Approved by: Director of the Institute of Archaeology of NASU, Head of the Department of Archaeology of and North-West Region of IA NASU, Associate Member of NASU ______V.P. Chabai

REPORT on archaeological examination of the area allocated for construction of the Wind Farm on the lands of Chaplynka and Hryhorivka united territorial communities of Kherson Region

Introduction The examination has been performed by the staff of the Department of Archaeology of Crimea and North-West Black Sea Region of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of (ІА NASU) in April and May of 2018 according to Agreement No. 10/04-1 of 10.04.2018 concluded with Syvashenergoatom LLC. The work was executed under the direction of I.V. Sapozhnikov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, a leading research scientist, according to the “Open Letter” on exploration with probing in Chaplynka District of Kherson Region (Form 2), issued by ІА NASU on 15.05.2018. The research comprised of the study of archives, literature and cartographic documents, as well as archaeological exploration in the field. The results and conclusions are set forth in two chapters and in the concluding part.

Chapter І. Characteristics of the area and review of the history of its research From the perpsective of geomorphology, the area of scheduled construction of WEP belongs to North Prysyvashshia territory of Prysyvashshia-Pryazovia steppe region, particularly to its coastal South-Western part. It is characterized by smooth, flat terrain, having absolute elevations at water divides predominantly from +10 to +20 m, and divided from north to south by a number of small and shallow draws and rivers. Listed from west to east they are: Teren Doneloga draw (Ivanivska), Baychur Jaipa draw (less commonly “Chaiba”; Strohanivska), Kayish draw, Ispken Kaishtapken draw (Hlyboka), Tugarek draw (Novovolodymyrivska), Tarama river (Hryhorivka valley), Chokrak draw (more precisely – Malyi Chokrak; Pershokostiantynivska). The latter flows (from the left side) into to the upper reaches of the gulf of Lake Syvash, being at the same time the lower portion of a nameless valley whose both banks (to the west and south-west from Pershokostiantynivka village) also belong to the area of the future WEP1. One of the main features of North Prysyvashshia steppe region is that the greater (western) part of Lake Syvash had been appearing gradually during ХІІ-IV millenia B.C. as a result of several transgressions (global sea level rises) preceeded by an existing common freshwater hydrosystem which had been subsequently flooded or underflooded with salt water of Azov-Black Sea basin. Archaeologically the area of the region is not a blank spot. Moreover, one of the local sites had been studied via permanent excavations and is well-known in scientific literature. This is a two-layered settlement Novovolodymyrivka ІІ (the Upper Paleolithic Age, ca. 16.5 to 16.0 thousand years ago, and the Early Bronze Age, from late ІV to ІІІ millenia B.C.). It was located about 1.5 km south-west from Novovolodymyrivka village at 5–6-meter cape formed by the valley side of Lake Syvash and the right bank of a short draw. M.P. Olenkovskyi discovered it in 1983 and studied it fundamentally during 1984–1987 [Olenkovskyi 2000, p. 33-48, Fig. 16-18 et al.; Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 10-11, Fig. 1, 10]. It should be noted that in the same region, in close vicinity to said settlement, three more archaeological finds of Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic ages had been discovered by the same archaeologist: Novovolodymyrivka VІІ, Novovolodymyrivka Х and

1 Water divide of Tarama river and Chokrak draw has an extension in the form of peninsula protruding far into Lake Syvash and is sometimes called Ad (which means “island” in Turkic languages). In fact, until recently it was the name of only its northern part (south to the existing WEP), while the eastern part was called Skhidnyi Rih. Novovolodymyrivska Balka [Olenkovskyi 2000, Fig. 1; Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 11- 12, Fig. 1, 6; 1, 28]. According to the most complete (though not limiting) compilation «Archaeological Sites of Chaplynka District», 10 to 20 more finds that belonged to different ages have been discovered within the area of WEP construction at different times, both on the ground surface and in cliffed shores of Lake Syvash. However, the most numerous and the most frequently found cultural heritage sites of this area are without doubt the burial mounds, many of which had been recorded in the course of exploration by V.I.Yadvychuk as part of Kherson surveying company of Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukrainian SSR in 1975–1976 and M.P. Olenkovskyi in 2006, as well as by other researchers. Descriptions and characteristics of those sites as of June 1, 2006, have been submitted to those chapters of the above compilation dedicated to land plots of Hryhorivka, Ivanivka, Pavlivka, Pershokostiantynivka and Strohanivka village councils [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 12-16, 16-19; 23-25; 25-29; 31-32; Fig. 1, 1-27; Fig. 2; Fig. 6; Fig. 8; Fig. 14; Fig. 15; Fig. 18]2. At the same time, it should be emphasized that this edition of the compilation does not contain any geographical values (coordinates) of the described sites, and accuracy of given references and published chartographic materials does not meet up-to-date requirements. As mentioned above, one of important components of our work consisted in studying cartographic documents, which revealed that field investigations carried out by V.I. Yadvychuk and M.P. Olenkovskyi were not definitive and perfect, as they did not rely on topographic maps of a sufficiently large scale. Thus, maps of the General Staff of Red Army, drawn in 1941 and having the scale of 1 : 25000 (sheets: L-36-68-A-г – Pershokostiantynivka; L-36-68-Б-в – Strohanivka and L- 36-68-Б-г – Ivanivka), show the burial mounds within the investigated region

2 Data from this booklet were used in preparing the «Conclusions of the regional inspection on protection of historical and cultural heritage of Department of Culture of Kherson Regional State Administration on approval of the land management plan pertaining to allocation of the leased land plot for «Syvashenergoprom» [Solonitskyi 2010]. better, with greater precision and in greater number compared to the above mentioned archaeological map of Chaplynka district. Moreover, very valuable information, in particular as to original names of populated places, rivers, draws and natural landmarks, was obtained from other maps such as «Military Topographic Map of », scale 1 : 126000 (three-verst scale map; sheet ХХХІ-12; middle ХІХ century survey). An addition to the dedicated archaeological explorations, recent development studies were also carried out in the area. Thus, in May of 2006, during thr construction of foundations for wind power generators (hereinafter referred to as WPGs) for the existing WEP (in operation from 2012), three burial places were discovered in two 5 х 5 m construction pits, 50 m apart from one another, which were determined by M.P. Olenkovskyi to be the Hryhorivka burial grounds and interpreted as the remains of a Nogai cemetery dating back to 16–17 centuries [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 13, Fig. 1,1]. On the sheet of the above mentioned three-verst scale map (first issue of 1854) a cemetery is marked at this place, located to the south from the long abandoned settlement Velykyi Chokrak. It should be emphasized that a mosque was marked inside it. Moreover, the identical sites existed in the auls Malyi Chokrak (future Pershokostiantynivka village), Tugarek (south part of Novovolodymyrivka village), Kaishtapkan (at Kayish draw), Jaipy (south part of Strohanivka village) and Teren (south-west part of Ivanivka village). Thus, the hypothesis of M.P. Olenkovskyi has found an additional support, though the dating of the graves on the Muslim burial grounds should most likely be extended at least to the middle of ХІХ century. The uniqueness of Tarama peninsula is confirmed by the fact that it, as well as Ad peninsula (and two more places upstream across the gulf of Syvash), at that time were crossed by earth roads, presumably temporary, that lead to Perekop isthmus. As to the ІА NASU archaeological examination of 2018, its field component – proper archaeological explorations – were not aimed at discovering each and all of the archaeological sites within the area of WEP construction in the broadest sense but at determining, measuring and referencing the coordinates of those of them which can are threatened by complete destruction or deterioration in the course of construction of WEP facilities such as foundations for masts of wind power generators, transforming stations, roads, electric transmission lines, constructional bases, residential houses, etc. Those particular sites will be characterized herein in the corresponding section. It should, however, be taken into account that out of those cultural heritage sites, accounted for and described in the compilation «Archaeological Sites of Chaplynka District», almost all known burial mounds were registered as those protected by the state, while among the settlements — only the aforementioned Novovolodymyrivka ІІ and VІІ, as well as Ivanivka Prysyvaska ІІ settlement site and the Bronze Age settlement Novovolodymyrivka have the privilege of such protection [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 40-41]. In spite of the remoteness from big cities and main traffic arteries, the area of WEP construction has been subject to significant anthropogenic and technogenic impact. North valley side of Syvash is in many places spotted with various field emplacements due to the military operations directed to capture of Crimean peninsula in 1920, 1941 and 1944. In 1987–1990, even more damages were inflicted to archaeological sites located along the edge of the elevated abrasive shoreface due to the construction of Prysyvashshia portion of the drain channel of Kakhovka irrigation system3. Within the area of WEP construction it extends from Hryhorivka village to southern outskirt of Strohanivka village and further to the water storage reservoir near Druzheliubivka village. Most of the channel is constructed along the cliffed shore of Syvash, and its remaining sections are embanked on artificial dams of large volumes of earth taken from the nearby areas.

3 This channel is sometimes called “protective” [Olenkovskyi 2010, p. 86], presumably due to the fact that in prevents from uncontrolled drainage of waste irrigation waters to Syvash lake. For the purpose of convenience of presentation of the obtained materials and facts, and based on physiographic features of the area, the area for construction of a new WEP can quite arbitrary be divided into nine districts (west to east): Ivanivka, Strohanivka, Hlybokyi Kayish, Novovolodymyrivka, Hryhorivka (south- east from the village), Tarama peninsula (south-west from the existing WEP), Pershokostiantynivka (to the south from the village), Gulf of Syvash (left bank) and Gulf of Syvash (right bank).

Chapter ІІ. Archaeological characteristics of WEP construction site 1.Ivanivka district A small area virtually not affected by the drain channel, located along the shore of Lake Syvash between Ivanivka and Strohanivka villages to about 1.2–1.3 km at a height of +5.0–5.5 m, according to the submitted project documentation, intended for the construction of three WPGs (Nos. 66–68). According to the existing materials and the data of our exploration, none of these WPGs, neither the vehicle road and power cable routing between them, fall within the protected zones of any archaeological site. As for the Meso-Neolithic settlement of Ivanivka Prysyvaska ІІ taken under state protection, it is located at Berezin cape formed by Syvash shore and the left bank of Teren Doneloga draw, about 1.3–1.4 km to the south of WPG No. 67 [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 16-17, Fig. 1, 24]. 2. Strohanivka district This area is also located along the northern shore of Lake Syvash to the south- south-west from Strohanivka village, having the extension of 2.1-2.2 km. Three WPG (Nos. 63–65) are intended to be constructed there. None of them fall into the protected zones of archaeological sites taken under state protection. The sites of some inconsiderably numbered artefacts, Strohanivka 1 to 3 [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 31, Fig. 1, 20-22], had not been determined — most likely, they had been destroyed during the construction of the drain channel. The closest site to this district is a burial mound up to 3.0 m in height, with a control survey point at the top (absolute elevation +21.6 m), known in the middle of ХІХ century as «Jaipa Pyramid». It is located 1.6–1.7 km to the north-west from WPG No. 65. 3. Hlybokyi Kayish district The next area along the shore of Lake Syvash and the bank of the drain channel, which extends from the left bank of Kayish draw to the right bank of Hlyboka river to the west-south-west from Strohanivka village, has an extension of 2.4–2.5 km. It is intended for the installation of eight WPGs (Nos. 55–62) The area does not contain any burial mounds that may be under threat of destruction. As for the sites of individual finds, such as Strohanivka І and 4 to 9 discovered by M.P.Olenkovskyi in 1983 [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 23-24, Fig. 1, 13- 19], some parts of them may be overlapped by construction sites of certain WPGs but only if they were spared by the construction of the drain channel. Their existence has not been confirmed during exploration. Moreover, their georeferencing is relatively approximate. 4. Novovolodymyrivka district This area is connected to the south-west, south and south-east outskirts of Novovolodymyrivka village and borders the bulge of the drain channel from the north. Here, five WPGs (Nos. 50 to 54) are intended to be constructed. Within this district the archaeological map shows only one archaeological site – Novovolodymyrivka І settlement, where several stemmed flints and a fragment of a smoking pipe have been found [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 23, Fig. 1, 12]. This site was located in the area between WPG No. 53 and WPG No. 54 but it was hard to determine it in the field due to the presence of a drain channel and the inaccurate referencing. 5. Hryhorivka district This part of the zone of WEP construction, which is the largest by area, occupies almost all of the territory of a broad but short cape limited by, Novovolodymyrska draw from the east and Tarama peninsula from the west. Here (predominantly in the central and western parts) sixteen WPGs (Nos. 34 to 49) are intended to be constructed. It is the very place where, or in the vicinity of which, along the Syvash shore, a series of settlements were located in the old times, some them mentioned above. At least three of them (specifically the two-layered settlement site Novovolodymyrivka ІІ, as well as settlements Novovolodymyrivka Х, ІV and Tabirna Balka) are located beyond the construction site – to the north and to the west from WPG No. 49. Other sites (Novovolodymyrske settlement, Novovolodymyrivka V, VІІ and VІІІ settlement sites) may fall into the area of this WPG, as well of other two wind power generators (WPGs No. 48 and, probably, No. 44) [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 10-13, Fig. 1, 4-11, 28]. However, as mentioned above, it was not possible to reference them with the coordinates published by M.N. Olenkovskyi, especially since during 1987–1990 the whole area fell directly into the zone of construction of the drain channel. A similar situation concerns the burial mounds within this district, which form a part of the long chain of tumuli stretching from north-east to south-west, from the western outskirt of Novovolodymyrivka village to the high shore of Syvash in the area of WPG No. 37. However, the great majority of them (11 burial mounds) do not fall into the construction area (some of them are located further to the west from WPGs Nos. 45 and 46; Photo 1). According to M.N. Olenkovskyi, the zone may comprise of three rather large burial mounds (1.7–2.8 m in height) [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 14, Fig. 6], and four mounds (1.0–3.5 m in height, the highest having a control survey point) according to the map of 1941. In accordance with the exploration of 2018, only three of them have been preserved (two western mounds, including the one with a control survey point, sodded), which are located in the same field between WPGs Nos. 39, 40, 43 and 42, the construction of which does not threaten these burial mounds. 6. Tarama peninsula district This small but clearly localized and confined area, located on the peninsula formed by the valley of Tarama river and the shore of Syvash lake, which has a length of about 2.0 km, maximum width of 1.0 km, along the long axis extending from north-east to south-west, and located 1.3–1.5 km to the south-east from the south-eastern outskirt of Pershokostiantynivka village. Eleven WPGs (Nos. 23 to 33) are intended to be constructed in this area (predominantly around the periphery). Its main distinction consists in that there is an operational WEP in the northern part, with two burial mounds located directly on its territory: 60 m to the south from the office building (1.0 m in height, 60 m in diameter, not deteriorating; Photo 2; coordinates: 46o14’35’’N 33o43’13’’E) and 270–280 m to the south-east from the same building, halfway between individual WPGs (0,4 m in height, 60 m in diameter, not deteriorating; coordinates: 46o14’31’’N 33o43’04’’E). As for the facilities of new WEP, construction of its WPG No. 33 is to be carried out 200 m to the south-east, and the camp for construction of the new WEP at the second stage of its erection will be located 100–150 m to the south-west from the first of the mentioned burial mounds. Still, of the greatest concern is the location of WPG No. 28 (at the crest of the cape), since there is a burial mound 350-400 m to the north-east (1.0 m in height, 70 m in diameter; coordinates: 46o14’06’’N 33o42’41’’E), and a second mound is located even closer to it (0.4 m in height, 30 m in diameter; coordinates: 46o14’03’’N 33o42’37’’E) (Photo 3), and a third burial mound 50–60 m to the south from WPG No. 28 (0,8 m in height, 50 m in diameter; coordinates: 46o14’00’’N 33o42’31’’E). All three burial mounds are deteriorating. 7. Pershokostiantynivka district Located to the south and south-east from the south-east outskirt of Pershokostiantynivka village, at the part of the cape formed by the right bank of the valley of Tarama river and the left bank of Pershokostiantynivka draw (Chokrak). Three burial mounds are registered here, and six WPGs (Nos. 17 to 22) are intended to be constructed, none of them lying within protected zones of those sites. The burial mound which is the closest to the WEP facilities is 1.6 m in height, 80 m in diameter and is not deteriorating (Photo 4; coordinates: 46o14’09’’N 33o41’07’’E). It is located 400 m to the north-north-east from WPG

No. 19 and in the vicinity of cable W1. 8. District of Syvash Gulf – left bank Located at the cape formed by the left bank of Gulf of Syvash and the right bank of Pershokostiantynivka draw, to the west and south-west from Pershokostiantynivka village. Eleven WPGs (Nos. 6 to 16) are intended to be constructed here, predominantly at the low terrace around the periphery of this cape. None of WPGs lie within the protected zones of archaeological sites. The closest to them are: WPG No. 6, 200–220 m to the north from the burial mound 0.7–0.8 m in height, 50 m in diameter, sodded (Photo 5; coordinates are unavailable); WPG No. 7, 100–150 m to the west from the burial mound up to 1.0 in height and 50 m in diameter, with an absolute elevation of +5.5 m, sodded, located in the territory of an abandoned farm (coordinates: 46o14’29’’N 33o38’55’’E).

In addition, in close proximity to the cable laying lines W and W1 there is a burial mound located 160–200 m to the west from south-west outskirt of Pershokostiantynivka village, in the vicinity of abandoned farms, 0.9 m in height, up to 65 m in diameter, sodded, with four deep furrows across it (Photo 6; coordinates: 46o14’23’’N 33o39’43’’E). 9. District of Syvash Gulf – right bank This area of the zone of WEP construction is the westernmost, connected to the right bank of Gulf of Syvash and the part of the valley which runs to it. It has an extension of up to 1.5 km from north to south, with distinct limits: from the west — the three electric transmission lines, from the south — the administrative border with the Autonomous , and from the north the earth — the road leading from Pershokostiantynivka village to Chaplynka–Armiansk highway. Four WPGs (Nos. 1 to 44) are intended to be installed there, as well as a camp for the second stage of WEP construction. It total, 6 burial mounds are registered within the district (three of belonging to the same group) from 1.0 to 4.0 m in height. None of WPGs fall directly within the protected zones of those sites but two of them are located quite near them. WPG No. 2 is located 200–220 m to the north-north-east from the burial mound which is up to 1.0 m in height, not deteriorating (coordinates: 46o14’29’’N 33o37’57’’E). Furthermore, the outermost north-east burial mound of the mentioned group, 1.5 m in height, 60-70 m in diameter, deteriorating (Photo 7; coordinates: 46o14’09’’N 33o41’07’’E) is located dangerously close (70-80 m to the west-south-west) to WPG No. 1, and all three burial mounds of the group are located close to the planned camp site for the first stage of construction (Photo 8).

Conclusions As seen from the above, in the context of potential threat to archaeological sites in the course of future construction, we have analyzed 67 location points for WPGs and the places of some other WEP facilities, though the project will definitely be further adjusted and supplemented with additional constructions. In view of the above, we set forth our recommendations below, but first of all it should be indicated that, according to the decision of the Executive Committee of Kherson Regional Council of People's Deputies No. 633/22 of 16.11.1979 «On determination of boundaries of protected zones and the zones subject to site development regulations for the archaeological sites of local significance (burial mounds) located in the territory of the region», the following regulations are still in force in the territory of this region: «1. For individual burial mounds the following protection boundaries are determined: 10 meters from the edge of the mound, and for site development boundaries: 100 meters from the edge of the mound. 2. For

4 WPG No. 5 which was intended to be installed almost tangent to the border with Autonomous Republic of Crimea is currently withdrawn from the working project. groups of burial mounds and fields of burial mounds the following protection boundaries are determined: 50 meters from the outermost burial mound, and for site development boundaries: 300 meters from the outermost burial mound» [Olenkovskyi 2006, p. 39-40]. As can be seen from the above, archaeological sites are present in all districts of the zone but are most frequently found in western districts, from Hryhorivka and further. Most of the settlements and settlement sites are registered within this district, burial mounds are predominant further to the west. It should be emphasized that design engineers have put a lot of effort in preventing the damage the cultural heritage sites (predominantly burial mounds), however one almost exact overlapping of the WPG point over the burial mound is still in effect. It is a case of WPG No. 28 (at the crest of Tarama cape) right between the two burial mounds. In my opinion, this point definitely has to be shifted (preferably at least 100 m to the north-east), alternatively, arrangements should be made for an archaelogical excavation of both mounds. Several more WPGs and a construction base for the first stage of construction of the WEP are located outside but in close vicinity to discovered and previously recorded archaeological sites. Such WPGs include Nos. 1, 6, 7, 33, 48, 49 and, probably, 44, the construction of which should be carried out with due consideration of those circumstances and the aforementioned protected zones. However, in view of the above and according to Ukrainian legislation, I consider it necessary to establish archaeological supervision over the construction (in particular, earth-moving and roadway maintenance) works at all stages of WEP construction. As a whole, the project of WEP to be constructed at the shore of Lake Syvash, as submitted for our examination, should be considered detailed and professionally executed from the perspective of protection of cultural heritage sites located within the construction area and may be recommended for implementation subject to our observations.

I.V. Sapozhnikov, Leading research scientist of the Department of Archaeology of Crimea and North-West Black Sea Region of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Historical Sciences

--.05.2018

References Olenkovskyi M.P. Paleolithic and Mesolithic Period of Prysyvashshia. – Kherson: Prydniprovya, 2000. – 170 p. Olenkovskyi M.P. Archaeological sites of Chaplynka District, Kherson Region. Archaeological map. – Kherson: Ailant, 2006. – 80 p. Olenkovskyi М. «Red Book» of archaeological sites of Kherson Region. – Issue 2. – Kherson: ХОВ КУІН, 2010. – 100 p. Solonitskyi I.V. Conclusions of the regional inspection on protection of historical and cultural heritage of Department of Culture of Kherson Regional State Administration on approval of the land management plan pertaining to lease of the land plot (Syvashenergoprom) No. 285-П of 13.11.2010 (on the lands of Pershokostiantynivka, Hryhorivka, Pavlivka and Strohanivka village councils of Chaplynka District).

Photo 1. Burial mounds to the west of WPGs Nos. 45 to 46 (seen from north)

Photo 2. The burial mound in the territory of the operating WEP (seen from north)

Photo 3. Burial mounds to the north-east of WPG No. 28 (seen from south)

Photo 4. The burial mound to the north-north-east of WPG No. 19 (seen from south)

Photo 5. The burial mound to the east of WPG No. 6 (seen from south-east)

Photo 6. The burial mound near the south-west outskirt of Pershokostiantynivka village (seen from south)

Photo 7. The burial mound to the west-south-west of WPG No. 1 (seen from west)

Photo 8. Burial mounds in the vicinity of the first base and WPG No. 1 (seen from north)