Yakov P. Gershkovich 
Institute of Archaeology of UNAS, Pr. Geroiv Stalingrada, 12, 04210 Kyiv -210, Ukraine, yager@voliacable.com

Twenty years after declaration of independence Ukraine, on its way to the European Union, has accepted a number of the laws directed on the preservation of its archaeological heritage. First of all there are laws "On the Protection of Cultural Heritage" (8 June, 2000) and "On the Protection of Archaeological Heritage" (18 March, 2004). The Ukrainian parliament, the Supreme Rada, also ratified the "European Convention on the Protection of Archaeological Heritage" (1992). However, the present situation both concerning the protection and the study of archaeological heritage in Ukraine is disturbing or even tragic.

The government funding for scientific research in general, and archeological research in particular, is constantly reducing. The state structures for the protection of historic and cultural heritage cannot appropriately secure the archaeological monuments registered by the state, and there are not sufficient means for recording new sites, for excavation, restoration and preservation works. Declarations on the necessity of the preservation of cultural and archaeological heritage have been launched from all governments and presidents of Ukraine, all political parties and movements, but in reality the situation does not change or only slowly, sometimes according to the principle "one step forward, two steps back".

The threat proceeds from the different sides. The external ones are connected with new economic realities, when archaeological subjects became goods and, accordingly, the mechanism of their deliveries to the illegal market of antiquities has arose. At the lower levels of this mechanism the wide network of robbers ("black archaeologists") exists, and on top - dealers, buyers and private collectors who objectively, realizing it or not, are the basic customers and sponsors of robbers. As a result traces of modern destructions can be met everywhere on ancient barrows, settlements and sites of ancient classical cities of the Northern Black Sea Coast and Crimea. 

We deal with a true aggression, an undeclared war against archaeological heritage and archaeologists. Authorities do not see or do not wish to see this problem. Not a single robber has incurred punishment until today, and the virus of archaeological collecting has got into the highest layers of Ukranian politics. The former president, Victor Yushchenko, proclaimed himself as the true amateur of ancient history and archaeology, but was well-known as a collector of Trypillya Culture items, and the majority from the latter, in opinion of many Ukrainian archaeologists, derived from illegal excavations.

The internal threat is connected with a rapid development of pseudoscientific knowledge. Its 
emergence was the result not only of the elimination of former external bureaucratic regulators such as the state censorship, but also of the reduction of the level of individual, moral, responsibility of some scientists, including archaeologists. Manipulating traditional naive beliefs of people in fantastic discoveries, they not without personal self-interest aim at prompt public recognition and PR through the false sensations. New social and historical myths are created that can be used any time in doubtful political interests. Often polyvariant readings of archaeological records are concealed from the public, and from many possible interpretations those are prevailing that can bring strong moral and material benefits to their authors.

Ukrainian archaeologists see all these problems. It is understandable that they should be united
to solve these in the present conditions. The basic centre that provides coordination of actions of Ukrainian archaeologists is the Institute of Archaeology of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (UNAS), headed by P. P. Tolochko. Today almost 70% of scientifically qualified archaeologists are working in this Institute. There is a unique archaeological library, scientific archive, funds, etc. The status of this Institute as the state scientific unit in the sphere of archaeological research is specified by article 12 of the law "On the Protection of Archaeological Heritage". But time dictates a necessity of searching for new forms of teamwork that are unconventional for post-Soviet states.

The All-Ukrainian Public Association (Spilka) of Archeologists (APAA) was founded in spring 2010. D.N. Kozak, vice-director of the Institute of Archaeology of the UNAS, took the lead in developing it and is its chairman. The APAA is based on voluntariness, equal rights of its members, self-control, legality, selectivity and the accountability of controls, and publicity. It is assumed to combine all those who take care of the destiny of archaeological heritage, undertakes a task to comply with the Code of Ethics of Professional Archaeologists, accepted by the Institute of Archaeology of the UNAS in 2006, and takes an interest in real knowledge about the remote past.

The aim of the APAA activity, according to its Charter, is the development of archaeological science in Ukraine, its methodical and technological improvement in particular. The Association is going to promote the practical realisation of programmes and projects directed at the protection, research, use, and restoration of monuments and objects of archaeological heritage, especially those which are under the threat of destruction and damage under the influence of natural factors or as a result of economic activities. It will also search for funding for the publication of results of archaeological research.

The APAA defends the legitimate interests of its members, creates conditions for their professional and creative development, and supports the IT basis of their activities. To work out these problems the APAA considers the appeals of their members, in accordance with current laws, connected with infringement of their professional and social rights, humiliation of honour and dignity, and also concerning obstacles in the realisation of scientific activity. It directs inquiries in corresponding to the law enforcement bodies and public organisations concerning elimination of the revealed infringements. 

The APAA promotes the spread of knowledge in the field of archaeology, ancient history and monument protection cultures through printing and other information means, studies the foreign and international experiences and develops different forms of the international contacts; it establishes awards and supports members concerning their representation to state awards. The APAA will hold congresses, conferences, seminars, trainings, competitions, etc. independently or together with other organisations.

The APAA is headed by the Board, an executive body that solves questions of current activity 
during the period between the General Meetings. It includes the Head of Board, the Vice-president of Board, the Secretary of Board and other members, which are elected by the General Meeting for four years. In addition there is the Auditing Committee responsible for financial control, which too is elected by the General Meeting and is accountable to it. Regions (Oblast) such as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the cities of Kiev and Sevastopol have territorial branches, the Local Body. Currently the largest in quantity of members is the Local Body of Kiev (75 members).

Members of the APAA should be full-age citizens of Ukraine who on a constant basis take part
in research of archaeological heritage, confirm the Charter of the APAA, are ready to pay the membership tax and have received the recommendation of one of chairmen of the Local Bodies. Persons are not taking part in archaeological research constantly, but who in the course of their cultural and educational, patronage, political and other activity have made an important contribution to the development of Ukrainian archaeology and to the protection of archaeological heritage of Ukraine, can be accepted in the APAA as honorary members. 

Currently the APAA has more than 300 members. This is a considerably high number considering that in comparison with other European countries (Poland, Germany, France, etc.) there are much fewer professional archaeologists (not more than 400 persons). There is a huge potential to increase the number of members by Ukrainian students. However, not only students, but also many professional archaeologists are awaiting the concrete actions of the APAA that would convince them to join.

For the future it is important for the APAA to develop cooperation with international and national associations in the field of the protection of archaeological heritage, first of all with the European Association of Archaeologists. 

Current activities of the APAA are presented on its website (http://www.vgosau.kiev.ua). In particular it tries to intervene into "black archaeology", concerning private collections and exhibitions launched by non-archaeologists and authors of fantastic pseudoscientific theories. Some of these exhibitions have been displayed abroad, and it seems as if embassies and other officials do not understand that almost all things of the modern private archaeological collections occur from the black market and unscientific excavations. APAA aims at enhancing the understanding of the inadmissibility of any further encouragement of private collectors, because their activity not only contradicts laws of Ukraine and international conventions but leads to "black archaeology" that results in a tragic situation for heritage in Ukraine. The threat for archaeological heritage can be removed only by the state bodies.

Unfortunately the new government of Ukraine follows the road of destruction of the national 
cultural and archaeological heritage. An amendment of 9 September 2010 to the Act of Ukraine
"On the Protection of Cultural Heritage" (the asset 9?) allows private ownership for land with archaeological sites without any prior archaeological examination. Luckily, the other provisions of the Ukrainian legislation prevented the transfer of archaeological monuments into private ownership and their possible destruction. Protective archaeology is devalued and the question is raised, why archaeologists should be paid for excavations prior to building activities (see, e.g., the newspaper "Uriadovy Kurier" ("The Government Courier") in October 2010). In the "Regulation of the Town Planning Activities" presented for consideration to the Supreme Council of Ukraine in December 2010, it was not only proposed to eliminate from the legislation the execution of the archaeological expert examination of all the land areas of future excavation works; according to the new draft law the bodies of cultural heritage protection will be engaged in the project agreement only in case of privatization of the land areas of historical and cultural significance. However, due to the absence of a complete land cadastre and of determination of areas of historical and cultural significance by the land-utilization projects, it has to be feared that the bodies of cultural heritage protection will never be engaged in the endorsement of lands which are going to be privatized or where the building will be accomplished.

In this way, representatives of the monument protection services will be unable to execute their direct responsibilities and turned into statisticians who will have no legal right to interfere in the process of the monuments privatization and destruction. The adoption of such articles of law will cause the large-scale destruction not only of archaeological sites but of the entire national cultural heritage - an integral component of the world cultural heritage - despite the fact that the Supreme Council has ratified the "European Convention of Protection of the Archaeological Heritage" on 10 December, 2003, where Article 5 notes that the plans of the territories maintenance have to be agreed and integrated with appropriate needs of archaeology. 

Fellows of the Institute of Archaeology of the UNAS and the APAA on 17 January 2011 have demand the President of Ukraine to put a veto upon this Law (fig. 1). The Institute of Archaeology of the UNAS and the APAA have addressed to all who involved in the protection and preservation of world cultural heritage to support representatives of monument protection services, archaeologists and citizens of Ukraine in their struggle for the preservation of archaeology heritage. We badly need immediate international support of our efforts. 

Now, activity of the APAA has only started. We are very interested in an estimation of our current actions and the future plans from such authoritative international organizations as the EAA. We are in great need also for international support, which should be directed to the real monitoring of the legislation of Ukraine in the field of protection of a cultural and archaeological heritage, in particular about conformity to norms of legislations of member-countries of the European Union where Ukraine is hoping to become a member.