After St. Petersburg Turns 300, Archeologists Will Be Able to Dig within City Limits

At the exhibition to take place in Moscow from January 22 through 25, entitled 'St. Petersburg - 300 Years of Spiritual Culture', the Northern Capital of Russia will be represented as the world centre of the art of restoration. This is according to Nikita Yavein, Chairman of the State Committee for the Preservation of Monuments of the administration of St. Petersburg. Mr. Yavein says the committee is preparing an exhibit concerning major restoration work in St. Petersburg, a photo exhibit, and a presentation of the leading restoration and archeological companies.

According to Mr. Yavein, 'As soon as St. Petersburg turns 300 years old, it will officially become a historical city. Among other things, this status means archeologists will be able to dig within the city limits, in such areas as for once the Vasilievsky Island, Kronverk, and the Petrograd Side.' The exhibit is supposed to show to the world that St. Petersburg is the city where the world's leading experts work.

'However', Mr. Yavein noted, ' access to archeological finds in St. Petersburg is technically difficult. Once anything is doge up, if left in place, it may be destroyed by temperature differences and flooding.