Not so long ago, the staff of the National Reserve “Khortytsya” opened the sanctuary of the Bronze Age near the Karakayka gully and sanatorium-preventorium “Zaporizhstal”. The sanctuary’s age dates back approximately 3-4 millennia, but it was used also in later times. At the site of the sanctuary, archaeologists found the remnants of a Scythian burial, which, most likely, was robbed immediately after the burial of the nomad.
Archaeologist Dmitry Nikonenko discovered the sanctuary during a walk with his son on the island. He simply noticed a stone that towered above the ground. It is noteworthy that you can now visit the tourist site in civilized conditions. The Works Zaporizhstal took care about this.
– Due to the help of Zaporizhstal Steel Works, we have not only a museumified facility, but also fully integrated into the tourist infrastructure of the Khortitsa National Reserve. There is also a pedestrian walkway, information boards and even parking places, which are equipped, including also for large tourist buses,” said Dmitry Nikonenko and stressed that the arrangement of this sanctuary will be an example for the employees of the reserve for the future.
Visitors of the island are already interested in the new facility. Not only historical artifacts, but also the comfort of the reserve gives pleasure to guests.
– Zaporozhye is a city of great industrial, human and tourist potential. Khortytsya occupies a special place in this context and it is always important and necessary for us to support the work of the reserve as a tourist site,” said the head of the regional development department of “Zaporizhstal” PJSC Iraisat Magomedalieva. – We supported the improvement of the territory near the new historical archaeological site and now everyone has the opportunity to visit it in more comfortable conditions.
According to Dmitriy Nikonenko, this sanctuary is unique, there are some other sanctuaries looking like that on Khortytsia, but there are no similar ones not only on the island, but also in the region. In the future, this object will become one of the points of a large tourist route dedicated to the sacred places of Khortytsia.