Scientists from AltSU presented the concept of development of the tourist and archaeological complex The Denisova Cave to the Governor of Altai Krai Viktor Tomenko

On August 14, Governor of Altai Krai Viktor Tomenko visited the Denisova Cave, a unique archaeological monument of world significance, in Soloneshensky District of Altai Krai.

The cave itself and the area around it are of great interest not only for archaeologists, but also for tourists, every year the number of people wishing to visit the places of the Denisovan man is growing. How to strike a balance: to preserve a unique archaeological site and build competent tourist routes, scientists from Altai State University have long been looking for a solution.

Alexander Dunets, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Innovative Development of Altai State University, told Governor of Altai Krai Viktor Tomenko about the concept of developing the territory adjacent to the Denisova Cave.

Within the framework of the Priority 2030 Program, Altai State University created an engineering center “Resort and Recreational Design”, which promotes innovative projects and developments of employees and students of the Institute of Geography and provides interaction with the real sector of the economy of the sanatorium and resort and tourism industries. One of the directions of the center is the design of the Denisova Cave territorial recreational complex.

The Denisova Cave is the oldest inhabited cave in Siberia. By order of the Government of Russia in 2021, the object of cultural heritage of federal significance "The Denisova Cave" is classified as a particularly valuable object of cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation. As an archaeological site, the cave was discovered in 1977. Over 40 years of continuous research, archaeological materials over 300 thousand years old have been discovered in it. The Denisova Cave gained world fame in 2010 after the publication of the results of a genetic analysis of human remains found in it. DNA decoding showed that the anthropological remains belonged to a previously unknown person, who was named a Denisovan at the place of the discovery.

Last year, scientists from Altai State University carried out engineering, geodetic and botanical studies in the Denisova Cave area which formed the basis for the development concept for this territory. This year, students of the Institute of Geography conducted a comprehensive study of the territory and developed plans for new tourist routes.

During the visit to the site, Viktor Tomenko emphasized that the discoveries and finds associated with the Denisova Cave could become a good basis for the dynamic development of not only the territory of the natural and archaeological monument, but the entire Soloneshensky district. According to the head of the region, a territorial recreational complex may appear here.

“We will try to better systematize this issue and, possibly, turn this work into one of our state programs. Or include the object in the existing programs for the development of tourism, local history, which, apparently, goes far beyond just life in the region, but probably concerns the history of mankind, the origin of man and everything connected with it,” Viktor Tomenko emphasized.