Recently there is another attraction, in Ovidiopol , which has become "rarity" for both guests and local residents. Archaeological Camp of the Expedition 53, situated on the shore of the Dniester estuary, riveted the attention of the local authorities and organizations that doing their utmost to provide all possible support for the research expedition, and will be happy to come themselves to observe the excavations.
Their desire to show the current expedition to guests attending Ovidiopol with official visits is quite understandable. Recently Adzhidere was visited by Polish delegation, which has shown a very keen interest in the work of historians. Today, camp of archaeologists has welcomed... artists! 10 contemporary Ukrainian artists (all of our visitors - members of the Union of Artists of Ukraine) on a proposal to look at the research work "live" answered with agreement and arrived at the tent city.
Findings discovered by archaeologists in the first phase of field work, aroused a particular interest also. Extracted from the pits materials allow scientists to draw conclusions about the depth of the cultural layer in order to in the first place develop the most promising areas of excavation. For visitors, these findings - priceless historical relics, which are better than any words speak about the culture and daily life of the local people living in the territory Ovidiopol many thousands of years ago. Who but an artist can see in those same findings link of times which is by invisibly thread connects the modern inhabitants of the Dnestr estuary with their ancestors. How our ancestors lived, what they believed, what they were looking for in the future? Answers to these questions can only be obtained here - on the excavation. However, only some fragments of amphorae and forged nails can`t tell a lot. Doctor of Historical Sciences, Igor Sapozhnikov (leader of the Lower Dniester expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) added established ideas with a colorful stories (the good, historian knows a lot and can talk for a long time!), after which the artists held directly to the excavation.
In one of the pits researchers have found the construction of small stones in the center of which were the remains of the wood. At the beginning of the clearance it was suggested that the find was used in religious or sacrificial purposes. Only after the full processing of experts, it became clear that this is not the altar, but something else which is relevant to the entrance of the house or on the plot (perhaps pillars entrance gate). Next pit reinforced these assumptions after it was discovered the same "column", which at the moment is being cleaned by archaeologists.
After seeing the very first findings and hearing suggestions Art workers looked at the past from different prospective on the it would seem familiar Odessa region. During its long history, this land seen a very different (in everyday life, in culture and religion) nationalities, each of which has left a piece of "itself" on the banks of Ovid. It is a pity that the time was short for the guests to take up the brush and capture in the painting what they saw.
Artists came to visit us for a short time (Expedition 53 is only a part of the cultural program). They were invited to the open air by our partners - public organization "Union of masters" Coast of Ovid" who (as creative people) could not share such a major project as an archaeological expedition with their colleagues. Guests gave us a promise - come to paint, or do the work by memory. Well,will wait. If not the expedition, but the unique beauty of the bay of the Dniester fortress Adzhider - just deserves it!