Hungarian archaeologists warn against unveiling list of historic sites

A new regulating coming into force in Hungary on April 1 could lead to the looting of archaeological sites in the country, the head of the Association of Hungarian Archaeologists (Magyar Régész Szövetség) warns.

According to a report in daily Népszabadság, the decree is aimed at helping prospective buyers of properties avoid costly delays due to the presence of historic artifacts by making lists of such sites available on request from the National Office of Cultural Heritage (Kulturális Örökségvédelmi Hivatal, or KÖH).

Under current law, owners of property must bear the cost of having experts conduct excavations of sites deemed of archeological interest.

Dénes Jankovich-Bésán, the chairman of the archeologists' association, said there are upwards of 50,000 such listed sites in the country - a number which grows by more than 1,000 a year, and could eventually total 150,000.

Despite the controversy, the president of the KÖH said his organization was not yet ready to provide such details, as it doesn't have the necessary mapping information, which costs Ft 1.4 billion, or almost €5 million.

• Email
• Save to My Caboodle