The undermining of the Kakhov Dam opened up new opportunities for archaeologists
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, one gets the impression that Ukrainian science is in a state of lethargic sleep. However, in reality this is not the case. In the last decade, a number of reforms were carried out, which ensured a much more efficient use of the funds allocated for scientific research. In fact, under the new system, money "goes" to scientific projects, and the scientific projects themselves are constantly competing with each other to receive funding. As a result, even in difficult times, scientific research continues throughout the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government.
Recently, the whole world witnessed a terrible tragedy when thousands of people's houses were flooded after the Kakhov dam was blown up. Human lives and property were lost. As a result of the destruction of the dam, the huge Kakhov reservoir became very shallow. The water receded by hundreds of meters, opening to archaeologists hitherto inaccessible areas of land... special land.
The fact is that during the creation of the Kakhov reservoir, a number of not quite correct decisions were made, to put it mildly. As a result, 2,155 square kilometers of very fertile chernozems, hundreds of villages and towns were flooded. People gathered on the banks of the reservoir and sobbed, watching as it flooded their houses. At the bottom of the reservoir was a historical area called Velikiy Lug. This is the place of liberation struggles of the Ukrainian Cossacks, which lasted several hundred years. Also in this region was the capital of Khan Mamai, the city of Zamyk. This area was flooded without any preliminary research, so the shallowing of the Kakhovsky Reservoir caused a real stir among archaeologists.
Despite the shelling, scientists immediately began excavations in the new territories. First, they are too eager to make new discoveries. Secondly, not only scientists understand the value of new territories. Black archaeologists also got to work and are causing trouble to the law enforcement officers, who are forced to chase them.
New territories immediately began to reveal their secrets and reward archaeologists. There are already the first finds - Bronze Age, Scythian times, Cossack remains. However, according to scientists, the most interesting will be in Nikopol region and Dnipropetrovsk region. 5 sichs (Cossack military bases) were located on this territory, which were flooded without any research.
So far, the biggest find is an ancient dovbanka boat, which lay in the ground for more than half a thousand years. It is 7 meters long and made of a solid oak trunk. Scientists discovered two identical symbols on the stern, they will be further studied and deciphered. Archaeologists suggest that this boat was made in the 10th-14th centuries and was used for fishing or transportation. The exact age will be determined by radiocarbon analysis, and now the most urgent task is to preserve the monument, because a third of the building has been destroyed.
There are other interesting findings. Among them are the ruins of an ancient monastery and Cossack firearms. Artifacts from the Second World War, Byzantium and even the Paleolithic era were found here.
Therefore, if the security situation allows, we should soon receive very interesting information.
Sources:
#sundaysurprise
😮 Wow, it was unexpected. It seems that you have a new initiative. Thank you for such great support.
You have to see the good in the bad, a good opportunity for archaeologists.
The price of this opportunity is, of course, too high. But yes, it is a big field for scientists and several archaeological expeditions are already working there.
I was expecting the WWII artifacts, but the stuff from the Byzantium and Paleolithic eras is surprising to me.
It's good that science is able to proceed, despite the war, but I really hope that someone will figure out a way to end the war sooner, rather than later.
During a certain historical period, Byzantium had a number of cities on the coast of the Black Sea, as well as in the Crimea. In addition, ancient cities on the territory of Ukraine, including Kyiv, had very close trade ties with Byzantium. But even so, the fact that the artifacts have survived for so long is surprising.
The situation with the war is complicated. I think it would be possible to conclude a quick peace at the cost of certain Ukrainian territories. But after the story with Crimea, when we gave it away so that there would be no war and this only encouraged Putin's appetites, Ukrainian society is not ready for peace at the cost of any territories. Russia is not planning to give up either. In their opinion, such a state as Ukraine should not exist, and there is no such nation as Ukrainians. This opinion is supported by a certain part of Russian society, although, in my opinion, it is difficult to estimate how large this part is.
In my opinion, political leadership will soon begin to change in Western countries, elections will be held, and support for Ukraine will decrease. There will come a point where we will have to make a deal based on what we can achieve by then. And prepare for the next defense :(
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