As the war in Ukraine rages on, Russia has intensified archaeological excavations across the Crimean Peninsula, uncovering ancient treasures.
However, Ukrainians view these actions as nothing short of cultural plundering.
The dispute over Crimea has been simmering since 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed the peninsula. Despite the conflict, Russian and pro-Russian archaeologists have pressed on with large-scale digs in the region, which has a rich history spanning millennia.
Photo: Ilya Gogunsky / KFU Press Service
Ancient History Beneath Crimea's Soil
Crimea’s past includes its role as a hub for ancient Greek colonies along the Black Sea coast during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE.
Even a thousand years later, it remained densely populated, offering a wealth of archaeological potential.
Recent excavations near Sevastopol have unearthed gold and silver jewelry dating from late antiquity to the early Middle Ages.
These discoveries include buckles, gold earrings, and belt fragments, thought to have belonged to women.
The artifacts were found at the Almalyk-dere burial site in southern Crimea, an area that has intrigued archaeologists since the 19th century.
Photo: Ilya Gogunsky / KFU Press Service
“They’re Stealing Our Heritage,” Says Ukraine
Ukraine has strongly condemned these excavations, accusing Russia of plundering its cultural heritage.
According to archaeologist Valery Naumenko from the V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, the Almalyk-dere site continues to yield surprises despite past looting.
“There are still things of significant scientific interest,” Naumenko noted in a press release.
The dig is being conducted in collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences. The artifacts, which date back to the 4th and 5th centuries CE, are linked to the Christian principality of Gothia, established by the Goths in the region.
The fate of the recently excavated treasures remains unclear.
Photo: Ilya Gogunsky / KFU Press Service
