archaeological Monument, the burial ground of the Glade, has received the name from the nearest village in the Simferopol district of Crimea. According to the census, there are only two street and 103 residents. But the burial ground – a true city of the dead, which occupies about two hectares. Now it is investigated a small part, about 3.5 thousand square meters of 20 thousand. But even in this relatively small space historians have already studied 312 graves. So archeologists here will be enough work for many years to come. Moreover, the monument is a tremendous layering of burials of different cultures.
– place where people were buried from the I century BC on IV century of our era, says Professor of the Crimean Federal University (KFU) Igor Khrapunov. – The burial ground existed here for 500 years. Analogs such continuous use of the same burial places in Crimea there.
Age in five hundred years, perhaps the first mystery. What made people so long to bury the dead on the slope of a hill not very convenient for burial place? Where were these people? So close not found a single ancient settlement.
– Here graves belonging to different cultures, says Professor Khrapunov. – The earliest of them is a late Scythians. Then there are the burials of the Sarmatians, then the tombs of the ancestors of medieval Alans and burial, with the cremation of the ancient Germans, who came from the shores of the Baltic sea.
Some of these peoples were nomadic and could not have cities, but later the Scythians had already lived a sedentary life. So where are their settlements from here to the capital of the late Kingdom of Naples – as much as 22 kilometres. They couldn’t have so far to take their dead. And what made such different lifestyles, beliefs and culture of the people to bury their dead next? These puzzles archaeologists have yet to unravel.
the Burial ground of the Edge in 2002 opened black diggers. More specifically, at the time of their interest from the locals learned professional historians. And hosted tomb robbers at the burial, apparently, for a long time.
– the Inhabitants of the nearest village saw the children running through the streets with human bones in his hands, – said Igor Khrapunov. – Grave robbers threw the bones near the pits, and the children were picked up. Invited us, and since 2003 we investigate this repository.
the Land there resembled Swiss cheese. Everything was cut up dozens of savagely dug in search of treasure nor.
– In the 90 years of black diggers feel safe – said archaeologist Sergey Troughs. – At first, they somehow tried to mask the holes, covered them with branches, and then forgot all caution and acted in the open. They had high patrons and law enforcement agencies.
not surprising, because��measure collectors of archaeological antiquities was the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the oligarch Sergei Taruta and many other influential Ukrainians.
it got to the point that archaeologists, which was released at night to guard the burial ground of the clearing was fired.
– took us for a rival group, – says Sergey of Mould. We then met a black digger from Sevastopol, he said that works under the order from buyers. Also do the other. And Yes, between these gangs has been competition.
In the Russian Crimea looting almost disappeared. Almost, but not completely. And are now bottom-feeders on the monuments of history. And to rake in the literal sense of the consequences of lawlessness Ukrainian times, historians have to this day. Almost half of all the graves that reveal scientists at the Edges, already looted. Vandals can’t see the true value of findings that are important for science.
In one of the predatory dumps we found the burial container of Windows, – said the Professor Khrapunov. Such vessels were found in many rivers Oder and neiße – indigenous land of the ancient Germans. It confirms the connection of the Crimean tribes from their cousins in the Baltic States.
Thanks to the support of presidential grants this season on the burial ground on the Edges staffed by volunteers from all over Russia.
– under the terms of the grant we had to take 40 people, – says the Director of the charity Fund “Heritage of millennia” Anastasia Stoyanova. But the response was much more – 120. As a result, we selected 45 volunteers.
For some, history is just a hobby, for others, like graduate from Serpukhov Daria Trushina, future profession.
– this year I graduated from high school, will enroll in the faculty of history, – said the girl. – Decided to start to get acquainted with this profession in practice. Everything as I expected. The work did not disappoint me.
life in the camp begins at six o’clock in the morning. Breakfast and run to the dig to have time to work up to heat. All the newbies to start giving up a shovel. Then they work mainly shovel, a brush or brush or sift the soil in search of small parts. Excavations led by five professional archaeologists.
Among the finds of this season – a collection of various dishes, which gives an idea about where and who did it. Kresnyakova plates come from the Chersonese. Did Greek potters. And primitive black jugs – DIY Scythians. Glasses – a typical attribute of the ancient Germans. Next set of different form metal bells. They are often found in female and child burials. But the mysterious object resembling a bracelet. But the fact that he never wore neither hand nor foot, and lay it next to the body of the deceased. Then unexpected nahomka buckle early Scythians, in the typical animal style.
When she got to the cemetery, she was already about 500 years, – says Igor Khrapunov.
Among the burials in forest Edges was found about 50 horse graves. In fact, it is not uncommon for the Crimea. Buried close to their owners horses have found before, but here they pose others. Animals lie on the abdomen, and their heads laid on a special ledge.
– We found the bones of birds, egg shells, bones of sacrificial animals, as a rule, lamb leg, – says Anastasiya Stoyanova. – This year we will be working paleozoologists, I hope they will give more information about this monument.
poultry and eggs indicate that somewhere nearby was a settlement. Sooner or later archaeologists will discover it.
help “RG”
Foundation “Heritage of millennia”, whose experts, in conjunction with the CFI examined the edge of the burial ground, there are already more than 20 years. During this time, professional historians completed several major research and education projects. Archaeologists have studied the burial grounds of Dort, Lime, Orman, Nasac, studied the mounds in the path of the route “Tavrida”, have published several scientific journals, has organized a school of young archaeologists and worked on popularyzacji historical knowledge.
