White Sea petroglyphs (Republic of Karelia): excursions, museum. How to get to the archaeological complex?

Karelian Republic - it's stunning landscapes and clean air, rest in the bosom of nature and incomparable with anything impressions. Northern nature is harsh and very special, it needs to be understood and loved, but it is impossible not to admire it. Untouched, dense forests, cold and transparent rivers, lakes and streams - this is a world in which man did not manage to penetrate. However, not only nature attracts tourists. White Sea petroglyphs - this is one of the attractions of these places, which annually attracts a large number of history buffs.

A little about petroglyphs

Surely you are interested in this topic, if you decide to understand it in more detail. Then let's start with the story of what the White Sea petroglyphs are. It is a kind of immersion in the unknown, in the mysteries of the life of an ancient man. On the shore of the White Sea, you will find an amazing discovery that will slightly reveal the secrets of our past. White Sea petroglyphs are drawings that were carved right in the rock many thousands of years ago. Most of them are images of hunters and fishermen, whose art helped to survive the tribe at that distant time. It's amazing how you feel the time gap that fences us from the authors of drawings when you stand next to these rocks. White Sea petroglyphs - a piece of primitive culture, unique monuments of monumental art from the Neolithic period. They date back to the 4th-2nd millennium BC.

Archaeological Monument

Indeed, today it is officially a monument of ancient art, protected by law. The White Sea petroglyphs are located in several places. Zalavruga is the location of a large number of rock carvings. They were also found on the islands of Erpin Pudas, Shoyrukshin, Bolshoy Malinin, etc. The complex was opened in stages, because it is really huge. The very first part was opened in 1926, and the honor of this event belongs to the writer and ethnographer A. Linevsky. Initially, the discoverer gave this place a poetic name "Besovy traces." He devoted a lot of time to studying this place, in fact, thanks to him we learned about the archaeological complex "White Sea Petroglyphs". It was the years of study of rock paintings and were reflected in the scientific novel of the writer "Sheets of the Stone Book."

The opening continues

This was not the last discovery associated with these places. Below we will tell in detail how you can examine the White Sea petroglyphs, how to get here to anyone who wants to. And for now a little history. Already in 1936, another group of drawings was found in a place called Zalavruga. Rock paintings performed surprisingly well, given the level of development of people of the Neolithic period. The central rock shows us three reindeer and hunting scenes for them. And in each of the drawings it is clear the time of the year. Hunters, respectively, are drawn on boats or on skis. There are drawings also on the topic of war with the invaders.

New Zalavruga (White Sea Petrographs, Republic of Karelia)

This year became very fruitful, and already in the autumn of 1936 the expedition of a well-known archaeologist makes a new discovery. It is a huge playground of 200 square meters, completely covered with a layer of earth. It is this coating that has allowed to perfectly preserve thousands of drawings. Archaeologists carefully cleaned the whole surface, and it became a beautiful open-air museum. Take your time to personally see the White Sea petroglyphs. Photos do not convey their charm. New Zalavruga includes 26 different groups of drawings, this is a whole picture gallery. The largest of these is the hunting scene for moose in the winter time by the nast. And the main role in them is played by a person, that is, at that time an important event occurred, namely, the perception of the surrounding world changed.

How to get there?

The route will be slightly different depending on what type of transport you choose. There are White Sea petroglyphs (GPS coordinates: Zavaluga 64.2928N, 34.4034E) in the White Sea region of Karelia. The nature here is truly reserved, which means that you will spend wonderful moments and breathe the fresh air. We have already mentioned that the rock paintings represent several groups that are remote from each other. It's easy to organize your tour in such a way as to see all the White Sea petroglyphs. How to get there by car, we'll tell you later.

Traveling by train

You need any train that goes to Belomorsk. It can be a route from Petrozavodsk, Murmansk or Petersburg. However, the station will continue to walk about 7 km on foot. You can use the services of local taxi drivers. The purpose of your journey is the center of the village Vygostrov, where there is a special index for tourists. From here it is necessary to go on foot, just below we will tell you where.

Travel by car

It will pass along the federal highway M18. It is asphalted, though in places it is broken. However, it is not so easy to find White Sea petroglyphs. How to get there, we will now consider together. Moving along the M18 highway, you need to turn to Belomorsk. Before reaching the city about 4 km, you need to find the index "Village Vygostrov". It is here that another green pointer is located, which directs you to the forest and says: "White Sea petroglyphs." Leave the car and go for a walk.

Road to the unknown

You do not have to wander, from the pointer leads a comfortable path directly to the goal. Soon you will see a small bridge across the river, and then - a poster with the rules of conduct in the protected area. Now you go to the first and oldest drawings, the complex of which is called "Besovy Sledki". Another group is located in a couple of kilometers, in Zavaluga. You can walk here only on foot, however such excursion will give a huge amount of impressions. Walking along the wooden flooring, which connects huge stone slabs, you get into the world of your distant ancestors. However, it is recommended to go here with an experienced guide, otherwise too much will elude your attention.

The White Sea Museum

It is called so - the regional museum of local lore "White Sea Petroglyphs". The museum was created after they recognized the historical value of these findings. It includes an ordinary building, where the main exhibits are located, telling about the beauty and richness of this region. It is located at: Belomorsk, ul. Pervomayskaya, 18. But much more interesting is its other part, which is located in the open air and where you can see the White Sea petroglyphs themselves. Excursions to ancient drawings are held from May to September, with a preliminary record required, since the archaeological complex itself is located 7 km from the city. But judging by the experience of tourists, all the beauty and richness of this archaeological complex can be known only if you visit it with an experienced guide. This tour is designed for 3 hours, the length of the automobile part of the route is 15 km, after which you will have another 2.5 km of pedestrian walk. The composition of the group can be from 6 people, in the property of the museum - cars "Gazelle" and "Ford". You are waiting for the mysterious and stunningly interesting White Sea petroglyphs. The Republic of Karelia invites you to get acquainted with an amazing ancient monument.

Other exhibitions of the museum

First of all it will be interesting for you to visit the exposition "Marine culture of Pomors". It is available to visitors all year round. In addition to Monday and Thursday, any day of the week, from 11 to 17, you can get acquainted with the life of a whole people. Within the framework of this excursion you will get acquainted with traditional folk crafts, their historical formation. Your attention is presented photos and documents, ship models, in which our ancestors went to sea. In addition, you will be able to see genuine tools of crafts and their mock-ups, objects of economy and everyday life of Pomors. The exposition is placed directly in the pulmma of the floating mast, which is located near the quay. That is, any tourist who follows Solovki can easily visit it.

Excursion to Belomorsk

We have already told you in detail about the most magnificent sight of this region - the petroglyphs of Karelia. How to get there, you already knew, but if you are here, then it's a good idea to inspect the city itself, because it is really very beautiful. It is located between two stormy river branches. You are waited for by pedestrian or automobile walk on the most interesting places, duration of excursion - only one hour, therefore, even if you have a little time, it is possible to have time to look all.

Finally, another attraction that the experienced guide suggests is the 19th Sluice of the White Sea-Baltic Canal. You will be told in detail all the secrets of the grandiose construction, how the sluice chambers and the drawbridge are constructed, hydroconstructions. You can see the photoreport in detail, as was his creation. As you can see, the Republic of Karelia is rich in entertainment. They are special here, not at all like those offered to you by the southern resorts. However, from this they do not become less attractive. Especially here you will like an inquisitive and inquisitive tourist who is more interested in the riddles of our planet than a beach holiday on the beach. In any case, it is worth a visit.