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26Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences 4 (2016 9) 971-977
УДК 903'18
Urban Archaeology: Problems, Methods, Results
Violetta O. Saibert*
Altai State University 61 Lenin Str., Barnaul, 656049, Russia
Received 16.08.2015, received in revised form 29.10.2015, accepted 20.01.2016
Urban archaeology has become the actual phenomenon in modern scientific researches as it forms unique knowledge about early and preliterate history of the cities. The article describes the features and methods of archaeological research in the territory of the cities. Also it shows the differences between the field of archaeology and archaeological research in the urban environment. The main differences are: the research method is determined by the layout of the city, funding from businesses, research focuses on promotion of the study of objects. Methods of urban archaeology are divided into two groups: the archaeological work and museumification. There are the examples of museumificated archaeological sites in the cities of foreign countries, and in various cities in the regions of Russia.
Keywords: urban archaeology, Museumification.
This work was supported by grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (Resolution N 220) obtained by Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education "Altai State University" project № 2013-220-04-129 "Ancient Siberia population settlement: the formation and dynamics of cultures in North Asia.
DOI: 10.17516/1997-1370-2016-9-4-971-977.
Research area: sociology, culture studies.
A city is the result of long historical development. Its buildings have been reconstructed, its layout changed repeatedly and urban development, "immersion" into the land, has always been associated with destruction. Buildings burned, became dilapidated or destroyed by time and then replaced by the new ones based on remains in the ground. Nowadays when cities are constantly growing, developing and changing with many city-center buildings erected and reconstructed there is an ongoing clash between a rapidly growing urban
© Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved
* Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected]
infrastructure and changeless archaeological sites. The larger the city the more violent this clash is and the more topical the problem of continuity with the past becomes. These cities face multiple complications of archaeological heritage protection along with the growth of other problems. The main reason for this, as already noted, lies in the urban layering.
In each case, this clash is solved differently. The fate of archaeological monuments is largely determined by the city itself. In some situations, archaeological finds are carefully cherished and
guaranteed the conditions for their preservation. In the other, these are more frequent, countless communications and overpasses, pedestrian tunnels and subway lines that are being built are constantly getting to and destroying the most vulnerable element of the city - the cultural layer of the archaeological remains.
Urban archaeology has become the actual phenomenon in modern scientific researches as it forms unique knowledge about early and preliterate history of the cities. The proof of it is a rapid growth of national identity sense. Now history of a city is becoming an essential part of educational programs, representatives of all social groups are showing their interest in history. The rapid growth of tourist industry and sightseeing also provides great opportunities for the development of urban archeology in a particular region. Each object of study requires some research methods, but it is possible to trace elements that can relate to all objects.
The methods of urban archeology can be divided into two groups: archaeological research and museumification of archaeological sites. Archaeological research is carried out by all rules of excavations which include a preliminary examination, marking of the excavation and the excavation by the rules relating to a particular type of monument, namely researching work, archaeological excavations, recording of artifact's find-site, making of the necessary documentation, etc. All the data are systematized.
The second method is museumification. It is a part of the museum's activities, which aims to transform the historical, cultural or natural objects into museum display objects in order to maximize conservation and identify their historical and cultural, scientific and artistic value (10). While preserving the archaeological sites in the conditions of the natural landscape one needs to be mindful of their long-term, supervised trouble-free existence.
F. Shmit was one of the first to use the term "museumification" in his works , but it was recognized in the Soviet museology only after World War II, during the period of large-scale works on restoration of historical and cultural heritage and conservation areas creation. Nowadays it is partly (or "soft") museumification that is used more widely. It does not imply a complete withdrawal of the object from the environment of existence and allows the object to perform its original functions. The choice of the form and methods of museumification is determined by the type of the monument, its historical and cultural value and condition.
The concept of museum or museumification also includes infrastructure exposition organization, namely a complex of communications, office buildings, storage facilities, digital conference rooms, infrastructure security and basic services for tourists - restrooms, benches, canteens, etc (12). These sites must be an integral of the museum complex which meets the visitors' needs to the fullest.
Excavation findings are very rarely used and displayed in the ensembles of modern cities, their artistic and architectural value has been underestimated(5).
In spite of this archaeology is often seen as a part of tours and tourist activities in small towns and big cities abroad. The tradition of excavations in cities with further partial musefication or open excavations show organization originated in the early modern period in Europe. Its formation was connected with the study of Pompeii and Herculaneum cases. The archaeological excavations of the Athens metro subway in Greece is another bright example. Construction of the Athens metro subway has sparked the largest excavations ever held in the world. Their total area amounted to 79 000 square meters and over 50,000 of archeological objects were found. This remarkable result was achieved because
the Ministry of Culture showed mobility having notified the builders of the Athenian subsoil cultural richness and imposed restrictions on the construction for the protection of these sites at the blueprint stage. All these allowed to forecast and change the subway construction process.
Six central metro stations have ancient objects on display in glass niches. The most significant archaeological excavations at the first stage of subway construction were made at four stations located in the historical center of the city, they are Syntagma, Keramikos, Monastiraki and Akropoli. A total of 20 digs were made at the stations and in the ventilation shafts. The depth of the cultural layer ranged from 0.5 to 7 meters, but some drainage and plumbing systems of ancient Athenians reach even greater depths. All antiques were exhaustively documented and sealed with the help of modern technical means and under scientific supervision of the competent services of the Ministry of Culture.
At Syntagma station archaeologists found workshops of classical era (V century BC.) that were used to cover the statues in gilded copper, a cemetery with graves that date back to the Mycenaean period and the Byzantine Empire, the Remains of Roman public baths, a section of the Peisistranian Aqueduct, the riverbed of the Iridanos (the river that was believed to encircle the Earth), as well as the ancient path that connected Long Walls with the municipalities of Messogaia. Another significant archaeological site was revealed through the construction of Monastiraki station. Excavations here have shown the presence of structures with the VIII. BC in the XIX century. One of the most important findings was the ancient tunnel that the Iridanos was covered in (so it can be considered the first river locked in a pipe by humans, Greek Neglinka). Near Keramikos Station a section of the most significant cemetery of the ancient city of Athens was revealed.
Russia also has a tradition of urban archaeology. Long before the archaeological research in Moscow, people found many antiqueties of the ancient city - pendants, neck wraps hryvnia, ancient money, glass bangles. The first archaeological research began in Moscow in the 1920s, but it was not until a hundred years had passed that a large-scale ancient city research started. A lot of ancient artifacts were revealed during the construction of the Moscow Metro. Archaeologists managed to explore the cultural layer on a huge area under the modern city -from the Crimea square and the Kievskiy railway station to Sokolniki station. In the late 1940's and early 1950s the excavations near the Kremlin and Zaryadye were carried out. In the lower part of the cultural layer the remains of houses, workshops of artisans were found. Excavations conducted in the Kremlin during the construction of the Palace of Congresses gave a lot of information to determine the nature of the ancient buildings and fortifications (3).
A long-term archaeological research in the capital gave rise to the Museum of Archaeology in Moscow. Moscow Museum of Archaeology is built on an archaeological site, which was studied at the Manege Square from 1993 to 1997. During the reconstruction of the area the researchers also found a pavilion built underground at a 7 meter depth. At the heart of the museum are the various elements of the Resurrection bridge XVI - XVII century, which at the time was built over the Neglinnaya river. The bridge was found during archaeological protection works organized by the Centre of archaeological research in Moscow. Archaeologist uncovered the basements of stone buildings of XVIII - XIX centuries and discovered cobblestoned and wooden bridges, wells' wooden frames and various other facilities. These archaeological excavations made the ancient Zaneglimenie layout, traces of handicraft production identification and
the Middle Ages local population lifestyle reconstruction possible. The teamwork of archaeologists, architects and restorers from the workshop of the institute, "Mosproekt 2", and the staff of the Museum of History of Moscow which was performed on the site of the surviving elements of the Resurrection bridge helped to create the first underground Russian museum of archeology. The Resurrection bridge over the Neglinnaya River is one of the largest structures that archaeologists discovered during these excavations. Another exhibition of the museum is devoted to the ancient treasure that was found on various archaeological sites (9).
Another Russian city that is famous for its unique archaeological sites is Novgorod. This city has been studied better than any other in Russia. Novgorod land preserved such materials which normally does not last such as wood, leather and many different crafts made of these materials. The Troitskiy excavation is opened for tourists. The Troitsky excavation is one of the most promising sightseeing area of today - it was this site that housed unique perfectly preserved pieces of high archaeological value. The works that started in 1973 have now covered more than 6 thousand sq. m and revealed more than 20 urban estates of the X-XV centuries, including the famous artist's studio of Olisey Grechin (presumably, the author of the famous frescoes of the Savior Church on Nereditsa) dating back to the XII century. This place also housed more than 400 birch-bark manuscripts as well as the famous Novgorod Psalter created at the beginning of the XI century. It is the oldest Slavic wax book found on the Troitsky excavation site in the Millennium year.
In mid-June of 2008 at the Troitsky excavation site a wax tablet "cerae" was found in the layers of the first half of the XI century. Its place and date of detection let archaeologists assume that a school that was probably built by
order of Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Prince of Novgorod, was located near the Kremlin in this part of ancient Novgorod. June 27 was the official opening of the project, which was attended by the organizers and partners, the authorities of the region and travel agencies. On June 28, the excavation site was opened to visitors. The program includes a tour of the surroundings of the Troitskiy excavation and a visit to the property (3).
Another example of archaeological research followed by musefication is studies on the territory of the modern museum "Gorgippia", an open-air Archaeological Museum in the city of Anapa. A unique feature of the museum is an ability to observe the excavation of the ancient city Gorgippia, destroyed in a fire in the middle of the III. BC under the blows of the barbaric nomadic tribes - the union of the Gothic and Sarmatian barbaric nomads who inhabited the territory which is now the city of Anapa since IV BC to III AD.The total area of the excavation is about 2 hectares. Basements and foundations of houses, vineyards, wells, paved streets, a fragment of the fortress wall all can be seen there. Archaeological finds revealed in the city are also exhibited in the open air. They include column and temple carved facing pediment fragments, sarcophagi and tombstones.
Bronze and marble sculpture, terracotta figurines, painted black- and red- lacquered crockery, glass vessels and ornaments, weapons, coins were exhibited in the museum's building (1).
In 2013, in the city of Kurgan studies were carried out in the estate of the merchant Smolin, examining industrial buildings, distillery, warehouses with packing materials and a cellar with foreign wines. Th strata was about two meters thick. The head of the archaeological laboratory of the Kurgan State University Igor Novikov says: "There was a very large layer of
manure. Then another three horizons. Wooden warehouses were erected first and later replaced with stone ones that were demolished to build one bid stone warehouse which lived up to our times. We pick one artifact to date the layer. Thus, in one of the deeper layers a large wooden structure was found and its entire floor was covered with glass. That was a merchant Smolin's warehouse, where the ready-made products or packaging was kept. Wine and champagne bottles with the stamps of the late XIX century were found there. The researchers came across some unusual mineral water bottles that were brought to Kurgan from Yekaterinburg. Urban Archaeology in Kurgan has just begun. We did four excavations and we still have yet to come. There is going to be lots of work and active urban development is one of the reasons for that."
A little town Tobolsk also houses some archaeological sites that were studied. Archaeological excavations in Tobolsk were an emergency. In most cases the works preceded the construction of new facilities. In particular, such studies were carried out on the construction site of the building icon shop inside St. Sophia and the Assumption Cathedral, a new residential area at the October Street was also studied. In some cases the excavations were undertaken in preparation for the monuments restoration. To obtain information on structural features of the bases, the degree of preservation, the depth of their occurrence along the perimeter of the building a series of excavations or pits were done. The building of the Provincial Judicial council, and the Church of the Savior was examined this way.
The city of Barnaul also has some "experience" in this area. In July 2005, in connection with the planning construction of a technical complex "Avtolider" at 44a Polzunova St. an emergency excavation of the site was held by the SPC "Heritage" experts. The studies
were conducted under the supervision of M. Abdulganeeva.
Polzunova Street (formerly Paul line) is the oldest in the city. The excavated territory was in use since the first half of the XVIII century. The buildings that once were under the metro area belonged to factory officials, office clerks, Altay district dispensary office and many others. The last building built on this site in 1850 was dismantled in 1960.
During emergency excavations the remains of stone foundations and structures of varying degrees of preservation were identified. The specialist also revealed the remains of the wooden frame that were buried in the brickwork base at a 0,5 meter depth. A log house was built with interlocking corners and notched logs at the ends. It was violated in the central and northwestern parts of the structure with an archaeological dig. Inside the log there were 6 beams arranged in joisting or tongue and groove joint. The gaps between the beams were filled with the remains of large branches, sticks and boards. Beams themselves were laid on a layer of bark and bush leaves.
Many household items were found during the works in the studied area ranging from coins and cutlery to wooden utensils, glassware and ceramics, mostly related to XIX century (7).
Another example of a research in the city, namely its historical part, is the archaeological excavations of 2012, it was subsidized by the regional government with about 400 thousand rubles allocated. V Semibratov was in charge of these works. V Semibratov is a senior researcher at the Altai State University research sector. The research was held with help of ASU and Culture Academy students. The main aim of the study was to find objects for further museumification. Archaeologists discovered the foundation and part of the walls of the wooden building of the XVIII century. Presumably,
this was not living but lumber room - a barn or some outbuilding. Over the entire period of excavation about 3,000 antiquities were found. Pottery related to the first half of the XVIII century is a unique find. It is handmade and almost crude. A lot of artifacts made of bone were found - tooth and clothing brushes. These items indicate a high level of cultural life of the population. The coins found in the corners of the building dating to 1730 were laid in the construction as a talisman.
The findings will be submitted to the Altai State Museum after thorough examination. We have solved the issue of conservation and preservation of the excavation in order to then be included in the exposition, but it will require additional resources (11).
Urban Archaeology - is a complex multifaceted process. In contrast to the classical
field archeology it has its own specifics. Firstly, the research methodology is largely dependent on the layout of the city. Secondly, the archaeological research in the urban environment is most often funded by businesses and aimed at the preservation of archaeological sites of cultural heritage. These objects are objects of scientific research. Third, in these studies there are no inherent purpose of field archeology, namely to ensure continuous economic activity of the city, the creation of opportunities for citizens' access to cultural heritage and the use of such objects for the scientific, educational and cultural purposes (6).
Historic buildings' archaeological research in the metro area is of great importance to the expansion of knowledge in the history of the city, its architectural layout, features of residents' life in different historical periods.
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Городская археология: проблемы, методы, результаты
В.О. Сайберт
Алтайский государственный университет Россия, 656049, Барнаул, ул. Ленина, 61
Городская археология стала актуальным явлением, так как она дает большое количество информациии об истории городов. В статье рассмотрены особенности и методы проведения археологических исследований на территории городов. Выделены отличия между половой археологией и археологическими исследованиями в городской среде. Основное отличие -финансирование от хозяйствующих субъектов, исследования с целью популяризации объектов. Методы городской археологии разделены на две группы: археологические работы и музеефикация. Приведены примеры музеефицированных мест раскопок как зарубежных стран, так и различных регионов России.
Ключевые слова: городская археология, музеефикация.
Работа выполнена при поддержке гранта Министерства образования и науки РФ (постановление № 220), полученного ФГБОУ ВПО " Алтайский государственный университет" проект № 2013-220-04-129 «Древнейшее заселение Сибири: формирование и динамика культур на территории Северной Азии».
Научная специальность: 22.00.00 - социологические науки, 24.00.00 - культурология.
