Cultural heritage
The BTC project right of way passes through 250 kilometres of land that has been visited, lived upon, and shaped by people for some 1.75 million years-the country of Georgia.
The BTC company made an early commitment to the protection of archaeological sites and monuments during pipeline construction and operation. In collaboration with the Centre for Archaeological Studies (CAS) and the Cultural Heritage Protection Department, the BTC project heritage protection programme was formalized.
Spending on this programme has been approximately $3 million. Our activities have been audited by IEC and one of the PMDI NGO working groups.
Support for the Georgian National Museum (GNM)
BP in Georgia has embarked upon a partnership programme with the country's leading cultural institution, the Georgian National Museum.
In an agreement with Georgia State Museum Development Association made in January 2006, we agreed to provide a grant of $500,000 towards establishing a learning facility at the GNM in Tbilisi. This will include an auditorium and a learning centre. These will provide a world-class facility for a broad range of educational activities.
A separate grant made under the partnership programme is supporting the development of a tourist facility in Dmanisi, a medieval village near Tbilisi where archaeological digs have discovered fossils of early humans. The grant, worth $400,000, will promote Dmanisi as a cultural and educational site, attracting visitors to the area and generating economic benefits for the region.
Three sites Mtskheta, Dzalisa and Vani will be developed and preserved with the support of BP funding of USD 200 000. The agreement has been signed by BP and Georgia National Museum. The main goal of this project is to develop archaeological sites for tourism by creating cultural heritage protection zones, archaeological parks, improving management of three important heritage sites and enhancing the regional museums.
Conservation of St George's Church, Tadzrisi
St George's Church, located off the BTC right of way, is one element of a nationally significant cultural heritage site called Tadzrisi Monastery. The monastery was originally constructed between 830 and the late 900s but later abandoned and fell into disrepair.
Between May and November 2005, the church was carefully cleaned, stabilised and reconstructed by the Georgian chapter of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) funded through a BTC grant. This involved removing vegetation and over 500 years of overburden and sediment. Archaeological investigations were also conducted. All stones and features were carefully mapped upon exposure and where possible the original stones were used to reconstruct the walls of the church. A variety of highly skilled and predominantly Georgian masons, engineers, stonecutters, archaeologists, and architects were involved throughout the process.
A side benefit of this project has been the improvement in relations with local village residents culminating in a letter of gratitude from the community in the autumn of 2005. Visitors to the site have already included government officials, representatives of specialist international organizations such as UNESCO, local residents, and tourists. The site if properly managed and promoted, could be an integral part of Georgia's economic growth strategies, including heritage tourism.