Transitional archaeology in a Transitional Country (3)

1996-2006 Looting Macedonian Archaeology

Archaeological licenses vs. Tomb raiders

The period between 1996 and 2006 in Macedonian archaeology is distinguished by two occurrences. On one hand the great increase in the number of illegal diggers at archaeological sites, and on the other the limiting of archaeologists by the requirement of special licences.

According to the current law on archaeological excavations, the excavation can be lead only by a person with a status of a high custodian or a person that has obtained a so-called archaeological licence. This is an improper application of the current law and until it is changed, a large number of young archaeologists, including myself, cannot go out in the field as leaders of an archaeological excavation because although we have university degrees and titles, the bearer of a licence to run an archaeological excavation can only be a person with the title of a high custodian or a person with adequate education that has taken an exam in front of a commission determined by the Ministry of Culture, by its own choice.

This allows room for control through a form which shows the power over archaeologists that have the adequate degrees, are qualified and thus have the right to work in their own field. The restraint on the archaeologists leaves space for illegal diggers to reign freely and their target is mainly the archaeological sites - necropolises, where the archaeological material has emerged. It is widely known that they dig in places where there are confirmed artifacts and in places they know would not be visited by archaeologists. Generally speaking, the new law on protection of the cultural heritage of Republic of Macedonia that was passed on 19th March 2004, is too liberal. It allows malefactors the freedom of movement without any consequences, and on the other hand, it is oppressive in its limiting of the rights of archaeologists.

Changes to this law are in procedure which should actually reduce or eliminate all provisions that hinder the work of archaeologists because they are the only prevention for protection of archaeological localities from illegal diggers. If there are unrestricted conditions for the archaeologists to work, then the illegal diggers could not work on the field. Or their work would be reduced to a great extent.

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Letter From Macedonia (reaction)

One of the most popular online magazines about archaeology (Archaeology Magazine), in its January/February issue, carried a "Letter from Macedonia". The author, a freelance journalist, underlines several problematic points from the 1991 independence of the Republic of Macedonia, connected with archaeology as a science: our dispute with the southern neighbour about the country's name, the veto on the country's entry into NATO, franchise on the territory of the Kingdom of Ancient Macedonians, the search for identity before the ancient times thus denying Slavic identity, outdated field methodology, lack of cooperation with other countries, statements which include disastrous policy in archaeology and a tendency towards sensationalism.

Keep in mind that this is only a short abstract, and it was written and published before the case with the fake grave of Alexander the Great and the detecting of his spirit with the help of suspicious energy entities. Macedonia was portrayed as a neverland with a fake treatment of archaeology as science, long outdated even in a lot of old systems.

I’ll be damned, but this Letter from Macedonia should have never been published, especially not in a popular journal like Archaeology Magazine. I found a lot of reactions and comments about it, some aggressive, others scientifically based. But the good point of this letter is the real absurdity of the archaeological situation in Macedonia in terms of the ties between archaeology and politics. For now I would not give any comment, except the following:

In the Republic of Macedonia there are more than 400 other archaeologists (80% of them unemployed), with the own opinions which do not reach the public, because only two or three persons give interviews and make statements on behalf of all Macedonian archaeologists. That makes us even more incompetent than we really are, because the truth is that Macedonian archaeology is currently like a crystal shoe. Or to be more precise, a crystal high heel. And an antique one, on top.

At the moment, I am ashamed to be a Macedonian archaeologist. I will go find a place to hide , to cover my head and throw away my degree in archaeology.