Archaeologists report on threat of destruction of Vodyanskoe ancient settlement

In the Volgograd Region, the territory of the Vodyanskoe ancient settlement, where the town of Beldjamen of the Golden Horde was located, is exposed to erosion because of its proximity to the water reservoir. Meanwhile, the lack of financial support from the federal budget prevents archaeologists from finding and rescuing artefacts located there. This was reported by participants of the archaeological diggings.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Vodyanskoe ancient settlement is located in the vicinity of the town of Dubovka of the Volgograd Region. According to the scientists, the territory of the Vodyanskoe ancient settlement housed the town of Beldjamen of the Golden Horde. Since 1992, the Volga-Akhtuba archaeological expedition of the Volgograd State Pedagogical University provides protective operations there.

The fact of erosion of the coast of the Volgograd water reservoir was reported by Andrei Lapshin, the head of the Volga-Akhtuba expedition. According to his estimate, the annual irrecoverable loss of cultural layer of the town of Beldjamen of the Golden Horde is more than 400 square meters.

"Valuable artefacts are disappearing forever, and a unique monument is being destroyed," notes Andrei Lapshin.

In accordance with the target programme "Culture of Russia" for the years 2012-2018, the protective archaeological diggings of the Vodyanskoe ancient settlement is to be financed from the federal budget. However, during five years already, all the archaeological diggings are carried out at the expense of the Volgograd State Pedagogical University and donations from sponsors and volunteers.

According to archaeologist Evgeny Myskov, the uniqueness of the town of Beldjamen is in the fact that it was built on the basis of the ancient settlement of Russian prisoners of war, who were brought there by Mongol conquerors from the Principality of Ryazan in the earlier 14th century.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.