More than 100 years ago (just as, in fact, today), everything mysterious and inexplicable aroused the keenest interest. Some of our ancestors believed in legends about ghosts and the living dead. Others used all sorts of spells to find “cursed” treasure. Still others were drawn to the mysteries of underground passages—not least, incidentally, with the aim of financial gain. Why dig up the ground in search of treasure when, as many believe, it lies undisturbed somewhere in an underground passage or an old basement?
For example, the April 1909 issue of the newspaper *Kharkiv Provincial Gazette* featured a very interesting and timely article about the underground utility systems in our city and other settlements in Sloboda Ukraine.
Underground passages and catacombs.
Beneath all old cities—especially those that were once border towns or fortified settlements—there are many underground passages, catacombs, and hiding places. It’s astonishing how quickly they are forgotten and how rarely their descendants know about them—even through folklore. And only from time to time, here and there, does a sinkhole reveal the existence of ancient hiding places, which, even when discovered by chance, do not, in most cases, prompt a more or less thorough investigation.
In the Kharkiv Governorate, in the remote town of Bilopillya—once a border outpost— a sinkhole in the city park revealed the existence of a cave and a long passageway, the continuation of which—more than a verst long—was discovered through a sinkhole in another part of the city; moreover, many copper coins were found at the edge of the sinkhole. It is said that this entire town is built on top of underground passages and hidden treasures; and indeed, there have been instances of lucky individuals suddenly striking it rich through chance discoveries of vessels filled with gold and silver coins and ancient jewelry. Of course, all of this used to fall into the hands of Jewish innkeepers, but now—into the hands of the “bread” commission agents, “traveling salesmen,” and others who scurry about everywhere, into whose hands even ancient, valuable artifacts from our old sacristies very often fall. Then all of this is either melted down to extract precious metals or “smuggled” abroad to replenish archaeological collections there. In Bilopillya, finds of ancient copper coins—almost right on the surface of the ground—are so common that no one even pays attention to them anymore… In the games of street kids, kopecks (from “kopya”!) and older copper coins—which they find while digging in gardens, under fences, and so on—are often used as play money.
Near Kharkiv—as everyone knows—there is an underground passage leading from the cathedral to Kholodna Hora, with branches on both sides. This passage has not been explored, but it has been used in the past and continues to be used today… It wouldn’t hurt for more than just members of archaeological and other commissions to take an interest in the local catacombs… Who knows, maybe some hidden “treasures” will turn up!
In addition to articles in the aforementioned *Kharkiv Provincial Gazette* and *Yuzhny Krai*, the newspaper *Utro* also published stories about the underground passages. For example, in the July 1911 issue, we read:
Burial vaults.
At the construction site for the diocesan building, which will house the diocesan library and archaeological museum, workers uncovered two burial vaults containing human skulls and rotted planks. The crypts themselves are exceptionally well-preserved and consist of pits lined with brick. Their construction is believed to date to the late 18th century.
An Underground Discovery.
While working on the construction of a sewer system in Kharkiv, workers stumbled upon a massive cemetery, which is believed to date back to the beginning of the last century. Many well-preserved coffins containing the remains of the deceased were found, along with numerous coins and various sacred objects, such as icons, crosses, and other items. As excavation work continued deeper, stones bearing imprints of leaves and various small animals were discovered. These stones date back to ancient geological times and are of undoubted interest. They will be transferred to the city museum.
Or ask the members of the “Children of the Underground” organization, who have been trying to unravel the underground mysteries of our hometown for many years now…
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