Proposed modifications to the Celtic settlement of Závist involve the transportation of materials

Dolní Břežany - The proposed modifications to the Celtic settlement of Závist in the cadastral area of Dolní Břežany near Prague involve the addition of 1000 to 2000 cubic meters of material, whether solid or loose. Instead of the originally planned colored concrete panels, hewn stones will be laid dry above the archaeological objects. This was stated by the designer Josef Pleskot during today's public discussion of the project at the ELI Beamlines laser center in Dolní Břežany.

According to him, the area needs to be leveled, stones carefully processed, and positioned precisely above the archaeological excavations. "We agree with the archaeologists that we need to add material rather than remove it," said the architect. The director of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences, Jan Mařík, welcomed this intention. "It is crucial that there is no disturbance of the structures hidden beneath the surface," Mařík added.

The project to modify the Celtic settlement "Re-Presenting" in its original form raised negative reactions from the public, particularly due to the proposed use of concrete. The revised proposal incorporates stone, which according to experts better respects the environment of the monument. Pleskot stated that he met with the authors of the protest petition and clarified several points.

Regional councilor for culture Václav Švenda (Allies) reminded that the project is currently being carried out by the municipality of Dolní Břežany and will eventually be taken over by the region. "A new building permit will be requested, and if the project aligns with the interests of both professional and lay public, it will subsequently be taken over by the Central Bohemian Region, which has a development plan for the information center of Celtic culture," added Švenda.

There has been a closed meeting of experts regarding the project and already two public discussions, today being the third. Some people expressed concerns that the future appearance of the settlement would attract more tourists. They believe that the monument is already threatened by a high number of visitors, which increased after the construction of the observation tower. The site attracts a large number of cyclists, runners, or dog walkers. Some discussants pointed out that a large number of visitors frightens the wildlife, which has nowhere to escape in the limited area. Others defended the project, claiming that the site invites walks but is not a destination for mass tourism.

The settlement and Celtic oppidum of Závist is a national cultural monument. It is an area that is mostly covered by forest today. Archaeological research, focused primarily on the so-called acropolis, revealed the floor plans of several different structures identified as sanctuaries, whose analogies are sought in Etruscan or Greek settings. According to experts, it is one of the most important sites of the La Tène period in Bohemia and Central Europe. However, the trenches from the archaeological research were not immediately backfilled after the completion of the research. Experts prevented the immediate destruction of the revealed structures by covering the entire area with rubble in 2004.