An archaeological team has unearthed an ancient settlement dating back approximately 7,000 years near Derbent in Dagestan. The discovery was made serendipitously during construction work for a new segment of the "Caucasus" federal highway. Initial suspicions of a settlement at the site were confirmed upon removing the topsoil.

Within the first week of excavation, archaeologists uncovered unique stone tools, pottery shards including jugs and ceramic wheels, and semi-subterranean dwellings equipped with central hearths. Notably, small clay figurines depicting bulls were unearthed, considered significant evidence illuminating the ancient culture of the region.

As to Taras Tolubaev, the archaeological expedition leader, these findings represent the oldest artifacts yet discovered in northeastern Caucasus. Further excavation revealed evidence suggesting a city rather than merely a settlement, complete with ancillary structures and workshops for craftsmanship.

Dating back to the Chalcolithic era, a transitional period between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, these discoveries provide valuable insights into the early history of the Caucasus region and its societal development during that epoch. Researchers anticipate unearthing even older artifacts at greater depths, hoping to further illuminate this distant past.

Text by Proulyanovsk.ru