Ukrainian Archaeologist: "The Situation of the Archaeological Heritage in Eastern Ukraine is Catastrophic"

Serhiy Telizhenko, Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Candidate of Historical Sciences carried out research in the Luhansk region until the illegal Russian invasion of the area. He describes the situation with the Ukrainian archaeological heritage in the eastern regions, where fierce fighting is currently taking place, as catastrophic. According to him, many archaeological sites have been significantly damaged, or even irretrievably lost. However, he does not give up hope of returning to his native Luhansk region with new excavations. “We will have to return there. We simply did not have time to explore many things and, I am afraid, we will not have time to do much,” he says. Currently, the scientist works in the West and South of Ukraine.

Археолог Сергій Теліженко: «Ситуація з археологічною спадщиною на Сході України – катастрофічна» [Archaeologist Serhiy Telizhenko: “The situation with the archaeological heritage in Eastern Ukraine is catastrophic”] National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine press release 25.08.2026  катастрофічна». 

Maryna Tereshchenko  “Окопи копають на місці давніх стоянок”: археолог Сергій Теліженко про розкопки у Кремінній та спадщину під вогнем [“Trenches are being dug on the site of ancient sites”: archaeologist Serhiy Telizhenko on excavations in Kreminna and heritage under fire]Tribun August 18, 2026. 

Looking Over the shoulder of the 'Black Diggers' of Ukraine

                                 Aerial view of the monitored area (the medieval stronghold                              
earthworks are to the right in the background)

In recent years, artefact hunting with metal detectors has become a serious problem in Ukraine (Hardy 2016). It has been estimated (Ibid.) that there could be 26,377 illicit detectorists active in the country and they are exploiting sites of many periods, despite the protection that Ukrainian law (nominally at least) gives archaeological sites. Individuals with metal detectors can be seen every day in both spring and autumn at various archaeological sites across almost the whole country. While these illicit operators are frequently colloquially referred  to as "diggers" or "black archaeologists", archaeologists emphasize that the latter name is unacceptable because it gives the looting an unwarranted scientific colour.

Looting with metal detectors by these artefact hunters has severely damaged the ancient stronghold of Ol'shanytsya (49°41'3.19"N 30°38'21.55"E), an archaeological monument of national importance located in the Kyiv region of Ukraine. Situated in the Sharhorod tract near the village of Ol'shanytsya in the southern Porossya area [on the Ros' river], this vital historic site (now primarily under agricultural land) is believed to be the remains of Torchesk, a regional capital of the Kyiv land during the princely era, and as such, is mentioned in the ancient chronicles.

                  '28 hectares, 21 days, 5156 holes'           
  

An effort has been made here recently by the Union of Archaeologists of Ukraine to document the extent and scope of this destruction. They used repeated flights of a quadcopter, and information from local farmers, to record the number of holes dug and the time of their occurrence in a 28-hectare area of the ancient site. The aerial survey revealed that illicit diggers had used metal detectors to dig 5,156 separate holes in search of antiquities in just the first 21 days that had passed since the harvest. In light of these findings, the Union of Archaeologists of Ukraine has issued an urgent call to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and the National Police of Ukraine to pay attention to these figures, warning that the country is currently losing its cultural heritage at a breakneck speed. 

References:
Hardy, S. A. 2016, ‘Black Archaeology’ in Eastern Europe: Metal Detecting, Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Objects, and ‘Legal Nihilism’ in Belarus, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Public Archaeology, 15(4), 214–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/14655187.2017.1410050.

Ukrinform, 'На Київщині «чорні археологи» розрили городище князівських часів [In Kyiv region, "black archaeologists" dug up a hillfort dating back to princely times]' ukrinform.ua, 29th Nov 2021.

Argument, 'На Київщині "чорні археологи" здійснили понад 5 тис. покопок на місці городища міста Торчеськ  [ ]' Argument 30 Nov 2021.