Pryima-1, Archaeological grotto in Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Pryima-1 is a grotto situated in a forested area about two kilometers southeast of Mykolaiv, close to the village of Pryima in Lviv Oblast. The site contains two distinct levels with evidence of human occupation spanning thousands of years.
Archaeological excavations revealed that this site was occupied by Neanderthals roughly 46,000 years ago, making it one of Ukraine's earliest human habitation sites. The grotto was later used again during the 18th and 19th centuries, creating distinct layers of human activity.
The multi-layered settlement contains artifacts from different periods, including materials from the Early Iron Age and the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries.
Access to the grotto requires following the E471 highway toward Rozvady or Mykolaiv, then walking through the forest to reach the site. Sturdy footwear is necessary for the forest walk, and visiting during good weather ensures safer conditions for the trek.
The upper level of the grotto contains Mousterian-era findings linked to early Neanderthal culture, while the lower cave preserves younger materials from historical times. This spatial arrangement shows how different epochs were layered one above the other within the same natural structure.
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