Publication details
Multidisciplinary archaeological research and monument restoration of the Pernštejn castle decorative gardens
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The garden grounds, founded in the baroque style in the 18th century and extended under the vogue of Anglo-Chinese (or "sentimental") style at the beginning of the 19th century below medieval Pernštejn Castle, were until recently in a state of disrepair. Therefore, their overall restoration was undertaken. During this process, it was necessary to subject the area to comprehensive archaeological research. The first stage took place in 2016 and was aimed at gathering maximum information on the appearance and layout of the garden, including detailed data on extant structures from previous research on immobile cultural monuments carried out in 2003. In this stage, a non-destructive geophysical survey by ground-penetrating radar was conducted, and subsequently, its results were verified by small excavations in the form of test pits. The second stage, completed in 2019, consisted of extensive archaeological excavation. Its purpose was to document the sites disturbed or exposed during construction works and, possibly, identify their value as cultural heritage so that they could be either integrated into the restoration plan or re-covered and conserved underground. The research was exceptional in terms of its contribution to the restoration of the castle grounds and played an active part in the whole restoration effort. The survey partly helped to discern the original layout of the flat areas of the garden, and its findings had a substantial impact on the intended appearance of the grounds as projected in the initial stages of restoration. The archaeological research proper, carried out simultaneously with the construction works, confirmed the validity of the initial conjectures about the layout of the gardens and delivered additional detailed information about their past appearance and chronological development. In the end, a successful restoration has not only preserved an important piece of cultural heritage but also created a beautiful historical space for the public to enjoy. |
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