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The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
1
Letter from the Editors ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Calendar for EAA members .................................................................................................................................... 3
November 2022 – February 2023 ...................................................................................................................... 3
Upcoming Events ................................................................................................................................................ 4
EAA 2022 Statement on Nurturing the Cycle of Good Archaeological Practice ..................................................... 5
Minutes of the 2022 EAA Annual Membership Business Meeting ......................................................................... 8
In Case You Missed It… ......................................................................................................................................... 18
Chat with the Secretariat over TEA....................................................................................................................... 20
Krisztina Pavlíčková .......................................................................................................................................... 20
Meet a Member over TEA .................................................................................................................................... 22
Eleanor Scerri ................................................................................................................................................... 22
Session Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 26
Report from the EAA 2022 COMFORT roundtable ........................................................................................... 26
Research Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 28
In the Land of Stećci ......................................................................................................................................... 28
Special Section ...................................................................................................................................................... 36
Archaeological Heritage as a Target during War .............................................................................................. 36
Short Report ......................................................................................................................................................... 44
Laona, the mystery mound and the Palaepaphos Urban Landscape Project ................................................... 44
Short Report ......................................................................................................................................................... 54
The World’s largest Gold Bracteate ................................................................................................................. 54
Debate .................................................................................................................................................................. 62
Climate Crises ................................................................................................................................................... 62
Interview ............................................................................................................................................................... 66
Pascal Ratier on the European Archaeology Days ............................................................................................ 66
Conference Report ............................................................................................................................................... 74
Bodies in Ancient Egypt .................................................................................................................................... 74
EAA Community Overview .................................................................................................................................... 76
Published by the European Association of Archaeologists, c/o Institute of Archaeology CAS, Letenská 4, 11801 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Tel./Fax: +420 257014411, administrator@e-a-a.org. ISSN 1022–0135
Editors: Samantha S. Reiter and Matthew J. Walsh (tea@e-a-a.org)
EAA Administrator: Sylvie Květinová (administrator@e-a-a.org)
Contents © named authors and the EAA
The views expressed are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent official EAA policy.
The newsletter of EAA members for EAA members
Issue 74 – Autumn 2022
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
2
Letter from the Editors
Dear Colleagues,
As archaeologists, we benefit from a unique relationship with time. To paraphrase John Piper, we look
at the tapestry of years, centuries and millennia from the back side – the side not meant to be viewed
by the world at large. That special position conveys upon us both advantages as well as particular
responsibilities. The hungry grant-writer is drawn to gaps in the weave, imagining how best to
structure a repair. The eye of the young scholar is snagged by loose threads needing time to batten
down, and the experienced researcher can unerringly find tangled knots by feel alone.
After several years of separation due to the COVID pandemic, we were finally able pick up the threads
in person with colleagues near and far at the EAA’s hybrid “Re-Integration” Annual Meeting in
Budapest, Hungary. From 31 August until 3 September, we met, debated, spoke, laughed, exchanged
ideas and made plans. Matt and I were delighted to finally—finally—meet many of you in person, and
to catch up on news both large and small.
As this issue marks the second year of our editorship, we would also like to take the time to send out
a very big thank you to all of you who have contributed to The European Archaeologist this past year.
We have enjoyed working with you and learning from you regarding the amazing work being done by
archaeologists the world over. Given that the theme of the moment is both gratitude and wonderful
work, we can follow the red thread directly to TEA’s photojournalism competition! Our sincere thanks
go out to those members who sent in their wonderful images for evaluation as well as to the EAA’s
photobank. All told, we had 17 entries from all over the world addressing the expressed theme of
“What is the spirit of archaeology in 2023?”. Alongside TEA’s editors as moderators, a jury of
professional photographers and fine arts professionals convened online on 1 October to evaluate the
competition entries. Matt and I extend our heartfelt gratitude to members of the jury Theresa Airey,
Charles W. Bowers and Sandy LeBrun-Evans who selected the five entries that moved on to the
competition semi-final.
As per contest rules, the three winners from among these five contributions will be chosen by popular
vote by EAA members during the EAA’s Annual Survey. Launched in mid-October, the deadline for
participating in the survey (which you will have received online) is fast approaching. If you have yet to
cast your vote, don’t delay!
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. When those words send a vital message, they
become powerful communicators indeed. This applies to the contenders for our 2023 covers, and it is
particularly poignant in relation to the cover of our 2022 autumn issue:
Now a junior sergeant of Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Service, archaeologist
Andriy Olenych prepares to make a drawing of a Chalcolithic pit (Trypillia C
II) discovered during the construction of a platoon base on the outskirts of
Kyiv, Ukraine.
Author of the photo: Anna Argunova, soldier of Ukraine’s Territorial Defence
Service
You can read up on the struggle to protect cultural heritage in times of war with this reflection on the
current situation in Ukraine. Another thought-provoking debate regarding the origins of climate
change is also included in this issue alongside the presentation of a once-in-a-lifetime gold discovery
from Denmark. This issue also features two reports direct from the excavation trenches: one from a
mysterious structure from Cyprus and the other from two medieval cemetery sites in the
Herzegovina region.
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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We are also delighted to include some of the usual fare, including highlights from the EAA’s social
media feed, a Chat with the Secretariat’s Krisztina Pavlíčková, who tells us about what it is like being
involved with the financial side of the EAA, the EAA’s Statement on Nurturing the Cycle of Good
Archaeological Practice, the minutes from the EAA’s recent Annual Business Meeting and two reports,
including a fascinating conference on bodies and corporeality in ancient Egypt and a stimulating
roundtable which addressed linking national databases and the future of hillfort research. The
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Community (PaM) is highlighted in this issue, and we as editors are
delighted to present Eleanor Scerri in this autumn’s Meet a Member over TEA. We also include an
interview with Pascal Ratier, organizer of the European Archaeology Days, who tells us about the
successes and challenges of putting together national and Europe-wide events intended to bring
archaeology to new audiences in new settings.
All in all, this issue reflects but a small portion of the patterns which we have been weaving these past
years. Nevertheless, they come together to form a beautiful, multi-coloured tapestry of the past…one
on which we are continually working…which is apt, as the EAA’s 2023 AM in Belfast is on the theme
of “Weaving Narratives”.
Until we meet again, both Matt and I wish you the very best of luck in following the red thread of your
research into the New Year!
Samantha S. Reiter and Matthew J. Walsh
Editors
Calendar for EAA members
November 2022 – February 2023
10 November
Deadline for session and round table proposals for the 29th EAA Annual
Meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland
5 December
Announcement of session acceptance / rejection to session organisers
15 December
Deadline for registration and membership payment for session organisers
19 December
Call for papers / posters / other contributions for the 29th EAA Annual
Meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland, opens
22 December – 1
January
EAA Secretariat closed for Christmas
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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Special Section
Archaeological Heritage as a Target during War
Pavlo Shydlovskyi1, Serhii Telizhenko2 and Vsevolod Ivakin2
1Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukrainian State Institute for Cultural Heritage
2Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Military conflict causes irreparable damage to both nature and culture. This is reflected in ecological
and humanitarian disasters, the devaluation of human life and the destruction of cultural heritage. In
war, cultural heritage becomes one of the most vulnerable parts of social life. The goal of Putin's war
against Ukraine is not only the seizure of its territory and subjugation of the Ukrainian people, but also
the destruction of their identity, history and public memory. For this reason, objects of cultural
heritage have become a special target for the enemy. See Figure 9. Given that the war in Ukraine has
been going on since 2014, the destroyed or damaged cultural heritage objects number in the
thousands, especially in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as in Crimea.
Figure 9. Stanychno, Luhansk reg., 2016. Arrangement of firing positions on the mound. Photo by
Serhii Telizhenko.
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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Figure 10. Toshkivka, Luhansk reg., 2016. Arrangement of protective structures on the mound. Photo
by Serhii Telizhenko.
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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At the same time, the broader and secondary consequences of hostilities are particularly devastating
for archaeological sites, given the non-restorability of archaeological objects, the inextricable
connection of sites with the landscape and ecological environment and the universally-applicable
nature of the information that can be obtained during research. The conflict in Ukraine has caused the
large-scale destruction of historical landscapes. See Figure 10. Thousands of archaeological sites—
both those undergoing archaeological investigations as well as ones that had yet to be opened—have
been damaged. Currently, cultural heritage protection activities in Ukraine focus mainly on ‘visible’
objects, such as architectural monuments, religious and historical buildings and objects of
monumental art.
Monitoring the state of archaeological heritage objects in Ukraine is a challenge. The search for and
recognition of sites is difficult because they exist in an ‘unmanifested’ state. The vast majority of
archaeological sites are not included on the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine.
Moreover, the necessary monument protection measures are not applied consistently throughout all
territories. The specificity of archaeological sites is that their discovery is often directly related to
catastrophic events: in the current case, the destruction of landscape resulting from military
operations.
Problems
Due to the extensive military operations currently happening in Ukrainian territories, archaeological
monuments are under particular threat due to the following factors:
1. In peacetime, the registry of archaeological heritage was not undertaken with the proper degree of
thoroughness, which led to the ’dropping’ of most archaeological objects - settlements, hillforts, burial
mounds and cemeteries - from both the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as well
as regional monument lists.
2. The vast majority of archaeological heritage objects are ‘hidden’ by the landscape or later
transformations. Therefore, conclusions about the presence or absence of archaeological layers in a
certain territory can be made only through field survey of the territories by specialists.
3. In those territories currently undergoing military operations, active and extensive landscape
transformations are taking place, associated with both the direct consequences of damage by
explosive means (mines, shells, rocket fire, etc.), as well as with the arrangement of fire and
observation posts, fortifications and the laying of communication lines, among other factors.
4. During military operations, there is an increase in looting and robbery in relation to objects of
archaeological heritage. At the same time, it should also be stated that the state of Ukraine is not
currently actively exercising the protection of archaeological sites.
Challenges for archaeological heritage during wartime
The most significant and dominant formations within the historical landscape suffer the greatest
damage due to the fact that they are often placed in the most convenient locations for the
construction of modern fire and defence positions. It should be mentioned that among the significant
challenges for Ukrainian archaeology is the use of archaeological sites as military objects as well as
illegal excavations in occupied territories, the looting of regional museums and the increased sale of
archaeological artefacts. During the Russian attack and occupation of a part of the territory of Ukraine,
activities from criminal groups who illegally obtain archaeological artefacts and objects d’art with the
intent of reselling them to private collectors (both in Ukraine and abroad) have risen.
In the following, we present some of the concrete issues affecting Ukrainian cultural heritage at
present, including:
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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- Significant changes in the historical landscape caused by destruction associated with military
operations; see Figure 11 (left).
- Movement of the soil during the installation of defences, fortification structures, observation and
firing points; see Figure 11 (right).
- Significant damage as a result of bombings and missile attacks on almost the entire territory of
Ukraine.
Figure 11. (Left) A crater from a mine hit the surface of the multi-layered settlement of Zanivske-I,
Luhansk region, 2016. Photo by Serhii Telizhenko. (Right) Toshkivka, Luhansk reg., 2016. Arrangement
of protective structures on the mound. Photo by Serhii Telizhenko.
- The use of archaeological monuments (burial mounds, ramparts, ditches, hillforts) as modern military
facilities
- Increase in the activities of marauding and organized treasure hunting groups in relation to objects
of archaeological heritage
- Increased demand for archaeological artefacts and objects d’art from Ukraine on looting forums and
social networks during the war
- A potential threat to archaeological sites located in the ‘gray zone’ and in the occupied territories;
- Acts of vandalism
- The absence of control over the monuments by State executive bodies in the field of cultural heritage
protection and the inactivity of relevant structures
- The urgency of ensuring the monitoring of the state of preservation of archaeological heritage and
preventing the theft of archaeological objects under wartime conditions.
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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Suggestions for moving forward
We suggest that a necessary addition to martial law is to strengthen control over both moveable and
immobile objects of archaeological heritage. Organizing the monitoring of the state of objects in the
liberated territories requires significant organizational and legal foundations, but it is nonetheless
crucial to preserving the priceless treasures (both known and yet to be discovered and recorded) of
Ukraine. See Figures 12-13.
Figure 12. A lecture by S. Telizhenko for the military about the protection of archaeological heritage
in wartime and the transfer of artefacts discovered by Ukrainian sappers to the funds of the Popasna
Museum of Local Lore. S. Ioffe. December 2020. Photo by K. Radionova (journalist of Internet resource
Popasna City).
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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Figure 13. A lecture for the military and civilians on the protection of archaeological heritage in
wartime and the transfer of the brochure "Archaeology and War" for further distribution among the
military. Severodonetsk, December 2020. Photo by V. Vybornyi
Monitoring the state of sites faces a number of difficulties, especially related to the real and present
danger of being in the proximity of military installations and operations. As mentioned above,
accessing some sites is complicated by the fact that some are currently in use as military posts. On the
other hand, the landscape transformations caused by military operations can also lead to the
discovery of new archaeological sites, though archaeologists must then be vigilant to ensure that the
new data is recorded. Monitoring the state of sites offers challenges that caring for a standing building
does not: while one must guard against damage to the site, at the same time, scholars also obtain
information through the careful destruction of cultural layers. In order for information not to be lost
when those cultural layers are destroyed, this requires the direct presence of researchers on site, who
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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are available to conduct the necessary archaeological research and scientific interpretation of the data
obtained. Therefore, it should be stated that only a team of professional archaeologists who have
sufficient field research experience and the necessary knowledge for the cultural-chronological
attribution of sites would be able to accurately assess and record the damage to a site, thereby
providing an accurate estimate of the degree of preservation.
Due to the length of time necessary for decision making within the framework of the existing state
monument protection executive bodies, representatives of a number of scientific, educational,
museological and public organizations have created a working group to address this problem: the
Archaeological Landscapes Monitoring Group (ALMG). This group includes archaeologists and site-
preservationists from the following organizations: the Ukrainian State Institute for Cultural Heritage,
the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Faculty of History of
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and several non-governmental organizations. The
purposes of this group are to establish the degree of damage to known archaeological sites, to make
changes to existing monument protection documentation, to aid in the discovery of new
archaeological sites that were partially destroyed as a result of military actions and landscape
transformations and to create a digital map and database of damaged landscapes. In the future, this
work will become the basis for determining the damages suffered by Ukrainian cultural heritage as a
result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.
The work of the monitoring group is related to the direct study of landscapes, which includes both
laboratory work (analysis of space images, GIS analysis, inventory description of discovered objects,
and restoration) as well as field research. The latter involves the presence of the group in the field
while they perform the following tasks:
- Remote survey of objects by means of UAVs (drones, quadcopters);
- Instrumental survey of the damaged portions of archaeological sites (tacheometric, theodolite
surveying, 3D scanning, creation of three-dimensional models);
- Determination of the presence of archaeological layers by archaeological survey (clearing of crops,
test pits, etc.);
- Creating plans of damaged areas of the landscape and obtaining the necessary information for the
development of monument protection documentation (account card, passport).
NB: It is important that the monitoring of historical landscapes in the newly liberated territories must
take place with the presence of paramilitary guards and explosive-detecting services and an
appropriate level of security.
One result of the group’s activities is the development of an interactive questionnaire, the purpose of
which is to record the destruction of archaeological heritage directly in the field in order to create a
database and map of damaged archaeological sites and territories. It should be noted that the
recording of the destruction of sites as a result of military aggression should take place not only in the
territories where military actions took place, but throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. It is
important to identify not only damage caused by bombing, rocket and mortar attacks, but also damage
caused by the construction of fortifications, roads and other building works related to the organization
of rear defence. These activities should begin immediately with the aim to complete the most
thorough analysis of the destroyed parts of the landscape, new archaeological finds and the future
assessment of the loss and damage caused to Ukrainian archaeological heritage due to the war. We
planned to start the monitoring process in the near future, focusing on the territory of Kyiv and the
Chernihiv regions, which were liberated at the beginning of April 2022 and in which demining has
already taken place. In these areas, the process of reconstructing buildings and re-establishing
communications has already begun. These works are partially supported by the German
Archaeological Institute (DAI) through the Research Scholarship Project ‘Ukrainian archaeological
heritage, threatened by war: saving and protection’ under the leadership of Alla Bujskikh (Institute of
Archaeology NAS of Ukraine).
The European Archaeologist – Issue 74 Autumn 2022
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Archaeology matters
Archaeological heritage has a special status due to its fragility and finite nature as well as the lack of
sufficient predictability of the results produced by research in this field. Every archaeological study is
an encounter with the unknown, which can significantly affect our understanding of the diversity of
human behaviour across the board.
Attitudes towards archaeological sites which are often devoid of relevant ethnic or national
significance, is a ‘litmus test’ of civilization; it reflects a tolerance and respect for ‘other’ cultures. For
this reason, archaeological knowledge is a very effective tool in the struggle for rationality, against
xenophobia, clericalism, and ideas of national exclusivity.
Ukrainians’ struggle for independence is also a struggle for humanistic values, among which respect
for the cultural and natural heritage of humankind is of particular importance.
