Mykhailo Rozhko, Tustan researcher

Architect-archaeologist Mykhailo Rozhko, thanks to whom we know about the Tustan fortress, found his life’s work by accident. Examining the Tustan rocks in 1969, he noticed man-made traces on them. Since then, he spent all his vacations and weekends on expeditions, exploring the rocks near Urych.

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  Вигляд фортеці з першою та другою лініями оборони. Рис.Яблонського

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  Перша лінія оборони: дамба, став, вал та дорога

Rozhko studied architecture, archaeology, ethnology, history, because he had to invent a method of researching rock monuments himself. The measurements of the rocks lasted for 7 years, and thanks to the persistence of the researcher, we now know more than 4,000 grooves, notches, holes, in which wooden structures were attached to the stone.

The study of Tustan began in 1978. It later grew into the Carpathian architectural and archaeological expedition and covered the rock buildings of the Bubnyshche, Rozhirche, Pidkamin complexes and other objects of the medieval Carpathian defence line. The expedition was an important scientific centre of Western Ukraine, but also a centre for the development of the Ukrainian idea in Soviet times. There was a special atmosphere of free dialogue and close attention to the extraordinary there.