Archaeological Monitoring in War-Torn Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the problems of monitoring the destruction of the archaeological heritage in Ukraine as a result of the aggression of the Russian Federation. The negative impact of the war on the general state of research is indicated. The problems that arise during the monitoring of archaeological heritage in the de-occupied territories are considered. Among the factors that make it difficult to record the loss of archaeological heritage, the following are detailed: problems related to the accounting of archaeological objects; issues of limited remote and direct access to sites in the de-occupied and front-line territories; immediate risks to life and health when conducting field research. The article also gives a brief description of the work carried out in relation to monitoring of archaeological sites in the de-occupied territories and presents the activities of the ‘Archaeological Landscapes Monitoring Group’. One of the conclusions of the study is the statement that there is an urgent need for a long-term state program to compile an archaeological record of Ukraine. The need to record losses in the field of archaeology during the war allows Ukraine to restart the system of site registration at a modern level and with the use of international experience.