Nature and Volunteers

Krivoj Rog, Kobulya Gully, 14/08 - 30/08. 2002

The area, where are workcamp takes place, has big environmental and historical value. This is a place where the first settlement of "Chernyakhovskaya culture" (aged about 200-400 years A.D.) is found, as well as settlements of late Bronze Age (1400-1200 years B.C.); also there are ruins of orthodox church with cemetery, where one can see more than 100 stone crosses from XVIII-XIX centuries. This is one of the very few places where original steppe landscape is preserved. Local population is using this land for livestock grazing and landfills, parts of the area were ploughed up. There are plans to plough up bigger parts of the Gully. Such a use would destroy unique steppe flora and fauna of this area. Cleanups and information campaign organized by camp participants will draw attention of local population and authorities to the problems of Kobulya Gully and contribute to preservation of its flora.

Work in camp

During workcamp following work was finished:

1) Archeological researches of Chernyahovskaya culture settlement were carried out in Kobilnya Gully; basement of on of the biggest building in settlement was restored. Professionals made a supposition about possible religious meaning of this building in settlement (this place could be used as a chancel for settlements) (most likely, some plants and animals were victims for gods during rituals). Further planned to set up wooden shields with a short description of historical value of this place and direction of carrying work.

During archeological dig many pieces of ceramic were found (approximately, the time of ceramic is 400-500 A.D. , as well as many bones of wild and domestic animals that undoubtedly  is a proof of settlements’ “menu”. Probably, they leaded settled life, hunted and ploughed up soil, producing wheat, buckwheat etc. Ceramic those were found on excavation place divide on two types - first type has a high quantity, orange or red color and thin walls sometimes with tracery. Such vessels are common for Roma civilization; the names of such vessels are “amphora”. Other types have wide walls; quite rough, common colors are black or taupe.

Such difference in workmanship of vessels could be explained by existed trade connections among Roma and Chernyahovskaya culture. Settlement is situated on old bank of the river Ingulets thus we could make a supposition about trade connection by water.

Volunteers entirely restored basement of one of the biggest buildings in settlement place that was destroyed by agricultural work. Because of a deep ploughing almost whole basement was destroyed, only some parts of basement remained; specialists carried out previous reconstruction of basement, but volunteers finished all practical work. Near by local school old kozak cemetery is situated, many of its graves were destroyed, crosses and most of tombstones were flocked.

Volunteers have carried out work on cemetery renovation, almost all crosses were fixed, and fully destroyed graves were renovated, broken tombstones and garbage were took away.

Age of different graves is rather different – on some documents, age of graves dated from 17 till 19 century, most of graves – kosak’s graves for warriors from Zaporozhskaya Sech.

Reconstructed work was carried out together with residents; work was devoted by Kozak Day – traditional Ukrainian holiday. Every year local authorities carry out renovation works on kozak cemetery, but residents are willingly taking pat in such works. In this year general renovation was carried out, practically, almost all graves were restored.

1)      Part of camp work regarded ecology and protection of environment in Dnipropetrovs'k region: Dnipropetrovs’k region is main polluter of Ingulets River, affluent of Dnepr of first level, herewith water of Ingulets beneath Krivoy Rog city do not correspond by norms of potable water, since mineral and organic pollution is very big. Our organization carries out work to set up basement of control for Ingulets pollution in Dnipropetrovs’k, in particular, in Krivoy Rog region. Aim of the work - to determine part of pollution that carried from Dnipropetrovs’k region, hence to determinate of Krivoy Rog’s part f pollution in general pollution of river Ingulets. At the present time we examinee riverbed of River Ingulets on 2\3 of it’s length, aim of the work – to reveal springs of industrial, household and agricultural pollution on whole current of river in Dnipropetrovs'k. For qualitative chemical analyze some tests of water were took in different points of current.

Volunteers were involved in this work, we have examined approximately 20-25 km along the river (by both banks), and some big springs of pollution were revealed. Revealed objects were described, put on the map and further we could implement environment-friendly actions on the base of discovered violations. Examinations were carried out by implementing of walking route. General route was carried out on distant from big roads that made some complications into expedition. End of the route – Marino village, Kherson region. Thus, volunteers helped to finish the project that begun in June 2002 year. It is necessary to stress that all volunteers during expedition were tried to inform residents about right ways for Nature protection.

Accommodation

As it was showed at infosheet, accommodation and feeding of volunteers were realized at local school. Volunteers lived in one of the classrooms and fed in school dining room. For normal accommodation some portable beds were given. Some people slept on the beds, some – at slipping beds on the floor. Unfortunately, in the village no general water supply, so shower was built outside near by school (water was warmed).

Food were cooked by special stuff, volunteers implemented duties in dining room by sequence. Feeding divided for vegetarians and other people, who eat.

Accommodation and work of volunteers implemented respectively agenda; agenda was made by coleaders respectively desires of volunteers. Below you could see usual agenda:

7.00   Awakening

8.00   Breakfast

9.30   Work

12.00 Lunch – break

12.30 Second part of work

15.00 End of the work

16.00 Back to school

16.30 Swedish lunch

17.00 Free time (games, TV, discussions, etc.)

18.00 Dinner

19.00 Camp fire

22.00 End of the day

Weekends had its own agenda concerning planned activities – for example, excursion to Krivoy Rog’s Botanical Garden or participation in Cossack’s day.

One of coleaders in line with planned activity and desires of volunteers usually made plan for working days and for weekends, during workcamp we tried to keep group-self organization principle. It is safe to say, that this principle justified itself for 95% other 5 % were depended on приходились на incidental circumstances (for example, one of our experts was ill during workcamp).

Rest and entertainments

For rest and entertainment were granted excellent possibilities – possibility of active rest (sport games, dances, excursions on Krivoy Rog city and on Cobilya Gully), possibility of passive rest (TV and video), participation in some holidays (Cossack’s day, Independence Day of Ukraine, wedding party).

At the beginning of the camp chess championship was carried out.

Then volleyball championship was carried out, Ukrainian team was a winner. During whole camp two excursions on Krivoy Rog city were carried out for visiting sightseeing, museums, exhibitions, historical memorials. In Krivoy Rog, volunteers visited picture gallery, photo gallery, some museums, and Botanical garden.

Most interesting event for all volunteers was village wedding party, duration of common village party is three days. Each day had some different from previous some new traditions were added to the events of each day. In addition, wedding party was study object for all volunteers who want to know more about Ukraine and its traditions.

Besides, group of people was offered to our camp, these people studying traditions and history of different nationalities. In camp were carried out some ancient championships among warriors, with traditional wear of some nationalities. Volunteers had possibilities to shot from ancient Scandinavian bow.

Study part.

Our camp consisted from two parts (in line with directions of work):

1)      Archeological;

2)      Ecological;

At the first part of camp volunteers carried out archeological work that you can see above. During second part of the camp volunteers carried out expedition on the banks of the river Ingulets, affluent of the Dnepr River of the first level, with the aim to define conditions of riverbed, studying of landscapes and for revealing and description of possible springs of industrial and agricultural pollution.

Before the beginning of each level of work, specialists described sense of work, give some little on a themes, concerning carrying work. For example at the first part of our specialist describe the type of the work, narrated about history of the culture, settlement of which was explored by volunteers, about history of Ukraine and Kievskaya and about “archeological rules”.

At the second part of the camp we heard about sense of ecological work in Kobilnya Gully for gene fond of Ukraine, about our efforts to make protected area at the place of Kobilnya Gully.

During excursions on Krivoy Rog we heard about Krivoy Rog history. At a museum guide in detail narrated about Krivoy Rog history, Ukraine history, about Ukrainian traditions and Ukrainian way of life.

In Botanical Garden volunteers heard a lot of interesting things about Earth’s flora and special details of some plants, about steppe flora and a lot of interesting.

Cooperation

During preparation for workcamp and during workcamp organizers made familiar with many people and useful organizations that could be useful for camp. Thus, the main aim of our camp is to attract attention of local authorities and local residents to the problems of Kobilnya Gully formation to its cultural and nature heritage. To reach this aim, some journalists from regional and local companies were offered as well as representatives of local authorities who have a direct relation to this problem.

As a result, important basements for further cooperation were established for much longer period than camp duration.

Below you could see list of some of our local partners:

TRC «Rudana»

TRC «Krivorojye»

Editorials of newspapers of Shirokoe region

Administration of Shirokoe region

Administration of Shesternya village

Archeological museum from Dnipropetrovs'k city

Botanical garden of Krivoy Rog