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Wonder
Stone labyrinths of Bolshoi Zayatsky Island
In short
Labyrinths are rare and valuable archaeological monuments. Approximately 300 have been preserved in the world. The 13 – 14 Bolshoi Zayatsky Island stone labyrinths belong to the best preserved ones.
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GPS coordinates
Location, address
Name in Russian
Age
Culture
UNESCO World Heritage status
Map of the site
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In detail
These labyrinths are made of stones that have been laid on the surface of the soil.
Island of stone labyrinths
Bolshoi Zayatsky Island is a small island (1.25 km2), belonging to the group of Solovetsky Islands. It is covered with boulders, moss, and large bushes.
This small island has got 13 or 14 labyrinths as well as more than 850 heaps of boulders and numerous other stone settings (e.g. a unique stone Sun with radial spokes).
In total there are 35 labyrinths, or as locals call them – “vavilons” in the Solovetsky Islands. All the stone settings have been made of local boulders. Excavations in the stone heaps have yielded parts of bones (4.).
All the labyrinths are concentrated in an area of 0.4 km2 on the western part of the island. In the eastern part of the island (Sopka Hill) there is another enormous complex of stone settings that does not include any labyrinths.
Besides the labyrinths there are numerous other stone settings in islands.
Description of labyrinths
The diameter of the labyrinths on the island is between 6 and 25.4 meters.
Labyrinths, for the most part, are formed by boulders set in a row. The boulders are not especially large (roughly 30 – 40 cm in diameter). The rows are twisted in the form of a spiral; often there are two spirals set one into another as if two serpents with their heads in the middle looking at each other. Along the spiral, there are intermittent thicker/ wider heaps of stones and the ends of the spirals are widened as well.
The entrances are located in the southern part of the labyrinths, but sometimes these entrances can also be found in the south-western, eastern, and western parts. Although the labyrinths have five types of settings, each of them has got one entrance which also serves as an exit.
Mysterious purpose
It has been suggested that they can symbolize a border between our world and the underworld.
The purpose of these stone settings is unclear. It may be assumed that the labyrinth was used for specific rituals to help the souls of the deceased travel to another world.
Another hypothesis is that the stone settings served as a model for complex fishing equipment.
Other labyrinths nearby
Labyrinths are located on nearby islands as well: on Bolshoy Solovetsky (near Kislaya Guba) and on Anzersky (eastern end near Kalguyev spit). There are, or existed at an earlier date, labyrinths at the mouths of the rivers of the White Sea – Umba, Verzuga, Kem, Ponoi. These petroforms always are located within sight of the sea.
References
- Соловки Энциклопедия
- Picture gallery
- Буров Владимир. О семантике каменных лабиринтов севера. Этнографическое обозрение, № 1, 2001 (drawn schematic plans)
- Мартынов Александр. Археологическое прошлое Соловецкого архипелага: материк — море — острова. Альманах “Соловецкое море”. № 1. 2002
Literature
- Виноградов Н. Новые лабиринты Соловецкого архиппелага. Лабиринты Б. Заяцкого острова // Материалы СОК. Вып. 12. Соловки,1927. С, 14-30.
- Виноградов Н. Соловецкие лабиринты. Их происхождение и место в ряду однородных доисторических памятников. Материалы СОК. Вып. 4. Соловки, 1927
- Гурина Н. Каменные лабиринты Беломорья. М., С. 125–142. 1948
- Куратов А. Древние лабиринты Архангельского Беломорья. Историко-краеведческий сборник. Вологда, С. 63–76. 1973
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