Izborsk Fotress, Pskov Russia

OVERVIEW
Global Heritage Fund (GHF) is leading a major conservation effort to save one of the last remaining ancient fortresses which protected Russia’s since its founding in 500AD. Izborsk Fortress’ unassailable walls and organized defenses stopped the many advancing armies of German, Swedish, Polish, Lithuanian and other invaders, and along with sister fortress of Pskov, is famous in Russian history for saving the empire’s Western Frontier.

GHF is working in partnership with the Pskov State Department of Restoration and leading Russian archaeologists from Pskov, Moscow and St. Petersburg to develop Izborsk’s first site management plan to be submitted for UNESCO World Heritage nomination, and to complete archaeological conservation and authentic restoration of this jewel in Russian history.

Izborsk Fortress has survived for over 1,500 years due to its excellent engineering, monumental construction and continual restoration and improvements by Russian engineers and architects until the 16th century when it was abandoned.

Over the past hundred years, the deterioration has rapidly accelerated as the mortars ehich previously sealed the walls and towers has disintegrated, and wood roofing protecting the ancients walls has disappeared. The region’s extreme weather cycles of rain, snow and freezing and thawing continues to destroy Izborks’s last remaining walls and towers.

In 2001, work begun to authentically restore one tower and a portion of the walls as a model conservation for the ancient fort. Drainage, new capstones and restoration of the deteriorating walls was successfully completed, and the work results sent to Moscow for quality assessment. Despite excellent reviews for quality of the restoration work, Izborsk restoration stopped due to lack of governmental funding and Russia has little private-sector philanthropy available, especially for critically needed for archaeological conservation and research.

The stunning Izborsk Fortress and its monumental ramparts is one of the last remaining forts from early Russian history which overlooks the beautiful valley and lake district of Pskov.

The Izborsk Fortress is suffering from direct exposure to rain and snow attacking its foundation and ancient walls which no longer have the protective roofing built and maintained over the centuries. Moisture enters the walls and freezes, causing accelerating deterioration and collapse of the towers and walls.

THREATS AND CHALLENGES

Collapse and Destruction of Walls and Towers
One of the most difficult challenges facing Izborsk Fortress is the rapid deterioration of its foundation, historic walls and towers due to overgrowth of plants, and the brutal freeze and thaw cycles of the long winters in the Pskov region. Without its traditional roofing and coverings, elaborate drainage and protective brickwork and mortar sealing, moisture is destroying the fort walls. Rain and snow seeping into the unprotected walls then freezing expands and contracts the structure causing it to disintegrate season after season.

With little funding available for conservation despite accelerating destruction, Izborsk Fortress is in danger. It is estimated that within thrity years, many of the walls and towers will completely collapse.

Lack of Integrated Archaeological Science and Expertise
Another major problem facing Izborsk is lack of cooperation between the scientists and archaeologists who have been undertaking research and excavation at Izborsk and its surrounding settlements, and the Department of Restoration of Pskov State which undertook restoration in 2001 without integrating essential archaeology and conservation science.

While the quality of restoration has been good, its authenticity and respect for archaeological record is questionable and many archaeologist consider this ‘unauthentic’ restoration to be causing irreversible damage to Izborsk’s unique historical fabric and architectural integrity.

The first year of restorations at Izborsk in 2001 did not integrate archaeologists in its planning and execution, leaving the project open to criticism that restoration work lost much of the archaeological record of the site, and restoration work may not have matched the original site’s engineering and architectural quality.

Restoration experts argued that including archaeologists delayed restoration work unnecessarily, and that there is no budget from the government for archaeological research and experts in the project.

Integrating archaeological conservation and science into all future restoration will help ensure work completed meets the highest standards of archaeological science. GHF is establishing Izborsk’s first joint expert committee for Archaeology and Restoration that will help in planning and the conservation science for all work going forward under GHF funding. GHF is also bringing the best international archaeology and scientific conservation experts to support world class conservation of Izborsk Fortress.

Lack of Master Conservation Planning
Today, there is no overall conservation plan for Izborsk Fortress prioritizing needed conservation and balancing the needs for restoration with archaeological excavation and research. As well, there is no current plan for tourism management, site interpretation or regional development linking Izborsk to other important Pskov towns and monuments.

Izborsk Fortress is only four hours away in the ancient town of Tallinn, Estonia, over 3 million foreign tourists come to visit, while Pskov receives fewer than 20,000 per year. The town of Pskov was a center of Soviet production and industry until the late 1980s. Today, unemployment is over 30% and thirty major factories are standing vacant. Tourism provides one of the only major opportunities for Pskov to regain its important status and future opportunities.

GHF 2004 - 2006 OBJECTIVES

Stage One: Master Conservation Planning Completion Expected in Fall, 2004

GHF is focusing its conservation work in Izborsk Fortress on ensuring the completion and approvals of a world-class Master Conservation Plan (MCP) to assist the Russian government in Pskov to complete a formal nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004, and help to ensure the protection and well-planned management of this irreplaceable monument to Russian history.

Global Heritage Fund is working closely with ICOMOS and Pskov towards the development of a world-class site management plan which will for the basis for Pskov and Izborsk’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination. GHF is providing critically needed leadership to fuse planning and archaeological expertise into the restoration of Izborsk Fortress to ensure all work is done to world-class international standards and ensures the highest quality and most authentic restoration. GHF has fostered a new partnership between Russian archaeologists and the Pskov Restoration Department and established the new Joint Expert Committee for Izborsk to oversee and review all planning, conservation, archaeology and authentic restoration work.

GHF has established the Izborsk Project Trust as a matching co-investment with the Russian government and GHF private-sector donors in Russia to fund and manage conservation of the entire Izborsk Fortress to the highest archaeological conservation standards, while helping to build a major tourism opportunity for Pskov.

GHF is providing $20,000 in co-funding for development of the formal UNESCO World Heritage nomination by the Russian Government for the Izborsk Fortress and surrounding historic region of Pskov. This Site Management Plan will be written to the highest international standards and be bilingual in Russian and English. In order to meet the highest standards for science, planning and conservation, GHF has established the Izborsk Joint Expert Committee of site managers, archaeologists and restoration team leaders to advise on the the Site Management Plan.

Abandoned restoration work from 2001 showing before and after restoration of wall section (left) and restored tower (right) which serves as a model for future conservation with GHF support in 2004-2006.

The neglected walls of Izborsk Fort have continued to deteriorate and unchecked plant growth is causing irreparable damage to its last remaining authentic fabric and construction.

GHF funding and expertise for Izborsk Fortress conservation will be provided over three years to enable scientific conservation, archaeological research and authentic restoration of the ancient walls, towers and fortress features, many now in a state of near collapse. As well, GHF will lead design and development of the first professional site interpretation system in Russian, English and other European languages, which will be incorporated into an improved on-site museum. Current history and artifacts that reside in Moscow, St. Petersburg and in the Pskov Museums will be consolidated and a world-class site interpretation center and museum will be established, supporting most international languages. As well, Izborsk’s first guidebook will be published with GHF support.

Conservation of the Izborsk Fortress will proceed section by section, with each area surveyed, mapped, researched, then consolidated and stabilized, with some selected towers and wall restored. A section of the fortress will likely receive special treatment including restoring the wooden roofs for the towers and walls that existed previously, based on thorough archaeological research, study and recommendations by the Izborsk Expert Committee, and use of authentic materials and historic architectural design.

GHF involvement with Pskov and Isborsk Fortress is based on its completely untapped potential as a major tourism development opportunity for one of the poorest regions of Russia, and the unique site history as the primary ‘Protector’ of the Western Frontier for over one thousand years.

top