Sat, Nov 21 2009

Russian archeology from outer space

Sun, Jul 19 2009 11:56 CET byClive Leviev-Sawyer 993 Views
Russian archeology from outer space

A diesel engine tugs the platform holding the Soyuz TM rocket to its launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome in the early hours of April 23 2002.


Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer

Russian experts are developing a unique methodology to detect archaeological objects from outer space, and initial results are important for Bulgarian history, Bulgarian National Television said on July 18 2009.
 
A satellite found three historical sites in the medieval capital of Volga Bulgaria.
 
Volga Bulgaria or Volga-Kama Bolghar, is a historic Bulgar state that existed between the seventh and thirteenth centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers in what is now Russia. Today, both the republics of Tatarstan and Chuvashia are on the land that was Volga Bulgaria.
 
The sites found are on the autonomous Russian Republic of Tatarstan.
 
Nikolai Antimonov of the space centre uses satellite technology to reveal archeological sites.
 
The sites found include a palace from the 13th or 14th century, possibly that of Batu Khan, a Mongol conqueror.
 
Rafael Hakimov, director of the Institute of History, Tatarstan, said that it was "clear that this is no ordinary building. I think it was palatial complex of Batu Khan".
 
Other sites are from the Bronze Age and one a stone complex from a later period. Plans are for the palace site to be excavated first, BNT reported.
 

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