Laboratory for Architectural Archaeology and the Inter-disciplinary Study of Architectural Monuments

Scientific results:

• We have collected data on the element composition of paint pigments, plaster and the technology of application of foundation and paint layers in the fresco art of the Georgievskiy cathedral of the Yuriev monastery.
• We accumulated similar data on fresco art of Kievan Rus monuments that are synchronous in chronology.
• Our researchers collected information on the archaeological context of the Georgievskiy cathedral on the basis of natural science research.
• We have systematized, categorized and digitalized archaeological frescoes stored in two workshops of the Novgorod State Integrated Museum Reserve and in the Yuriev monastery.
• Our researchers have conducted an art analysis of fresco paintings, validating a version concerning the origin and composition of the gang of masters who worked on the painting and justifying the dating of the original paintings in the cathedral.
• We have published historical and archive materials that fill gaps in the history of the monastery ensemble as well as a historical and archaeological description of the necropolis of the Georgievskiy cathedral.
• The Laboratory has published a collection of articles that includes all the research that is not related to fresco material.

The listed and other obtained scientific results were published in leading academic journals: the leading scientist and members of the academic team published 16 academic articles in journals indexed by various systems. The results of the research were published in the collection of articles «Architectural archaeology». Moscow, 2022. 267 p. In the collection we reflected the results of the study of architectural, archaeological and anthropological context of the Yuriyev monastery in the Middle Ages.

Implementation of research results:

Scientific organizations will be able to use the data accumulated by the Laboratory and its developments to further expand the basic humanities research of the cultural heritage. Practical methodologies and developments are already being used and will be modernized by organizations performing restoration works and providing specialized storage for objects of cultural heritage.

Education and retraining of personnel:

• We have created a part of an education course in architectural archaeology and radiometry within a master’s degree program for students of the Department of Archaeology of State Academic University for the Humanities.
• The master’s degree program «Theory and practice of archaeological research»: «Architectural archaeology» (implemented on the basis of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences).
• For bachelor’s degree graduation theses. have been prepared.

Collaboration:

• Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Biochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kurchatov Institute, Novgorod State United Museum and Novgorod State Integrated Museum Reserve (Russia), University of Pavia, AGM Archeoanalisi (Italy): joint research of engineering and technology in fresco  art.
• Laboratory RSSDA (Russia): manufacturing 3D models.
• «TESCAN» LLC: training of personnel, installation and technoloigcal support of a TESCAN VEGA Compact LMH scanning electron mecrocope that allows to perform a wide range of measurements of the element composition of paint pigments used in  ancient Russian art and the element compositions of various plasters used in the technological process of the production of fresco art (foundation, leveling, gesso).