The experts of the Polim Museum from Beran completed the restoration and conservation of the memorial complex on the Jasikovac hill above this town and this monument, which represents the work of art of Bogdan Bogdanović, shined in its original glory.
According to the archaeologist Predrag Lutovac, all parts of the monument were cleaned - the conical part, forty stećaks, walkways, amphitheater, protective trenches, and the stone arches on the access staircase and tunnel, i.e. the bridge, were repaired.
"After cleaning, the stone is adequately protected," explained Lutovac.
He announced that in the second phase of the revaluation of this memorial complex, a park area of twenty-four hectares should be arranged.
"If the Ministry of Culture pays the funds, we plan to create a general or main design project for the memorial park, which covers 24 hectares. The planning of the parking lot, fencing of the complex, construction of walkways and paved paths in the complex, lighting, video surveillance, installation of benches and other facilities needed by the complex are foreseen. It is also planned to determine the location for a viewpoint or a restaurant that would complete the tourist offer", said Lutovac.
The experts of the Polim Museum started the restoration project of the memorial complex on the Jasikovac hill two months ago.
Archaeologist Lutovc adds that at the same time, a large project of restoration and conservation of eighteen monuments of the NOB and the revolution in cities in the north of Montenegro began.
"During the past year, the Ministry of Culture approved funds for the Polim Museum in Berane for five projects for the protection of cultural assets in the area of the municipalities of Berane, Bijelo Polje and Rožaje, with the aim of conducting certain research and initiating the procedure for them to enter the archive of cultural heritage", says Lutovac.
He explained that these are archaeological sites and monuments that were known to exist, but so far have not been treated as cultural assets, among which is the monument in Jasikovac.
According to him, on the basis of documentation from last year, when the revaluation of protected cultural monuments was carried out, it was established that until now only one memorial plaque was protected in Jasikovac with the inscription that nine patriots were shot at that place.
"In the late XNUMXs and early XNUMXs, Bogdan Bogdanović built a large memorial complex that, even today, has not been included in the list of protected cultural monuments. Considering that we had a lot of activities last year, we decided to transfer the work on the monument to this year, and now we have realized it," says Lutovac.
This well-known archaeologist also explains that the monument was returned to its original state with adequate restoration measures.
"Since its construction, no one has taken care of it, it was covered with graffiti and we cleaned the stone blocks during the last year. The main part of the monument was overgrown with lichen. We have now cleaned and conserved it all and treat this memorial complex as a protected cultural monument", Lutovac believes.
He adds that the archaeologists and restoration and conservation experts had the support of the local administration and JP "Komunalno", which helped in the removal of waste.
"We will expand the project to the arrangement of the forest, i.e. park area, if the Ministry transfers the funds. Our intention is to turn this place into a real Beran picnic spot and to make it a real cultural asset of the city," says Lutovac.
The experts of the Polim Museum from Beran, which should grow into a regional museum, will already start work on the restoration and conservation of certain monuments in neighboring cities in the north of Montenegro.
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