TASS, April 8. Three scientific expeditions, planned for summer, 2022, will focus on Arctic archaeological objects. Since only Russian experts will participate in the expeditions, the recent international situation has not affected the timing or routes, Chukotka’s head of the cultural heritage authority Vladimir Devyatin told TASS.
"Archaeology works in the Chukotka Autonomous Region continue every year, and every year they bring positive results," he said. "For example, last year (2021), specialists found nine cultural heritage archaeology objects. They all are unique and are related to deer herders and sea hunters. This year, we expect three scientific expeditions focusing on Arctic archaeological objects."
According to him, one of the expeditions will make 3D models of the Petroglyphs on the Pegtymel River. Those petroglyphs were opened in 1967 during geology exploration in the region. Each of twelve rocks has dozens images. Every image is made in the technique of picketing, that is every dot has been stamped on the stone. The images show the scenes of ancient people hunting deer, of the sea hunting process and of people with mushroom-shaped heads.
The second group of scientists will work in the Chukchi District, and the third, most probably, will be searching for cultural heritage objects along the Anadyr River.
Objective - to preserve history
One of the largest industrial projects of our time is being implemented in Chukotka - the Baimskaya Ore Zone. Its resources are estimated at 23 million tonnes of copper and 2 million kilograms of gold. The future mining and processing plant will be the biggest facility of the kind in Russia. It is due to be commissioned by 2026. The plant will reach the designed capacity in another two years.
"The regional industry has been booming, but the businesses do not forget to consult with us regarding the development," he continued. "In accordance with the current legislation, the lands subject to economic development at first are examined by archaeologists. Normally, if archaeological objects are found in the immediate vicinity of the planned construction objects, such objects are shifted by 200-300 meters aside. If the object under construction cannot be moved, then respective authorities present protective measures to preserve the archaeological object."
According to him, in 2021, scientists discovered six cultural heritage sites right in the area of large industrial construction sites - on the road between Kolyma and Anadyr, and in the area of the future Baimsky mining and processing plant. Those were previously unknown sites of ancient nomads and two burials. "Now, specialists are to make sure the construction does not destroy those objects," the specialist added.
The local authorities know such precedents, he said. "During the survey for the construction of the road from the Baimsky plant to Cape Nagleynin, four previously unknown sites of ancient nomads were discovered. The building company will have to make changes to the project, or the authorities will not license the construction," he said.
Beauty preserved in ice
The list of Chukotka’s cultural heritage has about 300 objects, some of which are on the UNESCO list. The regional authorities are happy to demonstrate to tourists and locals this beauty preserved in the ice. According to Oksana Yashchenko, head of the local tourism department, routes have been laid to major Arctic archaeological sites. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of cruise ship calls has shrunk, and consequently it has been much more complicated to bring visitors to those sites.
"Many interesting monuments - for example, the Whale Alley or abandoned Eskimo settlements on Cape Dezhnev - are located in nature reserves. To some of them there are no hiking routes, because walking the steep slopes is not safe. At the same time, many tourists have visited the Whale Alley and Naukan settlement. Getting there by land is impossible, thus we need to resume cruise ship calls," she said.
The Naukan settlement, a favorite tourist attraction, is an Eskimo habitat, dated the 15th-16th centuries, where the dwellings and household items of the Arctic indigenous inhabitants are well preserved. And Chukotka’s one of the iconic places - the Whale Alley - is an ancient Eskimo sanctuary on the Itygran Island. It consists of bowhead whales’ skulls and jaws dug along the coast, meat pits and pebble pavements. The complex was discovered in 1976, and it is dated the 14th-16th centuries.
Archaeological expeditions in the region have been financially supported by both the regional authorities and businesses. According the local government, in 2021 only, scientists received a grant of 1.5 million rubles ($19,000) from the Kupol Foundation to study the Pegtymel petroglyphs. A group of mining companies established the foundation in 2009 as a contribution to the region’s social and economic development. Another 700,000 rubles ($9,000) were allocated by the regional government, and the expedition was also funded by the Institute of Archaeology (the Russian Academy of Sciences).
The region’s mining enterprises provide for the transfer of scientists to hard-to-reach locations so that they could carry out archaeological works on planned sites.