Logistics: Share summer-house rooms, electricity, out-door facilities, 10 min walk to the beach

Itinerary: Moscow – Gelenjik or Anapa or Krasnodar by plane

Details of the field program 2006 is available under the e-mail enquiry  viktor_trifonov@mail.ru

Academic credit  from the Institute for Study of Material Culture
History, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Visa Information:

In order to apply for a visa, all foreign team members will need to obtain a formal letter of invitation on behalf of Russian Academy of Sciences. To obtain it please provide your Project Leader (Dr.V.Trifonov) with a xerox copy of your passport (first page) with photo, name, nationality, date of birth, passport number and supply him with additional information: address, employer, position, the city where you plan to obtain visa from the consulates of Russia. USUALLY, THE PROCEDURE OF ARRANGEMENTS OF LETTERS OF INVITATIONS TAKES 20 WORKING DAYS. Please remember and be insistent: for consular officials this is a scientific program, not just a sightseeing tour. There is a registration fee for foreigners in the Academy Dept. of $30 per person. Please be sure your passport is up-to-date and allow sufficient time for the visa application process.

Caucasian Megaliths in Cultural, Social, and Ecological Context

Description of Program:

Principle Investigator: Dr.Viktor Trifonov, Institute for Study of Material Culture History, Russian Academy of Sciences,  St.Petersburg

Location of Project: Russia, Gelendjik, Krasnadar area, Black Sea coast

Background: Dolmens, the huge ruins of ancient megalithic chamber tombs, are the most striking, widespread and still mysterious relics of the prehistoric Western Caucasus - a far-away southeastern frontier of Europe. The more than 3.000 megalithic monuments registered to date fall within an approximate fifteen hundred-year span. In spite of the variety of Caucasian monuments, they show strong similarities with megaliths from different parts of Europe and Asia, like the Iberian Peninsula, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Israel and India. A range of hypotheses have been put forward to explain these similarities and the building of megaliths on the whole, but still it remains unclear. A great pity is that the study of Caucasian megaliths is that, for a long period, it has only focused on the architectural features, to the detriment of other aspects of the phenomenon. The proposed project is an attempt to bridge the gap that separates the Caucasian megaliths from their cultural and ecological contexts, taking advantage of comparative and contextual analysis.

Purposes: The project aims at the detailed investigation of megaliths in the Western Caucasus (4th-2nd millennium BC) and the reconstruction of the cultural, social, and ecological contexts in which these megalithic cultures developed. Particular attention is paid to the comparative analysis between the Caucasian, European, and Asian megaliths.

Additional areas of attention include:

- Creating a computer database for Caucasian megaliths corresponding to the European inventory and documentary standards.

- Development of methods for reconstructing field archaeology for megaliths and presentation of the megaliths to the public.

The goal is to look at the area in an overall view paying equal attention to local groups in the Western Caucasus. Efforts will be concentrated in a specified area approximately 50 x 15 kilometers on Black Sea coast in the Krasnodar area near Gelenjik, Russia. In this area there is a great concentration of all types of megalithic sites including settlements and dolmen cemeteries.

The project is based on a balance between field and laboratory work.

The fieldwork consists of:

1. Intensive regional reconnaissance survey of the sample area to create detail maps (GPS) of megalith distribution as a foundation for spatial analysis of relations between the people, landscape, and resources.

2. Test excavations of dolmen cemeteries and settlements particularly for questions of chronology or site function.

3. Photographing and measuring of megalithic tombs in a unified architectural system of records for database.

4. Systematic collecting of paleobotanical, microbotanical, mineral resource samples and any other pertinent samples to reconstruct climate, landscape, resources, subsistence, economic activities, and specialization of the local populations.

5. Ethno-archaeological survey of local areas in order to collect material for ethnographic comparison.

The results of the completed project will be published in two volumes:

Volume I - Caucasian Megaliths in Cultural, Social, and Ecological Context: Project Results

Volume II - Caucasian Megaliths: Catalogue & Atlas

The project is international in scope and open to all scholars and organizations interested in the investigation and preservation of Caucasian megaliths.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK FOR CAUCASIAN DOLMENS

1997-2003. Zhane Valley. Park for dolmens. Before...during ...and after excavation and re-assembling of dolmens 1&3.

Location of Project: Russia, Gelendjik, Krasnadar area, Black Sea coast,  Zhane valley

Purpose: To establish an archaeological park to bring about the preservation of prehistoric megalithic dolmens in their original environment. This would be the first of its kind in Russia. The aim is to study, protect, and to present these monuments to the public in a recreated cultural landscape.

Introduction and Background :

Thousands of prehistoric megalithic monuments are known throughout the world. Some of the least known outside the former Soviet Union, however, are those in the Caucasus. These dolmens cover the Western Caucasus on both sides of the mountain ridge, in an area of approximately 12.000 square kilometers of Russia and Abkhazia. The Caucasian dolmens represent a unique type of prehistoric architecture, built with precisely dressed cyclopic stone blocks. The stones were, for example, shaped into 90-degree angles, to be used as corners or were curved to make a perfect circle. The monuments date between the end of the 4th millennium and the beginning of the 2nd millennium B.C. While generally unknown in the rest of Europe, these Russian megaliths are equal to the great megaliths of Europe in terms of age and quality of architecture, but are still of an unknown origin. Approximately 3.000 of these burial monuments are known in the West Caucasus, but more are constantly being found, while more and more are also being destroyed. Today many of these monuments are in great disrepair and will be completely lost if they are not protected from vandals and general neglect.

General Description of Dolmens :

The dolmens have a limited variety in their architecture. The floor plans are square, trapezoidal, rectangular and round. All of the dolmens are punctuated with a portal in the center of the facade. While round portholes are the most common, square ones are also known. In front of the facade is a court that usually splays out, creating an area where rituals undoubtedly took place. The court is usually outlined by large stone walls, sometimes over a meter high, which enclose the court. It is in this area that Bronze and Iron Age pottery has been found - which helped date these tombs -, along with human remains and bronze tools and silver, gold, and semi-precious stone ornaments. The repertoire of decoration for these tombs is not great. Vertical and horizontal zigzags, hanging triangles and concentric circles are the most common motifs. One decorative motif that is quite common is found across the top of the porthole slab. It can best be described as a lintel held up by two columns. Pairs of breasts, done in relief, have also been found on a few tombs. These breasts usually appear above the two columns of the porthole decoration. Perhaps related to these are the stone plugs which were used to block the porthole and are found with almost every tomb. They are sometimes phallic-shaped. Some unusual items associated with dolmens are big round stone balls, double balls and animal sculptures.

Work to Date:

For the initial season of excavation, in 1997, a group of three dolmens above the Zhane River, near the resort town of Gelendjik on the northeast coast of the Black Sea, was chosen. These dolmens were chosen because they constitute a complex group unique in terms of architecture. They also were in varying states of repair and are easily reached and frequently visited by tourists. The active cooperation of the local museum director, Galina Taygunova and her staff and that of the landowner, Alexander Lokhnov, were also significant factors. The Zhane group of three dolmens stands in a row on a hill above the Zhane River. The central dolmen is a rectangular in plan, 4 x 4 metres, while the two flanking dolmens are circular, 4 and 5 metres in diameter. The two round dolmens had been bulldozed- probably in the 1950s- in order to harvest the surrounding trees, but the main structure of the central dolmen had not been damaged, although what appears to have been a courtyard was. Because Dolmen 1suffered the most serious damage, it was decided to first excavate this one. The purpose of the work was twofold: 1), to excavate the area and obtain whatever data was available and 2), to reassemble the dolmen as close to the original condition as possible. Drawings and photographs from both the last century and earlier in this century were used as a guide for this latter purpose. These goals were achieved and Dolmen 1 was indeed reassembled . Dolmens 2, 3 were cleaned partly and their dry walling prepared for restoration. 

Photo Gallery

1999-2004. Zhane Valley. We made some progress...   Dolmen 2: before and after excavation and reassembling

  2001. Dolmens 1, 2 - night view

The Park Project :

There are a number of advantages for having chosen the Gelenjik, Krasnadar Area, for the Park. Gelendjik is a resort town on the Black Sea coast. What will be the park area is in an area that is already visited by many tourists and is part of a preservation area that has been archaeologically developed in cooperation with the National Forest Service and the local government since 1997. Within this area, in a relative confined space, are three separate groups of dolmens, totaling 18. Some of these dolmens are unique in terms of age, architecture, building technique and decoration. The aims of this project are (1) to survey of two additional dolmen groups, (2) excavate dolmens and their courtyards, (3) reassemble ruined dolmens and courtyards avoiding any modernizing of ancient building technique (ICOMOS, 1964), (4) create favorable conditions for the recovery of the original deciduous Caucasian forest, including providing for appropriate facilities which reduce the risk of pollution and damage by public within the park area, (5) provide aids to improving public understanding of the site.

Environmental Aspect of the Project:

In the period between 1922 and 1934 (immediately after the Russian Civil War) a few foreign timber companies (mainly English) were granted concessions to harvest trees in the Gelenjik area. During these 12 years the area was totally deforested. This was the final blow in the long history of deforestation of the Northwest Black Sea coast. The now barren slopes began to suffer from destructive soil erosion. As a result of the progressive loss of trees and increased soil erosion caused severe destruction of the prehistoric megalithic tombs, the dolmens. It is now difficult to find trees more than 70 years old. The environmental shock of this injurious falling of the unique Caucasian forest was so strong that even now 70 years later there are no signs of normal natural forest reproduction in the area. Special forest and botanical research carried out by the local forest service and botanists from St.Petersburg University resulted in practical recommendations how to create favorable conditions for the recovery of the original deciduous Caucasian forest, which thousands of years ago was home to megalithic tombs and sanctuaries. Therefore, in addition to excavating and reassembling the dolmens, we plan to reconstruct the natural environment and return the ancient cultural landscape to its original appearance. The dolmens will benefit by having added protection as well being placed in their correct setting.

Educational Aspect of the Project:

As an educational centre, a park for the dolmens will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about the cultural heritage of the ancient Caucasian people, a mere 15 minutes drive from the beach. The Park itself will become a remarkable place in a seaside resort area and compensate visitors for lack of easy-to-reach ancient sights and the disappearing of traditional, Soviet-era places-to-visit in the area (like General Secretary Brezhnev's command post). Taking measures to improve the quality of public access to the Park will help to ensure that the dolmens are well preserved, while at the same time fostering public understanding of their ancient cultural heritage.

Business aspect of the project:

A park for the dolmens will be a profitable component in the local tourist industry. More than 100.000 people visit the Gelenjik area during the Summer-Fall season. Thousands of people also come to the Zhane valley(June- August, 2004 - approx.. 2000 -2500 per day). The more tourists and visitors to the area, the more revenue will be generated for the city budget and thus more funding to maintain the park monuments as a part of the municipal property and visa versa.

The particular conditions of the Project:

The urgency of the Park Project has come about under unusual circumstances. For centuries the dolmens have generally been ignored by society and weren't considered part of local culture. Only in the last two years have these stone structures attracted popular attention by local people and have in fact become gathering places for local cults and the subject of sometimes-fantastic stories of origin. These tales say that the dolmens were the first computers, ultra-sonic forces, launching platforms for unidentified flying objects and that they were built by giants for smart dwarfs who rode rabbits. The spiritual attention to these monuments is quite serious. Many people come to meditate, bring gifts of flowers and food, or just to touch the stones in order to receive their energy. While this in itself is not harmful to the monuments, there are instances know where groups have organized digging in order to find some 'sacred' but portable artifacts to take home. This of course leads to greater destruction of the monuments and obliterates important archaeological information. One group dug inside a dolmen, ate the dirt and took away some more layers to be used as medicine. These cults do, however, have the advantage of attracting, in this unexpected way, public attention to the dolmens. Nevertheless, in their 'spiritual guidance', these cult groups spread extremely incorrect information about the dolmens themselves. The rapidity with which the dolmens have attracted the attention of these new spiritual believers can be seen at the site of Zhane. Only one year after Dolmen 1 was in ruin and ignored, it is subject to the same spiritual attentions that previously had only been given to Dolmen 2 (which was in a good state). Moreover, the number of visitors has increased drastically from 150-200 a day to, in the weekends, approximately 50 people every 30 minutes! If the sites are to be opened to the general public, steps will have to be taken to minimize the risk of damage caused by the presence of a great many visitors.

Conclusion:

To more fully investigate the problems of the dolmens and promote a program of conservation, restoration and education, the project was launched two years ago. Our 1997-2000 sessions produced such encouraging results that we hope to continue this work in 2005. The Project has already begun and was widely accepted by local people and the scientific community. Early results have been presented to the academic community and have met with enthusiastic response by foreign experts. The Russian project is designed along the lines of the experience and success of the Danish archaeologists Svend Hansen and Torben Denn, who in 1995 took part in an initial survey of the Caucasus. This project has drawn the attention of such well-known specialist as Professor Philip Kohl, director of the Caucasian Center, and Professor Jan Bakker from The Netherlands, well known for his studies of megaliths. The Russian Ministry of Culture, the Russian Academy of Sciences, Committee for protection of cultural heritage, Krasnodar area, and the Gelendjik local authorities have all approved this Park Project. Legislation necessary for the Project has already been completed. The Project will make it possible to open new perspectives for the improved use of prehistoric places like these, which are milestones of development. and important vestiges of ancient Caucasian cultural heritage. The Caucasian dolmens were originally built in harmony with the natural landscape and after approximately 5.000 years, it is now our intention to return these monuments to their original condition in the cultural landscape.

Reading (in English, Dutch, German, Russian, Swedish):

J.-P. Mohen, 1993. The World of Megaliths

R. Joussaume, 1988. Dolmens for the Dead

K.Wilson, 2001. Op expeditie in de Kaukasus //Archeobrief, #17 (winter 2001) // Stichting voor de Nederlandse Archeologie

V.I. Markovin, 1993. Der Kurgan Psynako I, Rayon Tuapse im Krasnodar Land (Westkaukasus) // Zeitschrift fur Archaologie. Heft.27

V. Trifonov, 2001. What do we know about Caucasian dolmens for sure? // Caucasian Dolmens and Ancient Civilizations (IV - I mill. BC). Krasnodar

S. Hansen, 1996. Megalitgravene i Kaukasus: er de udlobere af de vesteuropaeiske? // Popular Arkeologi, argang 14, #4
Bronze Age to New Age // Archaeology, May/June 1999

Additional information in the Internet : http://members.chello.nl/r.j.triest/     http://megalith.ru/indexrus.shtml  
                                                              http://megalith.ru/indexrus.shtml      http://whc.unesco.org/sites/900.htm

For details, please contact:

mail to:

Dr. Viktor Trifonov, Institute for Study of Material Culture History, Russian Academy of Sciences, Dvortsovaya nab., 18, S-Petersburg 191186, Russia

Tel.: +7 (812) 571 50 92

Fax: +7 (812) 311 62 71 or +7 (812) 743 73 38

E-mail: wacfund@nevsky.net, viktor_trifonov@mail.ru

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