(ORDO NEWS) — Situated approximately six kilometers from the regional center lies the urban-type settlement of Tisul, which became the focal point of attention due to a peculiar artifact discovery. Tisul boasts a population of just over 8,000 residents, while in the nearby Rzhavchik, a mere couple of dozen houses shelter around 200 inhabitants.
At one point in history, Rzhavchik ventured into coal mining endeavors, yet even prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, it was evident that this pursuit proved entirely futile, leaving behind only a semi-abandoned quarry as a testament.
Nonetheless, an intriguing turn of events unfolded. Discussion about this unprecedented discovery surfaced unexpectedly after its publication in 2002 in the “Khakassia” newspaper. The article quickly found its way into numerous media outlets specializing in anomalies and various ufology-related websites. Astonishingly, despite the journalist’s account appearing rather implausible, it captivated the belief of many.
In summary, the publication’s author conveyed the following narrative. It is said that during a trip to Moscow, the journalist crossed paths with a former KGB colonel, who, in an act of anonymity, disclosed an astonishing tale. According to this account, in early autumn of 1969, an unexpected archaeological revelation transpired in the village of Rzhavchik.
This discovery occurred serendipitously during mining activities at a coal mine. Buried at a depth exceeding 70 meters within an untouched 20-meter coal seam, laborers unexpectedly stumbled upon an intricately adorned, large marble sarcophagus.
Efforts were immediately initiated to raise the sarcophagus and unveil its contents. However, attempts to open it using sledgehammer blows proved futile. Yet, under the sun’s rays, the adhesive securing the lid gradually liquefied. Eventually, the lid was raised, revealing an interior filled to the brim with a translucent pink-blue (or lilac, as described by the author) liquid.
Lying at the bottom of the sarcophagus was an exceptionally tall woman, approximately 180 centimeters in height, appearing to be around 30 years old, and displaying Caucasian features. Her blue eyes remained open, her well-groomed hands featured short nails, and she possessed waist-length, dark blond curls. She was adorned in a white dress adorned with floral patterns, with a black box, roughly the size of a book, placed near the head of the bed.
Naturally, this astounding discovery was put on public display and promptly reported to the district administration in Tisul. Authorities, including senior officials, policemen, firefighters, and military personnel, converged at the discovery site.
Civilian-clad individuals subsequently arrived and dispersed the assembled crowd while meticulously recording everyone’s names. It was decided to relocate the sarcophagus; however, prior to loading the coffin, the peculiar decision was made to drain the entire liquid content.
Astonishingly, upon removal of the liquid, the deceased within instantaneously began to darken. The liquid was subsequently returned, restoring the body to its former pristine state. A helicopter was utilized to transport the sarcophagus to Novosibirsk.
Subsequently, events took an astonishing turn, reminiscent of a plotline from a fantastical thriller. Five days elapsed, and a professor from Novosibirsk arrived to deliver a lecture in Rzhavchik, providing information about the discovery.
He asserted that this find held unparalleled value, dating the woman within the sarcophagus back to a staggering 800 million years during the Carboniferous period. Genetic analysis purportedly indicated that she was not of extraterrestrial origin but rather ethnically Russian. Intriguingly, she hailed from a significantly more advanced civilization than ours.
The fabric constituting her dress was crafted from an unknown material, and the liquid’s composition remained unidentified. The find was declared subject to ongoing research, with forthcoming revelations promised to the public.
However, instead of revelations, the subsequent developments bore a resemblance to a suspenseful thriller narrative. Within a week, military forces cordoned off Rzhavchik, burying the discovery site under earth and decreeing that all witnesses should forget what they had witnessed. Those who refused to comply and persisted in seeking the truth about the “sleeping princess” experienced mysterious deaths or accidents.
Four years later, under military protection, archaeological investigations took place along the shores and islands of Lake Berchikul, not far from the original discovery location. Local residents possessed only scant knowledge: they unearthed “Stone Age graves.”
Moreover, the journalist who initially penned the article reappeared, recounting that his publication had subjected him to suffering, persecution by FSB officers, near-death experiences, and ultimately compelling him to conclude his journalism career.
This sensational news eventually found its way onto one of the central television channels. The televised account incorporated the addition of two more sarcophagi, supposedly discovered at Berchikul, although the age of these finds had curiously diminished from 800 million to 200 million years. However, the core of the story remained intact. Yet, there was not a shred of truth in it.
Let us commence by highlighting the implausibility of conducting blasting operations at the coal mine in 1969 since the terrain had transformed into a quarry, devoid of any large-scale coal mining activities for three decades. Furthermore, Lake Berchikul does not feature islands, nor are there any mounds in the vicinity that were purportedly excavated in 1973.
On the other hand, there exist burial mounds and a Stone Age cemetery close to Rzhavchik. The Carboniferous period, which the account references, spanned from 360 to 300 million years ago. Consequently, a “princess” preserved within the most impervious sarcophagus could not possibly endure for such an extended period, nor could she have been “ethnically Russian.” It is essential to note that genetic examinations were neither conducted in 1969 nor even feasible.
Regrettably, journalists unearthed reports from the 1970s regarding the Tisul find. They proceeded to reprint these accounts with minimal alterations, amalgamating the “facts” from numerous articles into a semblance of a coherent narrative. Yet, it is crucial to emphasize that the information within these accounts diverged significantly. Firstly, the location of the discovery continually shifted. Secondly, the discoverer of the sarcophagus underwent alterations.
Thirdly, the ultimate fate of the coffin and the liquid remained shrouded in uncertainty. Nevertheless, the common thread involved the removal of the “princess,” who was then transported away.
Notably, when professional journalists attempted to converse with local inhabitants following the publication, these individuals failed to recollect any archaeological findings remotely akin to the sarcophagus narrative.
Sarcophagus Enigmas
In reality, credible witnesses provided accounts of several unearths of burials wherein the deceased appeared remarkably preserved, akin to living beings. One of the most renowned anecdotes within this category recounts the discovery of Cicero’s daughter, Mark Tullius, during the Middle Ages while laboring on the Appian Way. This tomb contained a coffin brimming with transparent embalming liquid, housing the slumbering girl. Her cheeks retained a rosy hue, her clothes remained pristine, and an “eternal lamp” burned at the foot of the coffin.
However, once exposed to the external atmosphere, the lamp extinguished, instilling fear in medieval onlookers who promptly resealed the tomb. Several similar episodes have
been documented in historical records. Chroniclers detailed how beautiful maidens were occasionally extricated from tombs and efforts were made to reawaken them. Tragically, once exposed to the open air, the bodies darkened and began to decompose.
Archaeologists themselves have, on occasion, been fortunate enough to stumble upon unexpected finds. In 1971, Chinese researchers unveiled a tomb in Hunan province containing the mummy of noblewoman Xin Zhui.
This mummy, astonishingly well-preserved to this day, was ensconced within four nested sarcophagi, enveloped in thick layers of coal and clay for two millennia. Notably, the elderly woman’s body was entirely submerged within a yellow preservative liquid. Intriguingly, upon the tomb’s opening, the embalming composition swiftly evaporated.
The accounts of liquid preservation, marble sarcophagi, and incorruptible bodies first emerged following the revelation of Xin Zhui’s tomb. However, the article that sparked the controversy likely drew inspiration not from medieval chronicles or a Chinese artifact but from the very real Ukok princess, unearthed in Altai in 1993.
This “princess,” a young shaman who met her demise in the 3rd century BC, miraculously survived “as if alive,” courtesy of a different preservative liquid—plain water, which transformed into ice. However, as soon as the ice initiated its thawing process, the “princess” began to darken, and her garments commenced disintegration. Only the deft actions of archaeologists prevented the loss of this exceptional find.
Why then did journalists opt to “revive” decade-old accounts? The answer likely lies in the proximity of a genuine Ukok princess discovery in Altai. The locals therein heralded her as their ancestral progenitor. Thus, why not resurrect the Tisul princess, even if she exists solely in the realm of imagination?
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