Digitalization and Inventory of Cultural Heritage of Truso Valley
Conducting an extensive inventory of the Truso Valley allowed us to systematically document and assess the region’s cultural heritage. Our work included cataloging monuments and objects, capturing photo documentation, verifying GPS coordinates, and gathering essential information for inventory documentation and database integration.
As part of this effort, we also prepared the legally required inventory documents—cultural heritage monument inventory cards—while updating and verifying existing records. The finalized documentation was submitted to the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia to facilitate the recognition of identified sites as immovable cultural heritage monuments.
Key Achievements:
Digital Access: We launched a dedicated website providing online access to information about the valley’s cultural monuments.
Community Engagement: Local students actively participated in the project, fostering a deeper connection with their cultural heritage.
Between June and October 2024, we conducted fieldwork and expeditions, resulting in the compilation of 93 inventory cards for cultural heritage sites in Truso. Notably, 30 of these were newly identified and documented by our team.
Previously, the state had recorded 61 objects, but only 17 were officially granted cultural heritage status. Additionally, LOMEKI had cataloged 74 objects, which led us to hypothesize the existence of further undocumented monuments. This assumption was confirmed through the execution of this project, reinforcing the need for continued research and preservation efforts.
Kelitsadi Lake is situated on a volcanic plateau between the summits of Sherkhota and Khorikhari. It is possible to climb up to it via a difficult trail from the Truso Gorge. The lake is covered with ice and snow for nine months. The best time to reach it is in August and September. Because of the close proximity to the de-facto border, visitors need a special pass.
Kelitsadi Lake
Kelitsadi Lake
In 2023.20.15-2024.02.15 Lomeki was implementing USAID Civil Society Engagement Program funded project "Involvement of the local population for the advocacy of the development policy of the protected landscape and cultural heritage of the Truso Valley". The goal of the project was to protect nature and historical monuments in the unique Truso valley and to increase community engagement in this process.
Project Goal: The project’s overall objective is to save the historical heritage and the natural landscape of the Truso valley by highlighting its significance, engaging professionals, and advocating for the government to take more effective steps to manage and protect the land.
Brief Description: The Truso valley is a part of Kazbegi municipality that is rich in cultural and historical heritage. It includes the remains of more than 20 historical settlements, including medieval ones. Most of these settlements have not been granted cultural heritage status. In 2008, in reaction to the Russia-Georgia war, the Georgian government declared a moratorium on land sale and registration in the Truso valley as it bordered the occupied territories. In 2020, the moratorium was lifted. Since then, much of the land has been appropriated, and many monuments have been damaged. The monitoring works conducted over the last 10 years have shown that the number of people using the valley for summer pastures has increased, and historical buildings are being used as a shelter for livestock. Ritual items kept in the churches have been lost and several historic buildings have been destroyed. In 2021, the Georgian parliament enacted a law on Creating and Managing the Truso Protected Landscape. According to the law, the valley must be managed by a representative council created by Kazbegi municipality. The composition of the council, its mandate, and other procedural issues must be determined by the bylaws approved by the Kazbegi government. One year has passed since the law’s enactment, and the Kazbegi government still has not created the council. It also has not taken effective measures to prevent arbitrary constructions in the Truso valley. To address these problems, the project will advocate for the timely creation of the council and the development of the Truso protected landscape management plan through citizen participation. The project will also call for declaring a moratorium on land registration in the valley until these issues are resolved.
Scope of Work: To achieve the project objectives, Lomeki will carry out the following activities:
• Organize online and onsite consultation meetings with subject area experts to review the project action plan, Georgia’s legislation, and international best practices in the related areas.
• Organize working meetings with the representatives of the Kazbegi government to present the project objectives and activities and agree on cooperation.
• Organize public meetings in seven public schools in Kazbegi municipality to inform local youth about the project objectives and activities and encourage participation. Recruit young volunteers to participate in the project activities.
• Organize informational meetings and a door-to-door campaign with the participation of local youth in the villages of Kazbegi municipality to inform citizens about the project objectives and activities and mobilize their support.
• Organize a summer camp for the most active young volunteers to engage them in planning future activities.
• Organize roundtable discussions on the preservation and development of the Truso valley covering the following issues: Truso protected landscape and protected territories, Truso’s cultural monuments, biodiversity and environmental protection, land use and agricultural activities in the Truso valley, tourism development in the Truso valley.
• Set up a summer tent in the village of Zakagori (the most accessible village in the Truso valley) and organize a photo exhibition of historical monuments in the Truso valley. The exhibition will include both archival and new photos. The information about the exhibition will be distributed on social media. Tour operators will also be informed about the exhibition. A tent will host special events for mountain guides and visitors to raise their awareness about the historical and cultural value of the Truso valley.
• Prepare and popularize a catalog of historical sites and monuments in the Truso valley.
• Organize community planning workshops and discussions to engage local citizens in developing the concept and plan for the preservation and development of the Truso valley.
• Present the final concept and plan to stakeholders, including government representatives, experts, the private sector, and donor organizations.
• Organize a media camping tour to the Truso valley to attract the media attention to the problems in the Truso valley and promote the solutions proposed by the project.
• Run an active social media campaign on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to publicize the project objectives, activities, and outcomes.
