Archaeologist's Day: Treasures Saved.

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On August 15, 2023, the National Museum of History of Ukraine opened an exhibition of valuable archaeological finds saved from robbers and smugglers. The exhibition “Archaeologist's Day: Saved Treasures” is timed to the professional holiday of Ukrainian archaeologists, which falls on August 15.

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The problem of illegal circulation and export of archaeological treasures from Ukraine has become especially acute after the beginning of Russia's large-scale war against Ukraine. Fortunately, Ukrainian law enforcement officers and border guards stand guard over Ukraine's historical heritage. Thanks to them, the exhibition will present the saved archaeological sites of the world level.

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Most of the exhibits transferred to the museum were seized by law enforcement agencies as part of the fight against the illegal circulation of archaeological heritage. Thanks to the efforts of the museum, including public outreach, educational work, cooperation with journalists and law enforcement, several extremely valuable complexes of monuments were transferred to the museum funds, in particular, with information about the circumstances and places of the finds.

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Some exhibits are already in the museum's collection, and some are in responsible storage, because they are still being held as evidence in criminal cases.

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This is, in particular, a silver-trimmed belt of the middle of the 3rd century, which is associated with the military culture of the ancient Germans.

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The belt was found in Khmelnytskyi region by a so-called “black archaeologist”, and seized by law enforcement officers in an attempt to sell it illegally. And the specialists of the museum conducted its examination.

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However, at the exhibition you will also be able to see items donated by volunteers. Like, for example, the Slavic treasure of the 6-7th century from the banks of the Ros River. The first items of the treasure were accidentally found by a young couple, who immediately handed them over to archaeologists, detailing the location of the find. This made it possible to find even more rare jewels of the ancient Slavs. Or a treasure from the Bronze Age of 3 to 2 millennia BC from Ternopil region, which was recently found and handed over to the museum by a forced migrant from Mariupol.

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Also for the first time to the general public will be demonstrated a collection of glass ancient Roman ware, a set of ancient Greek helmets with a very difficult history, a collection of ancient red-figure ceramics and terracotta sculptures from the Crimea, Bronze Age treasures, items from ancient warrior burials, Roman ammunition legionnaires, weapons of the Huns, decorations of the Slavs, hryvnia of the times of Kievan Rus and much more.

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Entrance to the exhibition with a general ticket to the museum — 100 UAH, for students/students/pensioners — 50 UAH.

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