Belarusian Atlantis. About 450 artifacts were discovered by archaeologists at the Krivinsky peat bog in the Vitebsk region

Among the largest archaeological finds of this year are artifacts unearthed by scientists in our region.

Research at the Krivinsky peat bog, located on the border of the Beshenkovichi and Senno districts and being one of the most unique Neolithic (Bronze Age) complexes in Belarus and Eastern Europe, began back in 1934. Ten ancient human settlements have been discovered here. And at the Asowets settlement alone, about 450 bone and horn items have been found since then: arrowheads, javelins, awls, borers, harpoons, axes, daggers, and much more, which were extremely necessary for our distant ancestors, who were also not indifferent to art. They left behind for their descendants images of a bearded man carved on bone, as well as a female face, which received the name "Asowetskaya Madonna".

Every year in July-August, an archaeological expedition of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus works here. This summer, its participants reached the mainland – the place where the cultural layer begins, and unearthed a lot of pottery, fragments of amber jewelry, wooden stakes, and other artifacts.

— It was very interesting to work then, — shared Stanislav Leonenko, chief custodian of the funds of the Beshenkovichi Historical and Local Lore Museum, who constantly travels with archaeologists. — And it is no less interesting to observe the continuation of the Asowets archaeological expedition in September, in a water, or rather, underwater mode. With the help of Minsk divers, scientists studied the possibility of excavating a sunken settlement of ancient people at the marshy bottom of the Krivinka River, which is already being called by some – the northern, by others – the Belarusian Atlantis. The results of the expedition are currently being described and studied, and the finds will eventually take their place in the National Historical Museum in Minsk. But scientists also transfer part of them to the local museum. For example, we already have a significant collection of Neolithic pottery and other artifacts, which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the depths of centuries and better understand how our distant ancestors lived.

Larisa Volkova, "Vitbichi".