Ancient Greek Amphorae Uncovered By Ukrainian Soldiers Digging Trenches
Unsurprisingly, most archaeology news in 2022 was uncovered by archaeologists. But in Ukraine, soldiers digging trenches in Odesa during the Russian invasion came across an incredible discovery of their own, a trove of ancient Greek urns, or amphorae, from the 4th or 5th century B.C.E.
Soldiers of the 126th Territorial Defense publicized the discovery in May 2022 and then transported a number of the amphorae and other ceramic fragments they found to the Odesa Archaeological Museum for safekeeping, despite the ongoing chaos of the Russia-Ukraine War.
“Ukrainian soldiers dug trenches and found ancient amphorae,” Ukrainian journalist Yana Suporovska said after the discovery. “They have already been transferred to the museum. We are not Russians; we preserve our history.”
126th Territorial DefenseSoldiers holding the ancient Greek urns that they found in Ukraine while digging trenches.
The discovery shines a fascinating light on the history of Odesa. Since the urns date to around the 4th or 5th century B.C.E., they were likely made 100 years after the first Greek settlement was constructed in the area.
Amphorae first appeared during the Bronze Age, or some 3,000 years ago. Ancient people used the urns for a variety of purposes, storing wine in thin, elegant amphorae, and food like fish or cereal in broader ones.
Sadly, experts believe that hundreds of important cultural sites in Ukraine have been destroyed since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
