Mergeleva Ridge

Mergeleva Ridge is the ancient mystical and religious place associated with the pagan beliefs of ancient Slavic people. This is one of the most unique places located in the Luhansk region, near the village Stepanovka (on the hill in the field).

This unique archaeological monument in Ukraine appears to be a coherent set of stone-ground structures, mounds, roads lined with stone (its area is about one square kilometer).

Archaeologists and scientists have concluded that the data remains is nothing like an ancient sanctuary. With modern technology, scientists have learned the age of data stores - about 5000 years. This confirms the assumption that in the year 3000 BC, there was already a settlement of people. And therefore this monument of culture is 300 years older than the first Egyptian pyramid, and 500 years older than the first stone of Stonehenge.

According to estimates of archaeologists work performed during the construction of this sanctuary (processing, transporting, laying flagstones) is worthy of comparison with the structures of the pyramids in ancient Egypt. But if a presence of the ancient state has a historically proven fact, the culture of these parts is still a mystery to scientists.
Today, archaeologists say that this place is a heart of four cultures, but this is not the limit!

The researchers have found a small section of the ridge, where the circles composed of stone have regular shape. Numerous altars, burial places and dozens of vessels with human remains were found here. What is it? Another mound necropolis? This question still remains unanswered.

People have settled here not accidently, it is the highest place in the region, here one has an opportunity to meet the first rays of the sun, as it is well known that worship of the sun is the basis of all pagan religions.

According to experts who had visited it, Mergeleva Ridge – it is an opening of European scale, it's the first public settlement of solar culture. This sanctuary was used simultaneously by different tribes.