Czech Economist Štěpán Křeček, advisor to the then Prime Minister Petr Fiala in 2024, declared that “archaeologists are the worst of all,” that “some little bone” should not prevent “a town square from being repaired and poured with concrete,” and that archaeologists conducting rescue research prior to construction from family houses to highways should not “have it so easy.” His statements provoked a storm of protests from leading representatives of our archaeological community. Now the government of the Prime Minister Babiš is looking at amending the Law on State Heritage Care no. 20/1987 Sb. with what can be seen as disastrous consequences. We have seen this rhetoric before, with the same tired argument that archaeology delays construction of vital houses and roads and is a burden on poor developers.
In Czech they don’t have the embedded archaeological advice in development control within council/regional services (please correct me if I am wrong) currently the key section in the full legislation is
§ 22 If construction activities are to be carried out in an area with archaeological findings, builders are obliged to notify the Institute of Archaeology of this intention from the time of preparation of the project under the Building Act, the removal of the building or the removal of landscaping and to allow it or an authorized organization to carry out rescue archaeological research in the affected area. If the builder is a legal entity or a natural person whose business necessitates rescue archaeological research, the costs of rescue archaeological research are covered by this builder; otherwise, the costs are covered by the organization carrying out the archaeological research. A similar procedure applies if another activity is to be carried out in such an area that could jeopardize the implementation of archaeological research.
If accepted, it will jeopardize archaeological finds, locations and the quality of research, while placing the financial burden on museums and archaeological organisations as well as violating the international obligations of the Czech Republic, under the Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe.
If this amendment is passed the threats and burdens will be:
The proposed limitation of the period of archaeological research on any site will be a maximum of 6 months with often rushed and insufficient documentation of finds in the field, or even having to ignore some sites leading to complete destruction as a result of construction activity. In addition, the funding by developers is cut to a maximum of 3 months. Shifting the financial burden to museums and regions (as a result also to taxpayers); and risking restriction of scientific activity, especially in the post-excavation phase. No funds will be available for post excavation, meaning the responsibility for research and publication falls on the organisation that excavates!
The proposed amendments are contrary to the Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe (Valletta, 1992, entered into law in the Czech Republic on 23 September 2000), which requires the provision of:
sufficient time and resources for archaeological research;
the scientific standard of conducting archaeological research (including pre development work),
proper publication of results and scientific reports.
These change are to take place without any standard consultation procedure, without the involvement of the professional archaeologist or the public, and finally without respect for the protection of the archaeological heritage, which is part of the national identity in every civilized country.
To quote Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan once President of the UAE—‘He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future, for it is from the past that we learn.’ Is this what the Czech government want to do, ignore the past, remove the chances to know who we are and how we arrive at this point in time. Archaeological heritage is an irreplaceable source of knowledge about our past. Any ill-considered legislative interventions will lead to irreversible damage and irretrievable loss.
There is a petition – in Czech..(Google translate is your friend) and if you feel willing to sign it, I have created this template for you to add if you wish. Or create your own. Solidarity with our Czech colleagues!
As a fellow archaeologist in the UK, understand only too well the damage that such an ill-considered amendment to this act would cause. Archaeology is the people’s past and is irreplaceable
Jako kolega archeolog ve Spojeném Království až příliš dobře chápu škody, které by taková nepromyšlená novela tohoto zákona způsobila. Archeologie je minulostí lidu a je nenahraditelná.
Zachování řádné ochrany archeologického dědictví ČR – výzva k přehodnocení navrhovaných úprav zákona o státní památkové péči č. 20/1987 Sb.
Maintaining proper protection of the archaeological heritage of the Czech Republic – a call for reconsideration of the proposed amendments to the Act on State Monument Care No. 20/1987 Coll.
Zachování řádné ochrany archeologického dědictví ČR – výzva k přehodnocení navrhovaných úprav zákona o státní památkové péči č. 20/1987 Sb. – Petice.com
Sign here: and you will get an email ( click Ano, tuto petici jsem podepsal(a) )
Main image from the D35 motorway excavations of a major new Celtic settlement near Hradec Králové, the site is spread across 65 acres- read more here: News – Major Celtic Settlement Discovered in Czech Republic – Archaeology Magazine This is the sort of archaeology that is under threat.
