia.  

According to Davitaia, black archeologists found samples from the antique
period discovered by archeologists during decades of archeological
excavations in Abkhazia after the cease-fire was removed. 

"Stalin's billiard, a valuable thing for Georgian cultural heritage kept in
Ritsa villa was sold to Russian businessman at USD 50 000. It is note-worthy
that the ruins of the ancient city are discovered on Sokhumi coast. At
present Black Sea covers the territory. The divers in Sokhumi always studied
this ruins and they found many samples of Sokhumi art and life in the sea.
Now this process is uncontrolled. Some interested people arrive from abroad,
pay money, hire divers and take away anything they find. The local
population is also involved in this process. Black archeologists buy things
found by local inhabitants- antique pots, vases, gold, weapons, crosses
decorated with precious stones," said Davitaia.

Black archeology was common even in the Soviet period. Artifacts discovered
in Abkhazian territory often appeared in Sochi, Adleri or Tuabse museums. 

"Yuri Voronov was one of the biggest black archeologists. Many conferences
are dedicated to his memory in Abkhazia. In Tsebelda he found and took away
materials of Romanian period dated A.D. I-II centuries. He carried out
excavations without any permission. In 1967 the Academy of Sciences of
Georgia sent a special commission to Moscow in this regard. Voronin's
response was -"What's up? What a noise? All our archeologists sell
materials.

Voronin took away the well-known 'Primorsk treasure' from Georgia and sold
to Hermitage in St.Petersburg. When we learned about it we tried to find
official documents on purchase, but they did not tell us the name of seller.
They showed only part of documents listing purchased things," states Malkhaz
Baramidze.   

After the suspension of military activities from 1992 to1993, Madina
Ardzinba, daughter of the former separatist leader Vladislav Ardzinba,
became involved in the black archeology process. Three years ago, in autumn
of 2004, before the inauguration of Sergey Bagapsh, Russian agencies
disseminated news that Madina Ardzinba, historian and daughter of Vladislav
Ardzinba, was detained at the check-point of the Georgia-Russian border
carrying antique and precious items. Aleksandr Ankvab took part in this
operation, but at that time, he was one of the opposition leaders.  

Finally, various Abkhazian and Russian websites provide information claiming
that since 2001, joint Abkhazian-Russian archeological expeditions have been
carried out in Abkhazia. Moreover, it seems that not only Russian but also
Greek archeologists are interested in the excavation process. Greek
specialists have expressed their willingness to participate in excavations
in early 2003. The Russian Academy of Sciences assumed responsibility to
finance joint activities. The matter concerned excavations not only at
Abkhazian coast, but under water as well. This research was based on the
photos made from cosmos.       

As it seems, Russian archeologists do not waste their time and there is
nothing wrong with joint archeological expeditions. Nevertheless, the
Georgian state should have control over the mechanisms and illegally found
as well as legally discovered materials should not be taken to Russia. 
 
Nino Japaridze  

http://www.geotimes.ge/