In 1997, Moscow, Russia, celebrated the 850 ^th anniversary of its founding. In the more than eight centuries that Moscow has been a viable city, it has been characterized by waves of new construction. The most recent one is ongoing, as Moscow thrives as capital of the new Russia. The architecture of Moscow represents a hodgepodge (大杂烩) of styles, as 12 ^th century forms mingle with elegant estates from the times of the Czars and functional structures that reflect the pragmatism (实用性) of the Soviet era. As Moscow grows under a new system of government, there is concern that some of the city"s architectural history will be lost.
Moscow has a history of chaotic periods that ended with the destruction of the largely wooden city and the building of the "new" city on top of the ruins of the old. The result is a layered city, with each tier holding information about a part of Russia"s past. In some areas of the city, archaeologists have reached the layer from 1147, the year of Moscow"s founding.
Russia has begun a huge attempt to salvage and preserve as much of Moscow"s past as possible. New building could destroy this history forever, but Moscow has decided on a different approach. Recognizing that new building represents progress, and progress is necessary for the growth of the nation, new building is flourishing in Moscow. However, the Department of Preservation of Historical Monuments is insuring that building is done in a manner that respects the past. There are approximately 160active archeological sites currently in Moscow; 5000 buildings have been designated as protected locations.
One example of the work done by the Department of Preservation of Historical Monuments is Manege Square, which lies just west of the Kremlin. Throughout Moscow"s past, this Square has been a commercial district. In keeping with that history, the area will be developed as a modern shopping mall, complete with restaurants, theaters, casinos and a parking garage.
Archaeologists working in Manege Square uncovered the commercial life of eight centuries. By excavating live meters deep, archaeologists provided a picture of the evolution of commercial Moscow. Among the finds: wooden street pavement from the time of Ivan the Terrible (16 ^th century), a wide cobblestone road from the era of Peter the Great (early 18 ^th century), street paving from the reign of Catherine the Great (mid-to late 18 ^th century), and a wealthy merchant"s estate (19 ^th century). Smaller finds—a belt and buckle, a gold chain, shoes, locks, and a horse harness—provide rich details about the lives of Muscovites of the past. Now Moscow, a city with more and more modern structures appearing all the time, remains largely distinguished by Byzantine cathedrals, 15 ^th and 16 ^th century stone buildings, and the elegant estates of the 18 ^th and 19 ^th centuries. What is the meaning of the word "chaotic" (Para. 2, Line 1) in this passage