“Black archaeologist” who found and sold unique antiquities will be tried in Sumy region
Police officers under the procedural guidance of the prosecutor's office sent to the court an indictment against a local resident who appropriated unique antiquities.
According to the investigation, the accused in December 2021 in the territory of the Krolevets community in Sumy region without the appropriate permission carried out land exploration and archaeological work, during which he found a treasure, in particular, a sword, a shield umbon, nails to it, a spear tip, a weapon attachment, a ferret segmented, etc.
Aware that the found objects have special historical and cultural value, acting contrary to the requirements of the current legislation, the accused did not inform the relevant body for the protection of cultural heritage about the finds, but appropriated them. Later, he sold them at auction for 6 thousand UAH.
According to the expert's conclusion, the treasure found by the accused is archaeological objects of a single complex (burial ritual), dating from a narrow chronological period - the end of the 2nd century BC - the middle of the 1st century BC, are part of the ancient burial mound, is a unique source that covers unknown pages of ancient history and culture not only of Ukraine, but also of the whole of Europe in an extremely complex, important and interesting period, and therefore it has special historical, scientific, artistic and cultural value.
At present, all unique archaeological finds have been recovered and transferred to responsible storage to the National Museum of History of Ukraine, which is one of the leading museums in the country in terms of the number and value of collections.
Pre-trial investigation under Part 1 of Art. 193 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine was completed by the enquiry sector of the police department №1 (m. Krolevets) of the Konotop district police department of the GUNP in Sumy region under the procedural leadership of the Krolevets department of the Konotop district prosecutor's office.
Recall that on August 8, law enforcement officers handed over to the National Museum of History of Ukraine for responsible storage the belt of the III century, which in February 2023 the police seized after its illegal sale on an Internet forum.
For reference: the found treasure, in accordance with the current legislation, constitutes a cultural value, the ownership of it is acquired by the state, objects of archeology cannot be objects of sale, collection by private individuals and exported outside the state.
National Police of Ukraine
