In Dnipro, during a local history expedition, a unique anthropomorphic stele was discovered, dating back to the Eneolithic era, reports "Vydomo".
The find was made in the area of Popov Mys, located south of the village of Stara Igren. The stele, which belongs to the Eneolithic period, is a valuable archaeological object that helps to deepen our understanding of the culture of that time. An important feature of this stele is the anthropomorphic image depicting a foot—a rare detail for monuments of this period. Archaeologists note that such a find is extremely interesting and can significantly enhance our knowledge of ancient civilizations.
"When our student Kirill, who works at the Dnipro History Museum, sent a photo of the stele with the foot, we immediately realized that this was indeed a rare discovery. The stele dates back to the Eneolithic era, and this foot element is an important detail that adds exceptional value to it," said Oksana Rutkovska, the acting head of the archaeology department at the historical museum.
According to her, the stele was found partially buried, which might indicate attempts to illegally extract archaeological artifacts for private collections.
"When we arrived at the site, we saw that the stele was barely buried, and someone might have been trying to take it. It was revealed that such landmarks could be exported by private collectors, so we decided to take the stele to preserve it for future generations," she added.
The recently found stele has now been successfully transported to the Dnipropetrovsk National Historical Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of stone sculptures in Ukraine and the second largest in Europe, including Polovtsian and Scythian figurines, as well as statues older than 2,500 years. The museum also shared its future plans. They aim to create an open-air exhibition at the museum building, showcasing not only new finds but also other archaeological landmarks, including a stone tomb and a chest from the Eneolithic era. All these items will become part of an exhibition accessible to visitors.
"We plan to show the citizens various moving landmarks, particularly a stone chest that was used for burials during the Eneolithic era. We hope to open the exhibition in the spring," the museum representatives noted.