The Lesson of Torchesk

 

                   2026 screenshot (after Sikorski)      

Jerzy Sikorski reports that at the EAA meeting in Athens, in a paper (read by Jens Schneeweiss) on work on the middle Dnipro region in Ukraine, a mention is made of the continuation of the monitoring by drone of the earthwork site at Ol'shanytsya in the southern Porossya area on the Ros' river (Torchesk) begun in 2021 ['Looking Over the shoulder of the 'Black Diggers' of Ukraine', PACHI Saturday, 4 December 2021]. While six years ago there were recorded traces of the digging of over 5000 holes there, apparently the total now is 16000+ and the plan shown at EAA indicates a shocking density of digging and destruction (compare with the 2021 one in my post). This is not only of significance in terms of the site itself and Ukrainian heritage protection in general, it raises the issue that this is (as far as I know, please correct me if I am wrong) a pioneering project, and if such monitoring were to be carried out of 'productive' sites elsewhere (England and Wales for example with the laissez faire legislation in place there) would it reveal a comparable level of destruction? It's easy to assume that "Ukraine is an exception" but how can we complacently assume that it is not? 

Also, if 21 days monitoring six years ago produced evidence of 5100 holes dug in that period, the whole post-harvest and spring metal detecting seasons would have involved even more hole-digging.  If c. 15.5k holes were dug in 2022 [when the war's Front came no nearer than 300km before retreating], 2023, 2024, 2025, and spring 2026, does this represent a slowdown? Could it be that awareness that the site was under intensive monitoring by drone slowed down the attacks of these culture-criminals? Are the young men who'd be searching the site now fighting the occupant? Or is there a feeling among detectorists that with all the searching that has gone on there, the site is largely "searched out" ?

Archaeological Looting in the Republic of Bashkortostan

A recent study (Gizzatov, Tuzbekov and Akhatov 2025) reveals that over 12% of recorded archaeological sites in the Republic of Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation, despite the nominal protection these sites are given by the law of the region, have been damaged by illegal looting. The researchers analyzed data collected between 2017 and 2023 by the Scientific and Production Centre of the Republic of Bashkortostan on the condition of 623 archaeological sites (the work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under Grant No. 25-18-00270 “Looting in the Urals: development of methods to counteract the destruction of cultural heritage objects). This research revealed a severe threat to local history and cultural artefacts and that looting is as a key factor in the loss of archaeological heritage in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Looters mostly search for metal objects and historical items from the 16th century to the early 20th century. There has been a ninefold increase in the activity of ‘treasure hunters’ since 2010, particularly in the Bashkir Trans-Urals and the northwestern part of the region near the lower parts of the Belaya River. Despite the huge rise in illegal excavations, officials have not recorded a single criminal case against archaeological looters in the region, Russian laws protecting cultural heritage contain contradictions and grey areas, making it hard to punish modern metal-detector looters. As a result of the research, the article proposes improvements to the monitoring system through the use of modern technologies and stricter control over the sale of metal detectors to preserve archaeological heritage. Reference

Gizzatov, D., Tuzbekov, A., and Akhatov, A. (2025). Cultural Heritage Loss Through Archaeological Looting: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Current Situation in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites, 27(3), 195–215.

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. 

Bronze Age Treasure of Villena Stolen from Archaeological Museum

The Treasure of Villena, one of the most important Bronze Age goldsmithing ensembles in Europe, was stolen in the early hours of this morning (August 27, 2026), from the Archaeological Museum of Villena (Alicante). The thieves were able to steal the 59 pieces of gold, silver, meteoric iron, and amber discovered in 1963, in just four minutes. They bypassed the security systems by taking advantage of a diversionary alarm at a nearby sports complex. This event has left the local population deeply alarmed and has immediately triggered an intense investigation by the Civil Guard and the Judicial Police. 

The robbery adds to a worrying and recent wave of thefts in archaeological museums in Spain (for example at Badajoz and Albacete) and reveals a critical vulnerability in the protection of the Spanish cultural legacy.  

New Study Revealed Looting Continuing in Syria

Jesse Casana et al, Remote Sensing-Based Analysis of Archaeological Site Damage in Syria: Revisiting a Post-War Landscape, Heritage (2026). DOI: 10.3390/heritage9060209

Amy Olson, 'Syria's ancient sites face widespread looting and systematic bulldozing, satellite images reveal'.     

[...] Relying on an expanding suite of satellite imagery resources, this paper presents a renewed analysis of looting and archaeological site damage in Syria over the past decade. The results reveal: (1) severe damage to many sites in northern Syria from a novel form of mechanized looting, (2) intensified impacts from the establishment of military facilities or refugee camps on many prominent sites, and (3) rampant incidents of small-scale looting across all areas of the country. These results highlight the importance of ongoing imagery-based heritage monitoring efforts and will support emerging mitigation, stabilization, and damage assessment efforts in Syria going forward.