"Armenia's Archaeological Heritage deserves better protection" by Carlo Coppola
Questo articolo di Carlo Coppola è apparso in lingua italiana sul periodico "La Fiaccola" diretto dall'avvocato Paolo Scagliarini al seguente indirizzo:
https://www.lafiaccola.it/wp/armenia-un-patrimonio-storico-in-pericolo/
Armenia's historical and archaeological heritage ranks among the most extraordinary in the Caucasus region — and, in many respects, in the world. Precisely because of this, its protection cannot be left to improvisation, nor entrusted to staff who are inadequately trained or motivated. Likewise, its safeguarding cannot depend on the occasional goodwill of individual officials or particularly conscientious employees. Yet anyone who visits Armenia's archaeological sites and museums with a careful eye will often encounter a troubling reality: gaps in oversight, insufficient staff training, and, in some cases, a neglect that betrays a certain institutional indifference.
One episode, among many, stands out as emblematic. At one of the best-known archaeological sites in an Armenian metropolitan area — where traces of ancient frescoes are still visible — a visitor climbed over the modest fence and removed a fragment, reacting with indifference when confronted by another visitor. We prefer not to disclose the nationality of the person involved, which is linked to a geopolitical context that sometimes fosters a misplaced sense of entitlement toward other nations' cultural heritage. The witness reported the incident to on-site security staff; however, the elderly guard dismissed the matter, remarking that the fragments were "just copies" and that the woman was therefore free to do as she pleased. No one else intervened.
An equally telling episode took place a couple of years ago at a major museum in the capital, Yerevan. After purchasing full-price tickets, our group — Italian and Armenian friends together — was admitted without being informed of the actual, earlier-than-advertised closing time. Once inside, we noticed a distinct coldness from the staff, whom we repeatedly asked to explain their unfriendly attitude. Initial muttering escalated into rude remarks, as the museum attendants assumed we could not understand the language — let alone the insults directed at us. Only when a member of our group replied in their own language did the tone shift, though certainly not for the better.
Complaints submitted to the directors of this and other museums, as well as to the relevant national authorities, went unanswered officially, partly due to a convenient sense of institutional solidarity. Moreover, a personal clarification promised by one museum director never materialized, due to his subsequent unavailability.
Incidents like these recur with troubling frequency and cannot be dismissed as isolated anecdotes. They reveal, instead, a systemic fragility in the chain of responsibility, from front-line staff up to management level. This is not a question of Armenia's extraordinary cultural wealth, nor of the dedication of those — including archaeologists achieving internationally significant discoveries — who work with seriousness and expertise. The real issue is the absence of a structured system of oversight, training, and accountability, compounded by a lingering late-Soviet-era mindset no longer suited to protecting a heritage that future generations have every right to inherit.
Faced with these episodes, the responsible authorities must exercise greater vigilance — not to punish, but to prevent the carelessness of a few from irreparably damaging a legacy that belongs to the entire Armenian nation, and, more broadly, to the history of humanity.
Beyond these incidents, further concerns relate to an approach to restoration that is not always rigorous. In some cases, work relies more on a Soviet-style reconstructive logic than on solid scientific research, involving the use of cement-based mortars and chemical components not always suited to the nature of the artifacts, their original materials, or the characteristics of the sites themselves.
For some time now, various international organizations have sought to engage with Armenian technical authorities to share updated standards in restoration and museology. It is hoped that this dialogue can lead to real, lasting change.
Carlo Coppola
