Kyiv Regional Museum of Archaeology. Trypillia

The Kyiv Regional Archaeological Museum officially began its operation in May 2002, but its history traces back over 80 years. It overcame numerous obstacles on its path to creation and emerged from the ruins of the Museum of Komsomol Glory.

As far back as 1933, a report was sent to the regional committee of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League (Komsomol) by the Kyiv Regional Inspector of Cultural Heritage Protection, Konstantin Antipovich, suggesting the idea of establishing a historical and revolutionary reserve dedicated to the events of 1919 in the village of Trypillia. In 1919, Trypillia became the capital of the self-proclaimed Trypillian Republic led by the ataman Zeleny (Danilo Terpylo), a native Trypillian, whom the Soviet authorities branded as a bandit, trying to distort his actions during the peasant uprisings that swept through Kyiv Oblast.

On July 2, 1919, the Soviet authorities dispatched a punitive detachment to Trypillia, which included Komsomol members. In order to avoid endangering the local population further, Zeleny's forces retreated. However, on the evening of the following day, they recaptured the town, taking Komsomol members captive. Those who repented were released, but around 100 Komsomol members were publicly executed in the market square after being forced to jump from a high cliff along the Dnieper River...

Of course, the Komsomol members were portrayed as victims of Zeleny's violence, and the reserve was intended to play a role in cultural-political influence and communist education for the working class and the masses. In 1934, a memorial plaque was installed on the building where the Komsomol members had been held captive to honor their memory.

The small museum, which was meant to become the centerpiece of the reserve at the site of the main events, was never built. Instead, in 1938, a 26-meter black granite obelisk was erected, visible even from Kyiv.

The creation of the Regional Archaeological Museum was entrusted to the Center for the Protection of Historical, Archaeological, and Artistic Monuments. The responsibility fell on Pavel Pokas, the director of the center. In a matter of months, he developed a plan for the first hall, acquired archaeological artifacts for it, set up the exhibition, and by May 1996, the museum was ready to receive visitors. He even created a "Guide to Archaeology of Kyiv Oblast." Unfortunately, his premature death halted the work, and the museum was once again forgotten by the administration.

Changes began in 2000 when, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the prominent archaeologist Vikentiy Khvoyka, the then-President of Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, signed a decree to commemorate Khvoyka's memory and install a bust of him near the building of the Kyiv Regional Archaeological Museum in Trypillia.

The Kyiv Oblast State Administration allocated the necessary funds, and on October 26, 2001, repair and construction work began in the museum.

To the left of the museum stands a bronze bust of Vikentiy Khvoyka on a pedestal – the first monument to this archaeologist in Ukraine. The monument beautifully complements the design of the museum's surroundings, according to the vision of the chief architect of the project, Anatoliy Ignashchenko.

In front of the monument, they constructed the "Table of Harmony," at the center of which stands a metal cylinder – the axis of the Earth – inscribed with the words "Dialog of Cultures" in both Ukrainian and English. This symbolizes the interweaving of cultures on this land, transitioning from one to another. Surrounding the "Table of Harmony," historical exhibits made of stones, created by ancient hands, are placed. In front of the museum facade, large blocks of sandstone were installed, their age surpassing 70 million years – a gift from the National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve "Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi."

The museum's exterior appearance also underwent change. According to Anatoliy Ignashchenko's vision, the building's form resembles a "chest" or an earthen cavity, within which the treasures of the past are hidden. A metal lantern in the form of a trinocular – an element of the Trypillian culture – is affixed at the entrance of the museum at a height of 2.5 meters. The museum's structure is adorned with ceramic replicas of anthropomorphic Trypillian figurines and a Scythian woman, placed on the roof, created by the "Kolo-Ra" society. These 1.5-meter-tall female figures symbolize motherhood and women as the guardians of the domestic hearth. Additionally, a linden tree alley was planted on the museum's premises.

• Anthropomorphic figurines before being lifted onto the roof, 2001.
• Ensemble "Dobrodiy" from the city of Obukhiv at the museum's opening.
• Mykhailo Videyko working on the reconstruction of Trypillian culture dwelling remnants, 2002.
• Museum staff in 2002.
• Mykola Horodyskyi and Mykhailo Sikorskyi in the third hall of the museum before a trinocular vessel, 2001.
• Museum reconstruction in 2002. Female figurines placed on the roof of the building.
• Anthropomorphic figurines before being lifted onto the roof, 2001.
• Ensemble "Dobrodiy" from the city of Obukhiv at the museum's opening.
• Excavations conducted by the Kyiv Regional Archaeological Museum in 2003, Shcherbanivka village, Lypove site.
• Fragments of painted ceramics from excavations of the Trypillian settlement in the Lypove site.
• Fragments of 17th-century ceramic artifacts from the village of Trypillia.
• Middle Dnieper Culture cup, excavations in the village of Dolyna.
• Trypillian culture ceramics from excavations near the village of Dolyna in 2003.
• Trypillian culture ceramics: fragments of lids with deepened ornament.
• 11th-13th century ceramic artifacts discovered in the village of Trypillia.
• View of the location of the Trypillian culture settlement, Shcherbanivka village, Lypove site.
• Archaeological reconnaissance of ancient settlements near the village of Dolyna.
• Archaeological research near the village of Shcherbanivka, 2003.
• Archaeological research near the village of Dolyna, 2003.
• Excavations conducted by the Kyiv Regional Archaeological Museum in 2003, Shcherbanivka village, Lypove
• Fragments of painted ceramics from excavations of the Trypillian settlement in the Lypove site.

However, the museum's external changes are just the tip of the iceberg. Alongside this, the museum embarked on active scientific work. With the support of the Ukrainian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (UNCCI), the museum's staff conducted archaeological surveys and excavations in the villages of Shcherbanivka, Dolyna, and Trypillia. In early 2003, the committee contributed a collection of scientific and historical literature to the museum's library. The museum actively hosts conferences, exhibitions, and expeditions. Its staff engages in research and the dissemination of the history of Kyiv Oblast.

Today, the museum consists of seven branches located throughout Kyiv Oblast: the Museum of Military Glory (Tripillya village, general school); V. Khvoyka Museum and I. Franko Museum (Khalepya village); Museum of Cossack Heritage and Art Gallery (Hermanivka village); Museum of Anatoliy Solovianenko and Local History Museum (Kozyn); Archaeological and Local History Museum (Kopachiv village); Historical and Local History Museum (Sosnova village).

With each passing day, the museum's activities become increasingly vibrant, attracting new visitors.