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Kurhan Archaeology in Ukraine: Problems of Preservation and Conservation
Margarita Gleba, Rutgers University, and Sergei Polin, Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Tens of thousands of burial mounds (kurhans) dating from the Bronze Age to the medieval period have defined the landscape of central southern Ukraine for millennia. This paper addresses the problems with and approaches to kurhan conservation in Ukraine.

Kurhans, especially those belonging to the Scythian culture and often containing large quantities of gold objects, have suffered from looting since antiquity. Early excavations in the mid 19th century destroyed a number of particularly large mounds. The construction of extensive irrigation systems and large industrial facilities since the 1960s also obliterated a significant number of important sites, although many of these were scientifically excavated before being destroyed. It is plowing, however, that has done the most damage to kurhans by far, since most are located in agricultural areas. These and other problems have contributed to the disappearance of these archaeological monuments and the unique landscape they define.

In recent years, attention has been brought to the necessity of preserving and conserving kurhans for the future. Certain larger mounds have been rebuilt after excavation, preserving the physical appearance of the site. Some complexes of multiple kurhans have been declared national monuments. Innovative conservation efforts are also undertaken: at Mamaeva Gora, for example, the site preservation project involves the rehabilitation of the unique flora that develops on and around kurhans and has all but disappeared due to herbicide use. Finally, the current American Ukrainian Scythian Kurhan Project will contribute to the documentation of many disappearing sites by recording their location using GPS and GIS technology.

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