SKOPJE CITADEL - KALE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, CONSERVATION, AND RESTAURATION OF THE SOUTHWEST FORTIFICATIONS AND TOWERS

The realization of the project “Skopje Ciatdel - Kale” will last for two years. In 2007 will be performed archaeological research that will end in September of the same year. Than, will be prepared a conservation project for interventions on the southwest fortifications and towers, after which will start the conservation-restoration activities that will be developing in the course of 2008.

The priority goal of these extensive undertakings is to make new discoveries, protect from further ruining the southwest fortification walls of the citadel - Gorniot Grad ( the Upper Town ), to perform conservation and restoration, with attention to all chronological phases and to present their characteristics. In order for that to be realized, are needed archaeological researches that have to discover the fundament parts of the fortification walls for proper interventions in the conservation-restoration sense.

The archaeological research that had started on the 16 th of March this year, among other, has the goal to recapture the vertical and horizontal stratigraphy of the site, and that is why the works are performed in eight sectors set on relevant positions in the space.

The research of so far had ascertained pre-historical horizons from the Eneolithic period (copper period), remains from a medieval sacral construction and a tomb monument with Old Slavonic script, different newly discovered positions of fortification walls interwoven with remnants from architectonic object from the Middle Ages to present, remnants from a medieval house, numerous movable archeological material etc.

All the necessary financial means for the realization of this project (out of which 500.000 euros for the archaeological research) are provided by the Government of RM.

Coordinator of the Project is Mr.Pasko Kuzman, Director of the Cultural Heritage Protection Office, and as Head of the archaeological research was appointed Prof. Dr. Dragi Mitrevski from the Institute for Art History and Archaeology of the Faculty of Philosophy-Skopje. Responsible institution through which this Project is carried out is the Museum of City of Skopje. At the field at this moment are working 283 experts, students, and workers.