Dykyi Sad archaeological site
Historic site
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dykyi Sad archaeological site constitutes the remains of a fortified Bronze Age settlement, an ancient port city discovered in the Dykyi Sad park (Ukrainian: Дикий Сад, lit. 'Wild Garden') in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The site is dated to the Bilozerka culture, around 1250–925 BC.[1][2]
| Dykyi Sad | |
|---|---|
| Дикий Сад (Ukrainian) | |
Reconstruction of the site | |
 Interactive map of Dykyi Sad | |
Official name | Городище «Дикий Сад» (Dykyi Sad fortified settlement) |
| Type | Archaeology |
| Reference no. | 231-Мк |
Location
The garden was originally laid out by Admiral Greig when he was governor of the city. The garden got its name from the wild trees that did not bear fruit. Officially, the garden was called Admiral's Garden, but the name Wild was a popular one, due to its official name being changed over time.
Dykyi Sad suffered greatly during the two world wars. Residents cut it down due to the lack of firewood and coal. After World War II, the garden was left as a wasteland, with only a few bushes growing. It was built up, but the name of the place remained the same.
Archaeological sites
Archaeological excavations are underway on the Dykyi Sad site, which are free from construction. A settlement dating back to 1250–900 BC[3] with a highly developed culture of the Late Bronze Age was found.
This is the only steppe settlement of that era found in Ukraine. The settlement originated 500 years before the foundation of the Greek city-state of Pontic Olbia and existed for 300 years. Dykyi Sad is the only surviving monument of the Black Sea port city from the time of the legendary Troy and the Trojan War.
On February 22, 2016, the Mykolaiv City Council published a petition to create an open-air park-museum, the Wild Garden settlement.
Researchers have proposed that the site is the "City of the Cimmerians" mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey.[4] Though the geography of the Odyssey is a contentious field, if true, this would make Mykolaiv the oldest city in Ukraine that is mentioned in written sources.[5]
Gallery
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