New construction at central square threatens Kyivan archeological treasure (04/15/01)

New construction at central square threatens Kyivan archeological treasure

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Unless urgent action is taken, portions of an archaeological treasure beneath Independence Square will be dug up and carted away along with the tons of earth already being moved to make way for a two-tiered subterranean shopping center planned beneath the plaza.

A noted Ukrainian archaeologist who directed the project 20 years ago that first unearthed the remains of the 11th century Liadski Gates - one of three main entrances into Kyiv during the height of the Kyivan Rus' empire - said on April 6 that city architects and planners have failed to take adequate measures to ensure that the remains of the buried archaeological treasure are not destroyed.

"We were invited to participate in the project only a week ago," explained Mykhailo Zahaiduk, a member of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, "and have already been told by some that the project is proceeding and there will be no major changes to the plans."

Mr. Zahaiduk, who discovered the gates and an adjoining wall during the last reconstruction of the city's main square in 1981, tried to sound an optimistic note because top officials finally had acknowledged the previous evening that the historic gates needed to be saved and had assured him and his colleagues that at least part of the historic record would be preserved.

However, he expressed chagrin over the fact that municipal authorities had from the outset ignored the fact that the area is registered as a culturally significant site, which means that archaeologists should have been involved in construction planning from the beginning.

"We have the legal foundation to be there and to participate," explained Mr. Zahaiduk. "We are trying to influence construction, to be able to at least glimpse what has not been destroyed to be able to guide the project."

He also said he wanted archaeologists to be able to take an active part in discussions on what the new square will finally look like "with drawing board tools in hand."

"The area of preservation and the method of preservation must be settled upon," explained Mr. Zahaiduk.

However, at least one archaeologist close to the matter said he and his colleagues would not get access to the site or to the plans. The archaeologist, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that the city would continue to pay lip service to the experts, but privately had decided unilaterally on a compromise to resolve the issue. He said architects had developed a plan to preserve only the main section of the gates and enclose it in glass, which would become a prime exhibit in the underground mall. Other features of the gates, as well as an accompanying wall and peripheral artifacts would be dug up and hauled away.

Mr. Zahaiduk explained that anything other than a full-scale archaeological investigation would not allow "for a full historical picture" of the site.

Ruslan Kukharenko, Kyiv's director for preservation of architectural monuments, who is responsible for protecting archaeological finds in the city, repeatedly refused to speak with The Weekly on the matter.

One of several obstacles that Mr. Zahaiduk and the interested archaeologists face in their battle to save the Liadski Gates is in dealing with commercial interests that already have purchased the rights to parcels of the subterranean mall on which the archaeological site is found. Another issue they confront is a construction deadline of August, when Independence Square will serve as the focal point for nationwide celebrations of Ukraine's 10th anniversary of independence.

Mr. Zahaiduk explained that experts calling for a full-scale archaeological dig today confront the same problem they did in 1981 when city planners, hurrying to prepare the city for the 26th Communist Party Congress, refused to permit delays to properly excavate and preserve the site. He said that at that time, after he and co-workers had succeeded in locating the archaeological treasure and obtaining agreement to dig out their find, they returned to the site one day to see a major portion of the fortification wall gone. City officials had authorized the action without informing the archaeologists.

The Liadski Gates were one of three entrances into the capital city of the medieval empire of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise. The more famous main entryway, the Golden Gates, was restored long ago and today is a prime tourist attraction.

While the western facing Zhydivskyi (Lviv) Gates led out of the city onto the road to the West, the Liadski Gates were the southern egress point and led to the Pechersk district, where the Monastery of the Caves was located, and to the main road to the Black Sea. In 1240 Mongol invaders led by Batu Khan destroyed some of the southern wall as they laid ruin to the city.

In current reconstruction plans for Independence Square, the ancient remains of the Liadski Gates, enclosed in a glass structure rising from the floor of the square, would dominate a portion of the new Independence Square at about where the Grand Fountain earlier stood. Aside it, steps will lead to the subterranean shopping center, which will occupy two floors beneath the surface. Before the entryway to the mall and closer to the Khreschatyk, an arching fountain will be found. The St. Michael the Archangel monument, which will stand at its present site at the forefront of the northern side of the plaza, will be the only recognizable feature remaining of the Independence Square of the last two decades.

Plans for the southern side of the square call for a pantheon of Ukrainian historical figures to be located in the rear, nearer to the Hotel Moskva. A historical museum dedicated to Ukrainian independence will rise in front of the hotel. A female-inspired figure representing Ukrainian independence mounted on a 40-meter column will dominate that side of the square and much of the city center.

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