A. Yanenko, PhD in History

National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve, Kyiv, Ukraine,

Yu. Zynoviyiva, scientific secretary

National Art Museum of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine


"A DECISIVE STRUGGLE AGAINST TREASURE HUNTING IS NEDEED":

THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN THE UkrSSR VS TREASURE HUNTERS

IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1920s


This paper examines practical actions and mechanisms applied by the intellectual community in the UkrSSR (Academy fellows and Museum staff) in the second half of 1920s towards treasure hunters. We highlighted the measures aimed at the prevention and prohibiting of unprofessional excavation and destruction of cultural heritage. The paper refers to a number of examples of address of those who so desire to find valuables to different instances (editorial offices of local and republic newspapers, regional executive committees, the "Ukrnauka" committee of the Ministry of Education of UkrSSR, local museums, Academic institutions etc.) with requests for giving permit or additional explanations for archaeological excavations. The members of research community, substantially workers and fellows of All-Ukrainian Archaeological Committee and skilled museum staff, were forming certain practices for interaction with treasure hunters in the second half of 1920s. In this paper, we interpreted the heritage protection laws and responsibilities, making understandable unacceptability of unauthorized investigations of historical sites. The laws underlined the archaeologists' monopoly in scientific research including archaeological excavations, concentration of information about prospective archaeological research sites, address to Ministry of the Interior of UkrSSR with petitions to use making a signed statement not to carry out illegal excavations etc. One of the significant documents concerning principles of opposition unauthorized and uncontrolled treasure hunting by mainly half-educated and fanatic ventures in the 1920s – the conclusion of archaeological department of All-Ukrainian Archaeological Committee concerning treasure hunting (signed by Sergiy Gamchenko) – is introduced for scholarly use.

Keywords: prevention of treasure hunting, regulation of archaeological field research, All-Ukrainian Archaeological Committee,

museum, 1920s, UkrSSR.

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