Pyramids
Older Than Egyptian Allegedly Found in Ukraine
Created: 08.09.2006 13:29 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 13:29 MSK, 21
hours 36 minutes ago
Archaeologists in Ukraine have unearthed the remains of an ancient
pyramidal structure that pre-dates those in Egypt by at least 300
years. The stone foundations of the structure, which probably
resembled Aztec and Mayan ziggurats in South America, were
discovered near the eastern city of Lugansk.
It is thought they were laid about five millennia ago during the
early Bronze Age by animists who worshipped a sun god. The
pyramid is in fact a complex of temples and sacrificial altars
topping a sculpted hillside with steps on its sides.
Viktor Klochko, head of the excavation, said the discovery was of
international significance. This is the first monument of its age
and kind found in eastern Europe, he told the Guardian. It
changes our whole conception of the social structure and the level
of development of the cattle breeders and farmers who were the
direct ancestors of most European peoples.
There are about 100 pyramids in Egypt, and the remains of
Mesopotamian pyramids are preserved in Iraq and Iran. Ziggurats are
also found in Mexico, and the Nubians built pyramids as burial
sites for monarchs in the Nile valley. But pyramid structures are
rare in Europe. One of the few is a Roman-era pyramid near Nice,
France, that may have been built by legionnaires involved in an
Egyptian cult.
Although graves have been found at the Lugansk site, archaeologists
think it was used for sacrifice by burning, rather than as a burial
ground. People lived in the surrounding valleys and climbed up it
to carry out their ceremonies, said Mr Klochko. They had a pagan
cult that bowed down to the sun, as did the ancestors of the
Slavs.
Remains of sacrifice victims, ashes and ceramics have been found at
the site, but no jewellery or treasure. The complex, which covered
three-quarters of a square mile and was around 60 metres (192ft)
high, was probably used for 2,000 years.
What surprised me most is the scale of this enormous complex,
Stanislav Mogilny, a student working on the excavation, told
Russian television. Its just incredible a titanic feat.
