FocusEn.net Boryana Mateva: Leaving Thracian treasure in Isperih is not just a matter of prestige to the town
Boryana Mateva, Director of Museum of History in the municipality of Isperih, in an interview with FOCUS – Shumen Radio
FOCUS: Ms. Mateva, residents of the town of Isperih want the recently unearthed gold treasure to remain in their town. Is it possible to keep it in the Museum of History in Isperih?
Boryana Mateva: The gold treasure trove is in Sofia, on display in the Institute of Archeology. Local people want it back to the region where it was unearthed, i.e. our region. At a meeting with the mayor of the municipality we discussed the issue and the security of Sboryanovo reserve. The municipality has committed to financing the security of the reserve until the spring in order to avoid raids by treasure hunters. We have also discussed the legal possibility to return the treasure to the town of Isperih. In accordance with the Cultural Heritage Act the finds are handed to the state or municipal museum that has been studying the site or to the museum that offers storage conditions and is closest to the site where the finds have been unearthed. The museum that offers storage conditions and is nearest to the site where the gold Thracian treasure has been discovered is ours. At the time when the treasure was unearthed, a commission was checking our papers and stocks and it established that our stocks are in a very good condition and we offer conditions for storing anything. The treasure has been handed to the National Museum of Archeology, this is possible as well, i.e. it is not illegal, but it is a bit unfair towards the region, museum and municipality. Residents of the town of Isperih consider launching a petition to return the objects here. This is their civil right. The mayor of the municipality Mr. Basri and I discussed the security of the site where the treasure was unearthed and the possibility to make the area more accessible, but the place where the treasure was found is very unattractive and the treasure itself is not there and the idea is almost unfeasible. The treasure was discovered in the profile of a tumulus and if it is not there, there is nothing to visit. But there are a lot of other sites and places across the reserve that should be displayed. At the beginning of December a commission with the Department for Immovable Monuments at Inspectorate for Cultural Heritage Preservation in the Culture Ministry is expected to assess the condition of the sites in the reserve which have been and are being studied, the possibility to display them and the future work at these sites. As early as in the summer the museum in Isperih asked for an overall check of its work and as far as papers, stocks and movable cultural heritage is concerned, the check is over. We do not have the final results, but are anticipating the recommendations. At the beginning of the next month we expect a check into the immovable heritage. It is necessary to verify the condition of the sites in the reserve, complete the excavations soon and make the sites accessible. It is very hard to guard about nine incomplete sites which have been studied for 20, 15, 10 or 5 years. It is impossible to make them all accessible. That’s why we asked for a commission.
FOCUS: Do you have conditions to store the treasure?
Boryana Mateva: This is a very precious object. We have enough conditions to store any find, but such a national treasure requires further measures. It is difficult and expensive to preserve such valuable objects. But take the storage of the Gold Pegasus in the town of Razgrad. I think we can also do it properly. According to the law the treasure could remain with us, or with another state or municipal museum. The law provides for a few options, but it is quite normal for local people to insist on having the treasure in Isperih. This is a huge treasure. If it is here, more people will visit both the reserve and municipality. The economic effect will be big. To local people it is not just a matter of prestige.
FOCUS: What type of security has been provided for Sboryanovo reserve and for the site where the treasures was unearthed?
Boryana Mateva: There are police at the site where the treasure was unearthed. In principle, the police observe the whole reserve. Demir Baba Teke and Sveshtari Tumulus are constantly guarded. So are large sections of the reserve which are close to these sites. The security guards at Sveshtari Tumulus can directly see the tumulus where the treasure was discovered.
Ivelina IVANOVA
FOCUS: Ms. Mateva, residents of the town of Isperih want the recently unearthed gold treasure to remain in their town. Is it possible to keep it in the Museum of History in Isperih?
Boryana Mateva: The gold treasure trove is in Sofia, on display in the Institute of Archeology. Local people want it back to the region where it was unearthed, i.e. our region. At a meeting with the mayor of the municipality we discussed the issue and the security of Sboryanovo reserve. The municipality has committed to financing the security of the reserve until the spring in order to avoid raids by treasure hunters. We have also discussed the legal possibility to return the treasure to the town of Isperih. In accordance with the Cultural Heritage Act the finds are handed to the state or municipal museum that has been studying the site or to the museum that offers storage conditions and is closest to the site where the finds have been unearthed. The museum that offers storage conditions and is nearest to the site where the gold Thracian treasure has been discovered is ours. At the time when the treasure was unearthed, a commission was checking our papers and stocks and it established that our stocks are in a very good condition and we offer conditions for storing anything. The treasure has been handed to the National Museum of Archeology, this is possible as well, i.e. it is not illegal, but it is a bit unfair towards the region, museum and municipality. Residents of the town of Isperih consider launching a petition to return the objects here. This is their civil right. The mayor of the municipality Mr. Basri and I discussed the security of the site where the treasure was unearthed and the possibility to make the area more accessible, but the place where the treasure was found is very unattractive and the treasure itself is not there and the idea is almost unfeasible. The treasure was discovered in the profile of a tumulus and if it is not there, there is nothing to visit. But there are a lot of other sites and places across the reserve that should be displayed. At the beginning of December a commission with the Department for Immovable Monuments at Inspectorate for Cultural Heritage Preservation in the Culture Ministry is expected to assess the condition of the sites in the reserve which have been and are being studied, the possibility to display them and the future work at these sites. As early as in the summer the museum in Isperih asked for an overall check of its work and as far as papers, stocks and movable cultural heritage is concerned, the check is over. We do not have the final results, but are anticipating the recommendations. At the beginning of the next month we expect a check into the immovable heritage. It is necessary to verify the condition of the sites in the reserve, complete the excavations soon and make the sites accessible. It is very hard to guard about nine incomplete sites which have been studied for 20, 15, 10 or 5 years. It is impossible to make them all accessible. That’s why we asked for a commission.
FOCUS: Do you have conditions to store the treasure?
Boryana Mateva: This is a very precious object. We have enough conditions to store any find, but such a national treasure requires further measures. It is difficult and expensive to preserve such valuable objects. But take the storage of the Gold Pegasus in the town of Razgrad. I think we can also do it properly. According to the law the treasure could remain with us, or with another state or municipal museum. The law provides for a few options, but it is quite normal for local people to insist on having the treasure in Isperih. This is a huge treasure. If it is here, more people will visit both the reserve and municipality. The economic effect will be big. To local people it is not just a matter of prestige.
FOCUS: What type of security has been provided for Sboryanovo reserve and for the site where the treasures was unearthed?
Boryana Mateva: There are police at the site where the treasure was unearthed. In principle, the police observe the whole reserve. Demir Baba Teke and Sveshtari Tumulus are constantly guarded. So are large sections of the reserve which are close to these sites. The security guards at Sveshtari Tumulus can directly see the tumulus where the treasure was discovered.
Ivelina IVANOVA
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