Euromaidan Press
News and Opinion from Ukraine and Europe on Military and Political Developments.
Sensational find in Khortytsia as archeological team uncovers deep grave of Scythian warrior.
An archeological team has made a sensational find – the grave of a tall Scythian warrior buried about 2,500 years ago on the island of Khortytsia in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The burial site was discovered by the archeological expedition of the Khortytsia National Reserve , headed by Dmytro Nykonenko , Candidate of Historical Sciences and leading researcher at the Department of Protection of Historical, Archaeological and Natural Monuments.
The entrance to the three-meter-deep catacomb was buried under a large number of heavy granite boulders. The archeologists explain that this was done in order to protect the burial site from robbers and gravediggers.
Photo: Khortytsia National Reserve
By the standards of his time, the warrior was a very tall man measuring just over 1.8 metres, and was obviously an archer. On average, Scythians measured not more than 1.6 metres. Archaeologists also found an iron knife with a bone handle, the remains of a quiver with bronze arrows and sacrificial foods (sheep bones).
“Our team from the Khortytsia National Reserve has been working in the Scythian cemetery for two months. We’ve uncovered this unspoiled burial site. This is a very rare find! The warrior was about 35-40 years old. His teeth are in perfect condition and he’s extremely tall. He was definitely not a farmer, but a Scythian warrior!” – said the leader head of the expedition Dmytro Nykonenko.
A closer study of the warrior’s pelvic bones revealed that he had probably spent most of his time on horseback. Moreover, according to Dmytro Nykonenko, he was no ordinary person, as great care had been taken to bury him in such a deep grave.
Photo: Khortytsia National Reserve
A cromlech was arranged over the burial place. This is a megalithic construction made of large stone blocks symbolizing the sun. Such stone constructions were very common among the ancient peoples.
“The burial site was quite deep. The depth of the pit is 3 metres. It was not easy to build. I can describe it as a catacomb, that is, first they dug an entrance pit, then made a niche – an underground chamber – where the deceased was placed. The entrance to the pit was laid with large rocks. We usually find one or two boulders, but here we discovered a large number of rocks, some of which weigh more than 200 kg.” added Nykonenko.
According to Maksym Ostapenko , director of the Khortytsia National Reserve , in 1995 he and his team found the burial place of a Scythian woman with a mirror, a necklace and a cantharus (large two-handled drinking vessel). All of these objects came from Egypt.
Archaeologists say that such finds indicate that the island of Khortytsia was an important Scythian settlement, a large trading centre visited by foreign traders, namely Greek merchants.
“Such finds indicate that in Scythian times Khortytsia was a relatively densely populated settlement. It was an important trading post as merchants and nomadic tribes could cross from one bank of the Dnipro River to the other. So, the people who lived here controlled and ensured the crossing of the river. This means that Khortytsia was a very important, strategic place at that time,” concluded Nykonenko.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d85690.3649144492!2d35.00480385120681!3d47.84300475684777!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x40dc66b321aefab1%3A0x6710540e258bdd14!2sNational%20Reserve%20Khortytsia!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1628370336130!5m2!1sen!2sus&w=600&h=450]
Read More:
- Sensational archaeological find uncovers “Ukrainian Stonehenge” in eastern Ukraine
- Remarkable find near Khortytsia. Underwater archaeologists raise ancient Cossack gun carriage to surface
- Archaeologists discover Scythian treasure in Poltava Oblast
- Gilded Scythian sword found on Mount Mamai in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
- Sensational find on Khortytsia reveals the remains of an 18th century Cossack encampment
- Hoard of 1000-year-old silver coins with Ukrainian trident found in north Ukraine
- Treasures stolen from Kyiv cathedrals in the 1930s discovered in State Historical Museum in Moscow
- Remnants of a 12th century unique medieval fortification wall discovered in Kyiv
- Sensational find in Khortytsia as archeological team uncovers deep grave of Scythian warrior
- 900-year-old relic found under church floor in Busk, Lviv Oblast
- New dig in Chyhyryn sheds light on a page of Ukrainian Cossack history
- Egyptian mummies found in Kyiv Cathedral
- Stolen ancient viking’s sword from the dawn of Kyivan Rus comes back home to Ukraine
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Ukraine destroys Russia’s Dzhankoi helicopter base air defenses, enabling further deep strikes on occupied Crimea.
Ukraine's April 17 ATACMS missile attack on Russia's airfield in northern Crimea reportedly destroyed multiple air defense assets, potentially enabling future air attacks on the occupied peninsula from the north.
Istories: Russia’s arms industry still importing vital foreign CNC machines despite sanctions.
Türkiye, the UAE. and China are acting as key conduits for Western technology feeding Russia's arms production, an investigation has found.
EU launches task force to combat Russian interference in European elections.
The task force will be temporary, but leaders are eyeing permanent measures. The Russian influence network reportedly aimed to appoint agents as employees of MEPs
Borrel, Stoltenberg urge NATO to stop stockpiling Patriots, put Ukraine’s needs first.
EU foreign policy chief and NATO Secretary General urge Allies to prioritize sending anti-missile systems to Ukraine over stockpiling them at home
OSCE urges Russia to release three Ukraine’s mission employees illegally held in Donetsk and Luhansk by its soldiers.
The OSCE secretary general said that unjust imprisonment by Russian soldiers under harsh conditions has taken a severe toll on their employees health.
Biden calls for higher income tax on billionaires: «They can afford it».
President Biden was pitching his tax plan in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. The president argued everyone needs to pay their fair share. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes has the details. CBS News Streaming...
Seven jurors seated in Trump's hush money trial
Seven people have been seated on the jury in the hush money trial against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan. Court is not in session Wednesday, and jury selection will continue Thursday until a panel of 12 New Yorkers and likely six alter...
Piers Morgan: Katie Couric should ‘put a sock in it’.
'The Five' co-hosts discuss former TV anchor Katie Couric's criticism of the MAGA base and NPR suspending a veteran editor who exposed the liberal bias at the outlet. #foxnews #fox #thefive Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch F...
What to know about the Jan. 6 obstruction case before the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case that may impact hundreds of Capitol riot defendants and former President Donald Trump. The justices are looking closer at the scope of a federal obstruction statute used to prosecute many Ja...
Meet the Press NOW — April 16
President Biden hits the campaign trail while former President Trump is in the courtroom for his hush money trial. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) joins to discuss the president's trip and Middle East policy. Speaker Johnson faces tough odds and a thr...
Moscow sharpens warnings to Israel, in apparent pivot to Iran.
Moscow has avoided condemning Iran’s attack against Israel while calling on Israeli leaders to exercise restraint. Analysts say the Kremlin’s statements suggest it has chosen Iran as a preferred partner. Ricardo Marquina reports, with Steve Barago...