Presentation of the Restoration of Zayayn Khüree by the Monaco-Mongolian Joint Archaeological Expedition. Organisation, Schedule, Objectives and Results

In 2007, part of the scientific team of the Monaco-Mongolian Joint Archaeological Expedition was mandated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences of Mongolia to lead a survey of the four buildings composing the Lavran of Zayayn Khuree. The Guden Sum (also called Lavran) to the north, the two lateral Semchins and the Entrance Hall now house the Museum of Arkhangai Province. The buildings required urgent restoration, especially waterproofing the roofs. The diagnosis given by Fabrice Laudrin (Bibracte Research Centre) focused on the weaknesses of the Eastern Semchin, the structure of which had suffered great distortions. The Office of International Cooperation of Monaco Principality, which had supported the survey, continued its support by funding historical and architectural research on the buildings and the subsequent restoration work from 2007 to 2013. It was important to understand the turbulent history of this monastery before working on its structure. Isabelle Charleux brought her knowledge and vast experience to help establish the chronology of the historical events that have marked the monastery complex and its surroundings from the 17th century on. The in-depth research carried out by Krisztina Teleki and Zsuzsa Majer in the archives and drawing on local monks’ and laypersons’ testimonies has increased our knowledge of the social and political context of the past eighty years. The buildings themselves bear the scars of the political and cultural changes. Thus when Amelie Perrier (now Assistant Professor, University of Orleans) participated in the survey, she also documented the traces of the successive transformations that the structures and decorations of the buildings had undergone. Finally, the Monaco-Mongolian Joint Archaeological Expedition entrusted architect Natalia Markova to draw up complete plans of the four buildings. Following all these studies, restoration began in autumn 2010 with the Eastern Semchin. Restoration work continued in 2012 with the complete replacement of the Entrance Hall roof. From the outset, the restoration project was placed under the aegis of UNESCO, meeting the goals and ideals of the organization for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage situated along the ancient Northern Silk Roads.