The Conservation programme

The Butrint Foundation aimed to introduce modern conservation methods at Butrint from the beginning. A basic condition survey of key monuments was made in 1995 (with support from the World Monuments Fund) followed by a detailed condition survey of all monuments in 2002 (compiled by Richard Andrews as part of the World Bank Institutional Development Fund (IDF) programme for the Butrint National Park). This condition survey is now being continually updated.

The first conservation interventions were made in 1994-95 and involved introducing a woodland management scheme to control the rampant vegetation growth as well as first aid of certain key monuments including the Baptistery.

Since 2000 the scope of the conservation programme has grown considerably. Great emphasis has been placed upon training the Butrint National Park staff in modern conservation methods, while major conservation interventions have included the conservation and presentation of the Triconch Palace (2005), the consolidation and presentation of the Diaporit villa (2006), the conservation of the Nymphaeum by the Great Basilica (2006) and conservation of the Vrina Plain basilica mosaic (2006). (These projects were funded by the Howard and Nancy Marks Fund.) Following condition surveys of the 19 km of ancient and medieval fortifications as well as the Baptistery mosaic pavement, future programmes will include conservation of these prominent monuments.