For centuries, a shadowy chamber lay concealed beneath the historic Galician Castle in Halych, western Ukraine.
This enigmatic room, buried under 150 cubic meters of earth and rubble, has intrigued historians and archaeologists alike. The chamber's concealment is attributed to a section of the castle wall that collapsed during a cannon assault in 1676.
As reported by the Daily Mail, a breakthrough occurred in 2023 when experts identified a small ventilation shaft leading to the hidden chamber. After years of meticulous excavation, archaeologists have finally gained access to this long-sealed room.
Initial assessments suggest that the chamber may have functioned as a casemate, serving as an arsenal or a vault for safeguarding valuables during turbulent times. However, the discovery of a small gap in one of the chamber's walls hints at the existence of a tunnel or possibly a network of tunnels, which have been the subject of local folklore. One such legend recounts the tale of a girl who, with the help of her maid, bribed castle guards and escaped through these tunnels with her lover.
Galician Castle, also known as Starasta Castle, has a storied past. Originally established in the 12th century as a wooden fortification perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Dniester River, it was reconstructed in stone by Casimir III the Great in the mid-14th century. The early 17th century saw further architectural redesigns. Vladimir Oleynik, Director General of the Ancient Galich National Reserve, was the first to announce the discovery of the ventilation shaft two years ago. He posits that the wall collapse dates back to the Turkish-Polish War of 1676, when Halych was besieged by forces employing cannons to demolish the castle's defensive structures. "This part of the castle had been completely cut off since the explosion," Oleynik told Heritage Daily. "No heavy machinery could be used, so it was all done manually to preserve the archaeological integrity."
While the excavation continues, public access to the site remains restricted. Archaeologists are hopeful that further exploration will unlock more secrets of this legendary Ukrainian fortress. In a related discovery, experts in 2018 unearthed mysterious tar decorations on the bones of a woman buried along the Dniester River.
This unique burial ritual, believed to have occurred 4,500 years ago, involved drawing directly on the woman's bones using tar derived from wood, after her body had decomposed. Such findings underscore the rich and complex history of the region, offering a glimpse into the past that continues to captivate the present.
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