A group of young archaeologists in Bosnia are asking for support in launching a Non-Government-Organisation (NGO) in order to protect endangered archaeological sites and raise global awareness.

The brainchild of Archeon.org, a startup archaeology website that has grown to become one of the leading online archaeology sites for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project hopes to raise $1,090 USD to cover the cost of NGO registration and support the existing website in buying equipment and technical running costs.

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) is an organisation that is neither a part of a government nor a conventional for-profit business. An NGO’s orientation refers to the type of activities it takes on. These activities might include human rights, environmental, or development work.

Registration would enable Archeon to devote themselves to issues which occur across longer time horizons and gain clout in campaigning for change and cultural protection of endangered sites.

Archeon states: “We decided to start a website in order to change the state of Archaeology in Bosnia and Herzegovina. National monuments are being destroyed, museums are being closed and the local government turns a blind eye.

Change an awful situation Archaeology is in right now

Our biggest wish however is to form an NGO in order to be able to fight to save and protect cultural heritage of our country by taking serious action and to work with our colleagues from all over the world who have already made contact with us.”

In a video created by the project, they demonstrate how Roman ruins are being vandalised and no planning protection prevents private development on and around archaeological sites.

The project further adds:

“It is essential that we form an NGO as there is no Archaeological NGO currently in our country. This is the only way we can address problems of cultural heritage which are not yet solved by local Government.”