First Russian scholars projects on musealization of archaeological heritage in Soviet Belarus

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze archival sources on the problem of museumification of the archaeological heritage of Belarus. In the late 1940s and 1960s Russian scientists N. N. Voronin, N. N. Gurina developed concepts and design proposals for the creation of archaeological museums in Grodno and Krasnoselsky settlement in Grodno region, but were not published. N. N. Voronin substantiated the creation of the “Museum of Monuments of Russian Grodno” (1947) on the territory of the Old Castle. He proposed measures for the preservation and presentation of churches (XII–XIV cent.), civil architecture, defensive structures (XII–XVII cent.). N. N. Gurina developed the project of the Museum of Neolithic Silica Mines (1972). The author of the article focuses on archaeologists and architects’ scientific approaches to museumification (complex, landscape, axiological, cultural), methods for adapting ruins to museum (conservation of excavation and objects, restoration to stabilize ruins, protection within pavilions), principles of museumification — preservation, authenticity, scientific. N. N. Gurina’s project distinguishes by the planning, zoning of the museum- reserve territory; it focuses on the harmonization of the landscape and design elements, measures to ensure security and protection, there are elements of improvement, tourist infrastructure. N. N. Voronin with the architect I. V. Trofimov tested the restoration measures associated with the excavation, determined the sources of funding and a new direction of museum activity was founded. The author concludes that the museumification of archeological sites, considered as a cultural project, includes a number of stages: archaeological identification of the monument, the historical and cultural valorization of all objects, the development of methods of conservation and restoration, the creation of architectural and art projects of the building, exposition.