Presentation of the Open Scientific-practical complex "The craft of the medieval town of Bolgar" took place in Bolgar
On June 14, a presentation of the Open Bolgar scientific and practical complex "The craft of medieval town in Bolgar" took place. Construction of the complex was made possible thanks to the implementation of the complex project "Cultural Heritage of Tatarstan: the Island Sviyazhsk and the ancient Bolgar."
The event was attended by Acting President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, State Advisor of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, deputies of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, heads of ministries and departments, heads of municipalities of the Republic of Tatarstan and other officials.
The presentation was attended by specialists of the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan (Volga) Federal University, masters of historical crafts, historical reconstruction club "Vityaz", the Kazan technical college of folk crafts.
During the presentation, guests were shown the capacities of opening complex in solving problems of presenting the latest achievements of the study and conservation of cultural heritage of Bulgaria.
The work of the complex " The craft of medieval town of Bolgar" includes several projects:
1) restoration and experimental, archaeological, laboratory, studying the material culture of Bolgar in the fields of technology and handicraft production;
2) international archeological field school to integrate research and to attract domestic and foreign experts to study the handicraft traditions of Bolgar;
3) experimental interactive workshops, conducting popularization of scientific data and presentation of the archaeological heritage.
Guests of the event got acquainted with results and perspectives of the International School, which is going to receive participants from 25 countries this year. Besides school, it solves the problems of presenting heritage of Bolgar to the international community by the academic literature in English - guests of the event were presented a scientific atlas «Great Bolgar», prepared by the Kazan and Russian scientists. They also demonstrated the principles of information and navigation system www.bolgar.mobi, allowing tourists to get information about the objects of seeing, using the QR-code. The interest of visitors was caused also by presentation of a multi-platform interactive virtual world Bolgar of XIV century. Finally, another form of the potential of the cultural heritage of Bulgaria were the works by of the Kazan technical college of folk crafts.
Visit to restoration laboratory allowed the guests to see the technology of conservation of artifacts produced during archaeological excavations, as well as the methods and technologies of the past, recreating medieval replica products. An example of the activities of the laboratory staff was the restored fabric of headscarf worn by young Bolgar resident of the Bolgar XIV century - a unique artifact of the Egyptian production, decorated with delicate ornaments of gold embroidery.
A visit to the experimental interactive workshops allowed visitors to plunge into the life of the Bolgarian market heyday of the city. Every visitor of the complex was able to try his hand at pottery, jewelry, blacksmithing, glass making or carving crafts, take part in traditional medieval amusements, taste the dishes prepared according to old recipes.
The guests noted the importance of the tasks implemented by the staff of the complex "The Craft of the medieval town of Bolgar", a successful combination of scientific approach, and interactive forms of presentation materials.
Press service
Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan