Ukrainian hydroarchaeologists found a unique artifact dating back to the Cossack times. While working near Khortytsia island, Zaporizhya, they lifted the 4.4-meter, 18th-century gun carriage from the bed of the Dnipro river. This is mentioned on the website of Khortytsia national park.
Valeriy Nefedov, the hydroarchaeologist and the director of Restoration Department of the national park said that initially, only a small part of the item was visible on the river bed. "At first, we thought it was a part of the ship's broadside or some other part. But the construction element let us know it was something ancient. During further research, it became clear it was the gun carriage. Such gun carriage with the powerful siege gun mounted on top of it - with the possible caliber up to 32 pounds - was used during attacks on forts and cities", Nefedov said.
He added that such discoveries have not been confirmed in Ukraine yet. Similar gun carriages are stored in some naval museums. "Every one of these opens interesting details of ancient artillery armament. The new discovery once again shows the meaning of underwater artifacts of Dnipro for Ukraine's history", Nefedov said.