This project focuses on protection, presentation and education in matters relating to our archaeological cultural heritage through the as yet unpublished collection of finds from important Great Moravian sites, some of which have been declared national cultural monuments, and the presentation of these finds to the general public in the form of an international exhibition. The principal theme of the project is the Christianisation of Great Moravia, i.e. the issue which links our material and intangible national cultural heritage and which requires the new finds to be summarised to mark the 1150th anniversary since the arrival of Cyril and Methodius into Central Europe; this anniversary is due in 2013.
The first phase of the project will particularly involve analysis of the as yet unpublished material acquired in the course of archaeological surveys (specifically, for example, the remains of the ecclesiastical buildings in Mikulčice and Staré Město, chemical analysis of the structural elements of Great Moravian ecclesiastical buildings in general, analysis of Great Moravian graves with Christian or lingering evidence of pre-Christian grave goods, etc.) These finds will be discussed and developed at conferences during the anniversary year of Cyril and Methodius in 2013 attended by the leading experts on this topic from the Czech Republic and abroad and will be presented to the public in the form of published works.
The results will then be presented to the general public in a unique exhibition which will be held in Prague, Brno and Bratislava in 2015. Exhibits will include original artefacts from some of the most important grave complexes in the Great Moravian centres and vivid reconstructions of selected Great Moravian churches, made using special resin-casting technology, as well as 3D visual models of some Great Moravian churches (interiors and exteriors) and other attractions intended to stimulate interest in our country’s historical cultural heritage.
Researcher: Archeologický ústav AV ČR, Brno, v. v. i.
Co-Researcher: Moravské zemské muzeum Brno
Duration: 2012 - 2015
Mgr. Miroslava Šudomová (sudomova@arub.cz)
Mgr. Zdenka Kosarová (kosarova@arub.cz)
“Great Moravia and 1150 Years of Christianity in Central Europe“ project is a part of Applied research and development of national and cultural identity Programme (short „NAKI“) declared and supported by Ministry of Culture ot Czech Republic for 2012 - 2015.
