(ORDO NEWS) — A group of scientists from the Institute of Archeology of the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyshinsky in Warsaw published the results of a five-year study of the Polish part of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. During this time, scientists have found almost 800 ancient burial mounds.
According to Nauka w Polsce, archaeologists began a large-scale study of the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha in 2017. At the same time, the researchers themselves were quite skeptical – they did not expect to find significant archaeological sites in the centuries-old forests.
However, the results exceeded all expectations. Innovative methods of research, including laser scanning of the terrain with the help of advanced radar, which can detect even objects hidden underground, helped to make interesting finds in many ways.
It follows from the presented archaeological report that a total of 789 ancient mounds of unknown purpose and 246 so-called coal mounds, that is, places where coal was once massively burned, were discovered.
In addition, 54 resin factories, 19 ancient agricultural complexes, 30 archaeological trenches and 17 military cemeteries were found. Archaeologists note that all these objects belong to different periods of history. The oldest of them are prehistoric, the youngest belong to the period of the Second World War.
Archaeologists also note that in five years they managed to map a vast area. True, excavations on most of the identified objects have not yet been carried out.
Namely, field work will allow scientists to establish the purpose of the mounds. Most of the monuments were found using laser scanning, which was carried out from the air – the radar was installed on the plane.
Scientists suggest that some of the mounds may be ancient tombs. Other mounds may be the remains of ancient structures.
Perhaps these were small settlements of workers who mined timber. As for a small part of the mounds already identified, they mainly belong to the so-called period of Roman influence (II-V centuries AD).
Some of these burial mounds were excavated, but no human remains or burial items were found in them. Therefore, these were not tombs. Archaeologists have also unearthed several burial mounds dating back to the early Middle Ages. Here in them human remains were found, including cremation burials.
The main surprise for archaeologists was the discovery of two previously unknown ancient fortified structures. Scientists were surprised that their first assumption that these were fortresses was not confirmed.
Therefore, now experts are inclined to think that these were religious objects. One of them is located in the strictly protected reserve of the Belovezhsky National Park, the other – in the Vilchi-Yarsky forestry.
The first has a diameter of 36 meters and a small mound three meters wide. There, archaeologists unearthed Slavic pottery from the early and late Middle Ages and ancient flint objects.
The second building has an external diameter of about 17 meters, it was located on the banks of the river. Scientists have excavated the embankment and the courtyard, which was paved with paving stones. established,
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