ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENT OF THE COSSACK’S AGE AS A PLACE OF TRAUMATIC MEMORY OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE

Abstract

Ukraine is significantly late in joining memory studies, currently practicing the Western paradigm and methodology. Accordingly, it is absolutely necessary to work on the scientific and methodological representation of the Ukrainian cultural of memory. Ukrainian society eventually came to understand the need to reassess at all levels its own cultural heritage, which helps establish and preserve national and collective identity. During the “memorial era” in order to preserve authenticity, it is necessary to present and promote Ukrainian “place of memory” in all their multifaceted diversity. This study is devoted to the topical problem of studying the role of the Cossack-era monument in Volyn, namely the National Historical and Memorial Reserve “Field of the Battle of Berestek” river Plyasheva, Rivne region. The purpose of the article is to reveal the logical continuous connection between archaeology/history and memory itself. The task is to show the stages of the formation and development of the mentioned archaeological/historical object as a locus of establishment and preservation of Ukrainian identity; to emphasize and reveal the conflict potential, also political exploitation or manipulations of “Cossack graves” that took place during the 20th–21st centuries; to illustrate elements of trauma related to both the object itself and historical events and realities. The novelty of the research lies in the very formulation of the topic. Further scientific research in the times of the Ukrainian version of the “memory boom” in order to construct one’s own narrative and to strengthen the base of national identity seems promising.