The slopes of one of the Kernavė mounds are slipping, warns the head of the reserve’s management.



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According to him, two landslides of about 5 meters wide and about 15-18 meters long were observed on Friday on the western slope of the Mindaugas throne mound after the start of the thaw and the sudden melting of a layer of snow from more than a meter thick. and soaked in the ground. Depth of cracks: about one meter.

“From February 25 to 26, when the temperature rose, the Mindaugas throne mound began to break, and the entire slope moved during the day. The landslide itself has stopped, we are seeing it. We hope the landslide will stop, if not, the situation is quite dire, “R. Kraujelis told BNS on Wednesday.

We hope the landslide will stop, if not, the situation is quite dire.

In total, the damaged area on the western slope is, according to him, about 40 meters wide and about 20 meters long.

“Those hanging areas can also slip, so we calculated the maximum deformation area, not to scare the public, but to assess the threats. But even after receiving funding for management, it will not do anything until it starts, “he said.

Deformations are also observed on the north slope of the mound, where there is also a crack, this place was already managed two decades ago. The head of the address says that landslides on the mounds recur periodically every 5 to 10 years, especially when the temperature changes sharply, as has happened in recent days.

According to R. Kraujelis, since 1979 practically all the slopes of the Mindaugas throne mound have been managed.

Cracks have also been noted in another mound: Lizdeika Hill, here, according to R. Kraujelis, there are still no landslides.

After the snow melts over the weekend, landslides are expected to stop sliding, and the Ministry of Culture, heritage conservationists from the Department of Cultural Heritage, management experts from the National Museum, and Vilnius Gediminas Hill are currently being consulted on the emergency removal of the mound.

The director of the institution stressed that the management itself does not have the funds to eliminate the emergency situation and awaits the decisions of the Ministry of Culture and the Government. A detailed description of the situation is promised to the Ministry of Culture on Thursday.

The Vice Minister of Culture, Rimantas Mikaitis, admits that the situation is worrying and promises that the Ministry will request it from the Government.

Compared to last year, the scale of landslides and those emergencies is much greater.

“Apparently, we will go to the Government, because the situation is quite threatening. Compared to last year, the scale of landslides and those emergencies is much greater and the ministry here, apparently, alone will not be able to eliminate these consequences immediately. I think we can wait for next year’s budget, we hardly can either, ”said R. Mikaitis at the Seimas Culture Committee meeting on Wednesday.

Kernavė Archaeological Site: The Kernavė State Cultural Reserve has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004. The complex consists of a total of five mounds.



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