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Khortitsa, part 1: from antiquity to cossacks Multi-Cache

Hidden : 5/18/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Khortitsa, the pearl on the thread of Dnieper river, is a large river island whose history is traced back to five millenia ago, through Kievan Rus, scythian steppe and cossack republic. According to a legend, a rus knyaz Svyatoslav (X century) was ambushed and killed here by Pechenegs while returning from a campain again the Byzantium Empire.

The coordinates above are of the main entrance to the island. You may proceed all the stages except the final one in any order.

STAGE 1: STONE CIRCLES

Walk through prehistoric stone sanctuaries and idols of Slavic gods.

  • 47° 50.899N 35° 4.585E
  • 47° 50.937N 35° 4.577E
  • 47° 51.019N 35° 4.516E
  • 47° 51.146N 35° 4.427E

By the Northernmost altar, you will find a plaque, according to which these sanctuaries were found and reconstructed between years 199X and 199Y (take the numbers X and Y)

STAGE 2: THE COSSACK OUTPOST

During the XV-XVII centuries, the Zaporozhian Cossacks were holding a steppe frontier against Tatars and their Ottoman suzerains, at the same time struggling for independence against Poland and sometimes Russia. A model Cossack strengthened village is located on a steep northern bank of the island, where such settlements existed in history. There is a church in the center of the settlement (47° 51.442 N 35°4.500 E) - you won't miss it ;) In SW direction from the church there is a 'mazanka' (a house made of white clay). Count windows on the mazanka directed to the church - and it should be number N.

BONUS: THREE MASTS

Just walk to the point 47°51.244 N 35°4.704 E under three high-voltage masts and enjoy the view. You may climb on the masts if you like ;)

STAGE 3: THE MUSEUM

To the North from the Cossack village, you will find the history museum. At 47°51.633 N 35°4.316 E there is a replica of the tombstone of Petro Kalnyshevsky, the last Koshovyi Otaman (highest military rank) of Zaporozhian Sich who was deported to the Solovetsky Monastery after destruction of the Sich by Empress Catherine II. He died in the monastery at the age 1AB years (yes, more than 100 years).

FINAL STAGE: A LONE KURGAN

Having all magic numbers ;) proceed to the point N 47° 51.X(K+A)(Y+A) E 035°03.(Y+B)(K-A-X)X to find an old Scyphian kurgan (burial mound). About 5 meters to the east from the mound, there is a modern concrete column with a historical marker. Dig just behind the column. 

PARKING


If you are traveling by car, you may park near the museum (47°51.608N 35°4.247E) and take the stages in the reverse order.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)