"Kostenky" - Archaeological Museum.He is known around the world complex of ancient sites of the Stone Age.More than 130 years of research conducted here.
"Kostenky" - Museum-Reserve.Location
ancient village, located 40 kilometers to the south of Voronezh, called Kostenko.On the territory of this settlement only at different times they have been discovered and investigated more than 26 sites of ancient primitive Stone Age people.
its name Museum-Reserve has received from the name of the village.It is located in areas with.Kostenko and with.Barshchou.
25 security zones of monuments of the Stone Age, the total area of about 9 hectares, combines the Museum "Kostenko."Voronezh region has an amazing and unique historical landmark, which is known throughout the world.This place has a nice informal name - "the pearl of the Paleolithic world."
Creation Museum
The idea of creating such a wonderful museum belongs to ANRogachev - known Soviet archaeologist.It was built at the expense of the local authorities in Voronezh.Sami excavation and preservation of the monument entered into the regional mission of the Leningrad branch of the Archaeological Institute of the USSR under the direction of A.Rogachev.
Then set up this temporary exhibition.In 1983 the museum was opened, then still a branch of the Voronezh Regional Museum.
And in 1991 this branch separated from the main museum of local lore and received the status of the museum-reserve.And he included not only the main museum on one of the sites ("Kostenko-11"), but all existing monuments (Upper Paleolithic) Kostenki-Borshevsky area, as well as Slavic settlement - Barshcheuski.Thus was formed the State Archaeological Museum-Reserve "Kostenko."The main purpose of his creation - the protection, study and popularization of the Upper Paleolithic sites.
Found on ancient sites
All rooms have their own parking.In the course of the past studies of the ancient sites ("Kostenko-14", 12) were found sensational finds that definitely change the outlook on prehistory.
Parked "Kostenko-14" in 2000 were found the oldest in Europe (Eastern) Jewelry - pronizki with ornaments, which are made of tubular bones of the bird, the suspension of the shells.They were found in a layer of volcanic ash, brought to the Russian plain in Italy with more than 38 thousand. Years ago.
These vintage finds (jewelery and remains of settlements), it was in ashes, give suggestion that the settlement has ceased to exist in the period of global catastrophe that occurred in Europe at that time.
In 2001 there was found almost complete skeleton of a mammoth still quite young, and even the skull of this animal (usually poorly preserved).For the territories of Siberia is a normal phenomenon.However, it all happened in Kostenko.Here archaeologists have previously usually found only a few bones of mammoths.They were in ancient times, people brought to their parking for household needs.
turns out that the mammoth found here or fell into sinkholes, or sucked into the swamp.In the same year she was even found the head of the statuette of a human figure made of mammoth ivory (age - 37 thousand. Years).It has become a worldwide sensation, as of today, this discovery - the oldest sculptural work (statue of a man) in the Paleolithic Europe.
Age
Before this discovery the age of sculptures was determined at about 32 thousand. Years.It turns out that they are older than 10 thousand. Years.
Also according to the analysis of the 2002 American laboratory age "Kostenok-12" (the oldest of the lower cultural layer) - up to 50 thousand. Years (instead of 40 thousand.) To the Upper Paleolithic.
"Kostenko" (Museum-Reserve) will be a long time to replenish the oldest historical facts of the life of people curious era.Much of the history of this place is resting under water and waiting to be explored.
How it all began?
In 1979 he opened the first parking lot.It is the home of the Stone Age man.It was built about 20,000 years ago from the bones of a mammoth.Comprising this ancient house of 570 mammoth bones.The size of the apartment - 9 meters in diameter.He is surrounded by storage areas in the form of pits.For the first time he found a local resident I.Protopit (built cellar) in 1949.
Now this unique house is located directly in the building of the museum at the same place and almost in the same condition as it was when he first saw one local resident.Many wonder can present its visitors "Kostenko," Museum-Reserve.
many wonderful legends are born due to the fact that people are huge, unthinkable dimensions of mammoth bones (they have never seen such animals).
One of them says that the underground lives a huge beast that does not appear in public.And from the words "ma" - "earth", "Mut" - "moles" people began to call him "Mamut".
Today in the area discovered more than 60 settlements, whose age - between 45 and 15 thousand years.
"Kostenko" (Museum-Reserve) has a huge variety of ancient artifacts.It exhibited ancient tools, statuettes of women ("Venus figurines"), multiple household items.And figures for some reason most of them were cut in the form of pregnant women.They were a symbol - the continuation of life.
All this is priceless, and the only evidence of the longest era in the cultural development of mankind on Earth.
