Archaeological methods were first used in the study of the Summer Palace of Peter I during the comprehensive restoration of the landmark that took place in 1961-1964 under Arnold Gessen. The archaeological investigation was conducted in conjunction with a restorative exploration of the building’s walls, floors, and ceilings. The study found evidence of modifications made to the structure during construction and in the first few years of its existence, and led to the discovery of various architectural nuances. Unlike other walls in the palace, the wall between the First and Second Drawing Rooms was timber-framed. A brick arch between the external and internal walls was discovered under the floor in the bedroom of Peter I. Joist ends were uncovered in a wall that borders the stairwell. A flue unconnected to any existing stove was found in the Lower Kitchen. Outside the building, the borders of the “little harbor” (a small mooring area beside the palace’s southern facade) were identified, sections of the brick surfacing of the embankment were exposed, and for the first time the sewer was examined. Two of the openings created in the interior of the palace were left exposed for viewing.
Earthworks conducted around the walls in the 1990s were overseen from an archeological perspective by Viktor Kornetsvit. While observing work being done on the northern facade, beam pockets were discovered, intended to support wooden flooring that extended all along the building. In 2006 a St Petersburg archaeological expedition (headed by Pyotr Sorokin) dug an archaeological test pit in the southwest corner of the “little harbor” in order to determine the location of the basin’s borders.
In 2010, in conjunction with the overall restoration of the Summer Gardens, a large-scale archaeological dig was conducted at the site of the Summer Palace’s “little harbor”. The mooring area's retaining walls were fully exposed, as was a section of the brick surfacing of the embankment, as well as parts of walls of structures of the palace compound that adjoined the basin on its south and west sides. The lower sections of a porch were also discovered in front of the palace’s southern entrance, through which one gained access to the palace from the side of the basin. An impressive array of archeologically significant items I more than 1100 pieces from the material culture of the 18th century - was discovered during the excavation. After the excavations were complete, the retaining walls, along with a section of brick surfacing, were museumised, and the southern entrance’s stone porch was recreated.
In 2011, the stone wall of the Neva River embankment, on the northern side, was exposed. It was determined that the space between the embankment’s retaining wall and the northern wall of the palace was part of the sewage system, a tunnel floored with wood.
The restoration works on the palace that were done from 2013 I 2015, both in the palace’s interior and on its facades, included the creation of a series of trenches and test pits that would facilitate the study of the foundation and the lower sections of the walls, aid in determining the stages of the palace’s construction, and shed light on the alterations to the palace made at the beginning of the 18th century. The Summer Palace’s sewer system was studied in detail during the restorative works, resulting in an exact geodesic sketch and a very precise documentation of its walls and vaults.
Archaeological methods were first used in the study of the Summer Palace of Peter I during the comprehensive restoration of the landmark that took place in 1961-1964 under Arnold Gessen. The archaeological investigation was conducted in conjunction with a restorative exploration of the building’s walls, floors, and ceilings. The study found evidence of modifications made to the structure during construction and in the first few years of its existence, and led to the discovery of various architectural nuances. Unlike other walls in the palace, the wall between the First and Second Drawing Rooms was timber-framed. A brick arch between the external and internal walls was discovered under the floor in the bedroom of Peter I. Joist ends were uncovered in a wall that borders the stairwell. A flue unconnected to any existing stove was found in the Lower Kitchen. Outside the building, the borders of the “little harbor” (a small mooring area beside the palace’s southern facade) were identified, sections of the brick surfacing of the embankment were exposed, and for the first time the sewer was examined. Two of the openings created in the interior of the palace were left exposed for viewing.
Earthworks conducted around the walls in the 1990s were overseen from an archeological perspective by Viktor Kornetsvit. While observing work being done on the northern facade, beam pockets were discovered, intended to support wooden flooring that extended all along the building. In 2006 a St Petersburg archaeological expedition (headed by Pyotr Sorokin) dug an archaeological test pit in the southwest corner of the “little harbor” in order to determine the location of the basin’s borders.
In 2010, in conjunction with the overall restoration of the Summer Gardens, a large-scale archaeological dig was conducted at the site of the Summer Palace’s “little harbor”. The mooring area's retaining walls were fully exposed, as was a section of the brick surfacing of the embankment, as well as parts of walls of structures of the palace compound that adjoined the basin on its south and west sides. The lower sections of a porch were also discovered in front of the palace’s southern entrance, through which one gained access to the palace from the side of the basin. An impressive array of archeologically significant items I more than 1100 pieces from the material culture of the 18th century - was discovered during the excavation. After the excavations were complete, the retaining walls, along with a section of brick surfacing, were museumised, and the southern entrance’s stone porch was recreated.
In 2011, the stone wall of the Neva River embankment, on the northern side, was exposed. It was determined that the space between the embankment’s retaining wall and the northern wall of the palace was part of the sewage system, a tunnel floored with wood.
The restoration works on the palace that were done from 2013 I 2015, both in the palace’s interior and on its facades, included the creation of a series of trenches and test pits that would facilitate the study of the foundation and the lower sections of the walls, aid in determining the stages of the palace’s construction, and shed light on the alterations to the palace made at the beginning of the 18th century. The Summer Palace’s sewer system was studied in detail during the restorative works, resulting in an exact geodesic sketch and a very precise documentation of its walls and vaults.
