LSIWC Leading Researcher Ilze Irbe Takes Part in Discussion on Preserving the Wooden Heritage of Āraiši Lake Castle
As part of European Heritage Days, a discussion titled “Mushroom Hunting at the Lake Castle: Challenges and Solutions for Maintaining Wooden Heritage” took place on 13 September at the Āraiši Lake Castle Archaeological Park. The discussion was attended by Ilze Irbe, Leading Researcher and mycologist at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC).
During the event, Ilze Irbe introduced visitors to fungal damage to wood and, together with other experts, took part in a discussion on the technical condition of Āraiši Lake Castle, the impact of prolonged moisture on wooden structures, damage caused by wood-decaying fungi, and possible solutions for preserving the site.
“Āraiši Lake Castle is currently in a critical condition due to fungal damage to the wood. Impregnation with chemical agents does not help – the wood deteriorates within 5–10 years. I agree with the suggestion by traditional woodworker Jēkabs Dimters to prepare the wood using traditional methods – resin removal, tarring, taking the time of felling into account, and so on. It is difficult to say whether this will work. However, it would be a very important experiment to determine whether wood prepared in this way is resistant to fungi under the extreme moisture conditions of the lake castle,” says Ilze Irbe.
The discussion was moderated by cultural journalist Edgars Raginskis. Other participants included architect Arturs Lapiņš, traditional woodworker Jēkabs Dimters from Northmen, and Eva Koljera, Head of the Āraiši Lake Castle Archaeological Park.
Āraiši Lake Castle is a unique reconstruction of a fortified settlement dating back to the 9th–10th century, located on an island in Lake Āraiši in the Drabeši Parish. The wooden structures of the lake castle are exposed to fungal damage caused by prolonged moisture, and their current technical condition limits access to the site.
The full recording of the discussion “Mushroom Hunting at the Lake Castle: Challenges and Solutions for Maintaining Wooden Heritage” is available here.
