site.btaProf. Gergova of ICOMOS Bulgaria: "Mistakes in Conservation of Roman Ruins in Sofia Can Be Corrected"

Prof. Gergova of ICOMOS Bulgaria: "Mistakes in Conservation of Roman Ruins in Sofia Can Be Corrected"

Sofia, October 23 (BTA) - "Wrong actions in the conservation of
archaeological finds in central Sofia can be corrected. What is
necessary is a joint decision after a professional discussion,"
Prof. Diana Gergova, a representative of the Bulgarian National
Committee of the International Council on Monuments and sites
(ICOMOS  Bulgaria) told a BTA-hosted news conference on Friday.
The news conference was organized by participants in the working
 group formed by the Ministry of Culture in connection with
corrections of the work on the Serdica Ancient Cultural and
Communication Complex in the centre of Sofia.

On October 13, Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov ordered a
suspension of conservation and restoration works on the
archaeological excavations in central Sofia's Largo.

The so-called open museum consists of Roman-era ruins uncovered
during excavations for Sofia's underground in the Largo, which
is the area between the Administrative of the President and the
Council of Ministers building.

Rashidov resorted to such action following alerts from citizens,
 who believe that the restoration works do not correspond to the
 original appearance of the archaeological finds.

In a letter to the Minister of Culture and the Mayor of Sofia,
the working group insist that independent experts and
representatives be included in the working group.

The Ministry should organize preliminary public discussions of
the projects for restoration of monuments of culture and should
publish detailed information on its site, including project
documentation, the civil quota insists.

The initiators also want complete transparency about the
spending of funds on the Serdica complex, and more particularly
by what procedures the funds used so far have been and the
remaining 2.9 million leva to the full value of the project will
 be spent.

The project for the Largo is implemented in three stages at a
total cost of 16 million euro under Operational Programme
Regional Development.

In April 2015, the project entered its next stage, which
includes setting up two archaeological levels on an area of
8,000 square metres, which are to serve as a complex for
conducting cultural, educational and amusement events in a
restored and authentic archaeological environment.