Abstract This article examines Late Bronze and Early Iron Age settlement in the Åland Islands in the Baltic Sea, with particular focus on recently discovered dwelling remains, superimposed by a stone cairn, at the multiperiod site of Bartsgårda. To place this discovery in context, we discuss Ålandic settlement sites with preserved building remains and present new radiocarbon dates from several sites. We also investigate how building structures on Åland compare with those on the mainland of Finland. The results demonstrate that Ålandic houses cannot be understood as a single architectural model but instead reflect diverse construction techniques shaped by local resources, environmental conditions, and social choices. The Bartsgårda remains further reveal how domestic architecture could intersect with practices of commemoration, as abandonment was marked through monumentalisation.
Abstract This study presents promising new steps toward identifying the individual craftsperson in the archaeological record. Using experimental material, the authors have measured morphological differences in Late Neolithic flint daggers from southern Scandinavia using 3D morphometrics. The results show that it is possible to identify a single maker among highly similar flint tools of high technological complexity using quantitative methods. With further methodological developments and a larger study, the authors hypothesise about the possibility of tracing individual makers in the archaeological record. The study presents key aspects in developing a methodology for the quantitative identification of individual makers of lithics that require a high degree of technological complexity to produce. The further development and application of this methodology has the potential to introduce a new dimension to the material study of prehistoric societies by shedding light on individual agents and their social connections.
Abstract The network of Kyivan Rus’ trading posts played a pivotal role in facilitating travel along the eastern trade routes, linking diverse regions. For Scandinavian groups, river-connected sites served as key entry points into broader trade and migration networks. This article reassesses Scandinavian activity in the region by focusing on a specific type of settlement found across the landscape: 10th–12th-century hillforts with evidence of Scandinavian presence. It explores whether these sites represent a unified phenomenon or merely share certain characteristics. The analysis centres on artefacts of Scandinavian origin – or local imitations of such items – as tangible indicators of Norse activity. For analytical clarity, the hillforts are divided into three regional groups: Western, Dnipro, and Desna. The article investigates the physical characteristics of these sites, the information the artefacts can reveal about the societies that used them, and the similarities and differences among the three groups. Drawing on published archaeological reports and digital archives, this study offers new insights into the form and scale of Scandinavian presence in the region, situating it within the broader context of Viking Age activity.
Abstract The wide-ranging activities of one of the most enduring archaeological expeditions in western Ukraine are presented. Remarkably, field archaeology has proven capable of uniting like-minded individuals and serving the public good, even during wartime. Many of the events unfolded spontaneously, demonstrating that archaeology is far more than an academic pursuit confined to armchair scholarship; it can also play vital social roles. Volunteers, including enthusiasts of ancient history and former military personnel, participated in excavations. Students from various universities received hands-on professional training. Guided tours were organised for both children and adult visitors directly at the excavation sites. Public lectures were delivered to internally displaced people, and an archaeological exhibition showcased the results of the 2023 field campaign. Outreach efforts included media coverage, ongoing work in archaeological reserves, and actions to safeguard cultural heritage. Field seminars were held, and international cooperation was sustained. Perhaps by coincidence, it was during this difficult time of war that some of the expedition’s most significant scholarly discoveries to date were made.
Abstract The article examines the range of cultural heritage offences, including recognised crimes and examples of unethical behaviour perpetrated by Russian actors against Ukrainian cultural heritage. Leveraging the analytical and monitoring work performed by Ukrainian archaeologists, it endeavours to take a step forward to a more complex understanding of Russian attitudes towards Ukrainian cultural heritage and takes a closer look at the specific types of actors and settings where offences were made. After discussing various types and examples of cultural heritage offences, the article summarises them from the perspective of colonial theory to reveal the Russian colonial attitude towards Ukrainian heritage. It claims that the totality of Russian offences against Ukrainian cultural heritage is brought by a systematic imperialistic strive to erase Ukrainian identity and that such actions are a normalised practice for Russian institutions and individuals.
Abstract The article examines the transformation of the Scientific Archive of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine under conditions of war, focusing on digitisation as a strategy of cultural survival. Tracing the archive’s path from early electronic inventories in the late 1990s to large-scale digital preservation projects after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the study highlights how emergency conditions reshaped archival priorities, infrastructure, and international cooperation. Particular attention is paid to key digitisation initiatives dedicated to prominent Ukrainian scholars, the role of volunteers and students, and the use of open-source technologies and international platforms for safeguarding data. The article argues that digitisation has become not only a technical solution but also a form of resistance, ensuring continuity of research, access, and cultural memory amid ongoing threats to Ukraine’s documentary heritage.
Abstract The World Heritage Site of the ancient city of Tauric Chersonesus and its chora has one of the longest histories of museological practice and heritage protection. Nearly 200 years of archaeological research, combined with over 50 years of legislative initiatives and institutional efforts, culminated in the site’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013. However, the situation changed dramatically following the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. The site is now under serious threat: it is being exploited as a platform for ideological propaganda, and its physical remains are suffering significant damage.
Abstract The author argues that Soviet archaeology was primarily imperialist, though it incorporated elements of both colonial and nationalist narratives. Ukrainian Soviet archaeology, in turn, functioned as a provincial extension of this broader framework. Finally, the discussion shifts to contemporary Ukrainian archaeology, which, despite initially struggling to overcome its provincialism, now faces an existential threat from Russian aggression – a concern particularly relevant to the author’s personal experience.
Abstract The Mariupol Museum of Local Lore, the oldest museum in the Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, was for more than a century a key scientific, educational, and cultural institution of the Northern Azov region. Founded in 1920, it developed into a major regional centre for archaeology, ethnography, natural sciences, and historical research, holding over 53,000 artefacts and a research library of 17,000 volumes by 2022. This article examines the historical development of the museum, its role in preserving regional identity, and the circumstances of its destruction during the Russian siege of Mariupol in 2022. The study situates the museum’s loss within the broader framework of cultural destruction associated with the ideology of the so-called ‘ Russkiy mir ’, which seeks to erase and appropriate the heritage of occupied territories. Drawing on archival sources, media reports, and satellite imagery, the article documents the physical annihilation of the museum and the looting and forced transfer of surviving collections. The irreversible loss of unique archaeological, natural history, and documentary materials represents not only a national tragedy for Ukraine but also a significant blow to world cultural heritage. The destruction of the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore demonstrates how cultural institutions become symbolic and strategic targets in modern warfare.
Abstract In December 1790, Russian General Alexander Suvorov captured Izmail in southwestern Bessarabia, present-day Odesa Oblast Ukraine and ended years of Ottoman control of this strategic city on the Danube River. Between 1995 and 1997, an archaeological project uncovered the remains of a well-preserved fortified camp near the village of Katlabukh (formerly Suvorovo), situated along a major route through the Danube lowlands, approximately 30 km north of Izmail. Although only about 12% of the camp area was excavated, the ensuing fieldwork produced substantial evidence of an 18th-century bastioned quadrangular fort densely packed with sunken-floor huts with earthen banks, ovens, and other constructive features. With its dating to the late 18th century, the military structure was in the 1990s interpreted as a camp established by General Suvorov during his campaign toward the Ottoman-held city. This article presents the archaeological results of the excavation for the first time and proposes an alternative interpretation: that the fort was part of Suvorov’s strategic preparations for war against the Ottoman Empire in 1793. The article thus contributes to the study of late 18th-century Russian military logistics in the Lower Danube region.
Abstract This study investigates archaeological evidence of Varangian (Scandinavian) presence along the Dnipro route through a multidisciplinary analysis of metal artefacts and truncated spheroidal weights from museum collections in Ukraine. Fourteen non-ferrous metal objects, including costume elements, jewellery, and utilitarian fittings, were examined to determine their typology, origins, and manufacturing technologies. Chemical analyses revealed multicomponent alloys with distinct arsenic and antimony impurities, differentiating Dnipro-region metal from that of northern Rus’. Comparative evaluation connected these items to Scandinavian prototypes from Birka, Gotland, and other Baltic Sea contexts. A second focus of the study is a collection of 71 truncated spheroidal weights from six Ukrainian regions. Metrological patterns and markings link the weights to the Scandinavian ertog/øre system and suggest their use in trade and early tax collection. Their distribution, especially concentrations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, aligns with the formation of the Rus’ state and its fiscal structures. The presence of early types in western Ukraine suggests earlier, previously undocumented Scandinavian activity. Overall, findings expand the database of Rus’-period metallurgy and clarify the Varangian role in economic and political processes of the 10th–11th centuries. The study of these objects has gained new importance since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022. This war, now in its fourth year, has already led to the loss of several million museum exhibits as a result of bombing and the looting of museums by Russian occupiers. In this context, the preservation of information about cultural heritage through publication remains especially urgent.
Abstract The article presents an analysis of crimes committed by the Russian authorities against the cultural heritage of Ukraine in the Kherson region, which was occupied during the first months of Russian aggression. Over the three years of occupation, the unique archaeological sites of the region, such as Eneolithic–Bronze Age and Early Iron Age steppe barrows, Lower Dnieper hillforts of the Roman period, and medieval fortresses, have suffered irreparable losses. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023 caused further catastrophic damage to historical and cultural monuments. In an effort to eradicate Ukrainian identity and historical memory, the occupiers looted museums in Kherson and other occupied cities of the region and have conducted intense propaganda campaigns in the occupied territories.
Abstract The article examines the challenges of studying and preserving archaeological sites in Kyiv Polissia, a historical and geographical region in the north of the Kyiv Oblast. A significant part of this territory was temporarily occupied during the Russian-Ukrainian war in early 2022. The article provides a concise overview of archaeological research in the region during the 20th century and summarises the results of new investigations conducted by the authors between 2013 and 2020. A case study is presented of the local history museum in Ivankiv, which was destroyed by Russian shelling in February 2022; its collection, including ethnographic and archaeological exhibits, was almost completely lost. The article also discusses the factors that currently prevent an objective assessment of the scale of damage to local archaeological sites and outlines priority measures for documenting and mitigating the negative impact of military actions on the archaeological heritage of Kyiv Polissia.
Abstract The article presents a brief overview of the Funnel Beaker Culture in Ukraine (3900/3800–2900/2800), with particular emphasis on its western regions. It is in this area – specifically in the interfluve of the upper Dniester and Western Buh rivers – that the southeastern boundary of the Funnel Beaker cultural zone is situated, adjacent to the more expansive and dominant Trypillia domain. The study of the Funnel Beaker Culture in Ukraine dates back to the late 19th century, though more focused archaeological investigations began in the second half of the 20th century, notably under the direction of Mykola Peleschyshyn. Following a decade-long hiatus, a new phase of research emerged, characterised primarily by Ukrainian-Polish academic collaboration. Funnel Beaker sites on Ukrainian territory belong to the southeastern group of this cultural complex. These sites are typically located in upland areas and display ceramic stylistic influences of southern origin. Key diagnostic features include vessel handles shaped like ram’s heads and clay models of axe heads. Due to their location along the cultural frontier, these communities maintained active contacts with the populations of the Trypillia Culture. Recent excavations at prehistoric settlements such as Kotoryny and Vynnyky–Lysivka offer valuable insights into the material culture and social dynamics of the Funnel Beaker population. The article also outlines future research prospects, particularly in the areas of chronology, subsistence strategies, and the potential discovery of megalithic burial structures.
Abstract The article describes the efforts of the Scientific Archive of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine to preserve and digitise its collections during the full-scale Russian invasion. Facing the threat of destruction in Kyiv, staff urgently began digitising all archival materials in 2022. The process started with a vast collection of archaeological excavation reports spanning over 80 years of research. Subsequent digitisation projects included the personal archives of notable Ukrainian scholars such as Serhii Hamchenko, Fedir Vovk, and Viktor Petrov, supported by national and international cultural foundations. The work preserved unique documentary, photographic, and field materials on Ukraine’s archaeological heritage. Partnerships with Austrian institutions provided technical and financial support for specialised projects. The archive’s online repositories now make historical and archaeological data accessible worldwide. These initiatives safeguard centuries of scientific heritage against wartime risks. The project highlights the resilience of Ukrainian scholarship and the importance of digital preservation in crisis conditions.
Abstract Contacts between farming and hunting-fishing-gathering communities have been explored at various levels, ranging from material culture to domesticates and aDNA. An aspect that has barely been considered so far is whether there was also an exchange of worldviews, or rites and rituals. Those can, for example, be expressed through figurative objects made of bone, wood, antler, or clay. The article compares figurative objects from two study areas and time slices. One concerns the first farmers of central Europe, the Linear Pottery Culture ( LBK ), and the southern Scandinavian contemporary Ertebølle culture. The second time slice covers the Funnel Beaker Culture of southern Scandinavia and the partly contemporaneous Pitted Ware Culture. For the first time slice, contacts may be visible in the depiction of skeletal elements and a growing number of ‘stick figures’. For the second time slice, figuration seems to serve as a means of demarcation and distinction between the Funnel Beaker and the Pitted Ware Cultures, even though ritual connections existed in other manifestations of ritual behaviour.
Abstract Eurasian elk ( Alces alces ) and forest reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus fennicus ) have been important to hunters in Finland for centuries. The most visible structures related to the hunting of these cervids are pitfalls, which can still be found in the landscape today. This study examines pitfalls from a perspective that emphasises the perceptions of the landscape and cervids by local hunting communities in the River Vuoksi Watershed in Eastern Finland, as the study of pitfalls has so far mainly focused on the mountains of Fennoscandia. I argue that in order to understand how hunters perceived the landscape, we need to study local landscapes and animal behaviour. The behaviour of the cervids determined the location and construction of the pitfalls; in turn, however, these pitfalls can also be seen as remnants of human–animal interaction. The pitfalls were visible in different ways during their use and after their abandonment.
Abstract This study aims to shed light on the potential economic implications of ritual practices, particularly emphasising the role of ritual hoards. It is suggested that an increase in the demand for ritual items acted as a catalyst for specialisation, contributing to the emergence of complex craft industries and exchange networks in the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age. The article examines 46 ritual hoards from Rogaland, southwestern Norway, to assess the overall quality of the artefacts and the degree of standardisation within the assemblages. The results point to Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age craft production being relatively specialised, high-volume, and potentially oriented toward distant regions. The article further discusses the implications of these findings for our understanding of ritual practices, highlighting how the meaning of objects can transform as they are exchanged and incorporated into new settings.
