The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-11
FROM UNKNOWN AGES.
Evidence of a People Without
Literature or Law.
RANKS AS AwoNDER OF THE WORLD


A Canal Through the Crimean Plain Moro
Than Three Thousand Years OId-Nar-
velous Masonry Constructed by tho
Hands OF Savages.
WASHINGTON, May 1O.-A letter from
Che distinguished Russian engineer, Melni-
Kohl, to the Smithsonian institution, an
nounces for the first time in this country
nm interesting discovery. 1t tells of an
archaeological discovery that ranks us one
OF the wonders of the world.
Inc Russian government q short time
ago undertook to survey a route fora canal
between the Black sea and the Sea of
Azof. Melnikoff was assigned to this task
and during its performance he discovered
the remains of n great ditch of high an
uquity, built on marvellous proportions by
savage hands and near 5000 years old. 1t
is second in age only to the great pyramids
of Egypt
For the most part the course of the
great excavation through the Crimean
plain has been obliterated by the ravages
of time, but it can be traced for the dis
tance of six miles. Its discovery explains
many historic remains which hitherto
could not be accounted for Search has
been made in history for some account of
its building, and the Russian concludes it
was probably constructed in the seventh
century b. c.. by Assande of Bosphorus,
who was a powerful ruler of those times
In that then barbarous country Nothing
is said, however, of the purpose which SO
great a work, requiring such vast amount
of labor, served. 1t is also probably re-
ferrred to by Strobe and Pliny, anci emit
Roman writers, but in indefinite terms.
The canal eXcites the interest not so
much as the marvellous Notifications which
lined it's banks and protected its terminals
MT either sea. 1t was paved the entire
length with stones, through country
where rocks are unknown, and which must
have been brought considerable distance
The bottom, before the channel was filled
with earthas the years passed by meas
ured about 25 feet, and had an average
depth below the surrounding surface of 90
to 80 feet
Castles and Towers.
One would suppose that this great water
course was roadway for vessels between
the two seas it being n much shorter route
for the crafts of old than sailing around
the isthmus, but this is not certain, for the
savages who built it were not engaged, so
far rs is known, in commerce.
AT either end were strong castles, which
are now i'll ruins, but it can be reinem-
bered when, in this century, parts of them
WHY StstiuiiS. Iucy IRE DullC OF stone.
During the Crimean war, which began in
1854, part of these stones were carried
away to construct hospitals for the SOL
diers. The massive remains of these cas-
ties now measure over $50, 600 cubic meters
Along the banks of the canal extending
through the plain was II wall capped with
many towers, but hardly vestige now
remains of these. In the center of the
canal-which, except at this point, was rs
straight as an arrow-there was huge
fertilization Of four sides, three of which
were protected by the canal. At this point
there was also smaller canal, which, sit
uated outside the larger, afforded addi-
tional protection.
Mentioned by the Greeks.
Xenophon, a famous Athenian who con-
Quoted the retreat of the 10000 Greeks,
tells in his history of bitches which were
dug across the plains by the enemy to
impede their march through the hostile
territory, and sometimes water was let
into them by night as further hindrance.
1t may be that this curious feat of ancient
engineering served as n monstrous wall
and moat for protection from enemies
Certainly this was strategic point
The ancient Ciinmerians, n savage peo-
pie, inhabited this region formerly and
built this canal. They We're without laws
or literature, so far as any records of their
own come down to us. All travellers who
came to them were sacrificed to their
heather gods and hence it is that the dig
ging of this great ditch, which for it's time
rivals the SueZ canal, Is shrouded i'm deep
mystery.