Archeologist: “New owners of the cave will hinder the excavations” (video)
To lease Areni caves, which have more than 6000 years’ history or to leave them only for scientific activities? Archeologist Boris Gasparyan, Head of Areni excavations expedition, is one of the opponents of this initiative, “Today no one can say what the approach of the user will be irrespective of the written project. Project is one thing, life is another.”
Minister of Culture has announced a tender for finding investors for involving users in 5 caves of Areni. Minister Armen Amiryan gives such an explanation, “Even today those caves serve tourism industry, there is also some money turnover, there are some flows of tourists, and all these must be regulated. If it isn’t regulated, it can harm historical-cultural layer.”
The project offered by the state puts the appropriate preservation of the cave into question, thinks Head of Areni excavations expedition. Boris Gasparyan doesn’t consider the contradiction with the Ministry of Culture to be an end in itself.
“Imagine, lots of people standing here; first, we are standing on the archeological layer, or they accidentally step on the stone and it is broken. It is the winepress, people mainly come to see this, imagine when lots of people are in this closed atmosphere, they breathe and exhale on the structures and biological world.”
With the efforts of the archeologist and his colleagues, who have been carrying out archeological activities in Areni for long years, in 2010 the oldest shoe in the world was found in “Trchunner” (Birds) cave.
In the future the group of archeologists will excavate other sections of “Birds” cave. But it may be impossible, if the cave has a new owner.
Minister of Culture promises to do everything in order not to hinder the scientific activities. According to the words of Armen Amiryan, providing the cave to the tourist industry also has other purposes.
“The archeological site, which is used for tourism purposes, is preserved in the best way. Or else today we deal with shadow tourism, shadow money turnover.” Boris Gasparyan doesn’t reject- tourists come, but… “Giving money is up to visitors, no one even demands any amount from them.”
Before leasing the caves of Areni, the state wasn’t interested in their condition. In order to maintain the artifacts, the expedition found finances from abroad, and 90% of work was carried out thanks to philanthropists. American Gfoeller Foundation has also invested much money in Areni, but its role in this story is now neglected. Boris Gasparyan says, “Our main benefactor is offended, He says that he isn’t against, that it should be done, but he asks why the cave, where he invested money, is given to anybody else or put to tender.”
Boris Gasparyan reminds that the state didn’t intervene, when activities for building a restaurant kicked off in one section of “Birds” cave. The archeologists made the constructors leave the territory. For using Areni caves in the best way and not damaging them, concept should be formed, which hasn’t been done until now.
