 |
Valentin DanilenkoUkrainian archaeologist.
Country:
 Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Exploration of Kamiana Mohyla
- Military Service and Return to Archaeology
- Publication and Scientific Controversies
- Legacy and Premature Demise
Valentyn Mykolayovych Danyленко: A Trailblazing Ukrainian Archaeologist
Early Life and Education
Valentyn Mykolayovych Danyленко, an esteemed Ukrainian archaeologist, was born in 1913 in the village of Novo-Mykhailivka, Zaporozhia Oblast. In close proximity to his birthplace lay the enigmatic monument of Kamiana Mohyla, which would become the defining pursuit of his life. Danyленко's initial forays into the study of the site began as a local historian and later as a young employee of the Melitopol Local History Museum.
In 1934, Danyленко's unwavering efforts to bring Kamiana Mohyla to the attention of the Institute of Archaeology of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences bore fruit. It was through his persistent appeals that the site was finally included in the institute's research plan, effectively opening it up to modern scientific investigation. From 1932 to 1935, Danyленко simultaneously pursued his education at the Faculty of History at Melitopol Pedagogical Institute.
Exploration of Kamiana Mohyla
In the years from 1936 to 1938, Danylenko joined the first archaeological expeditions of the Institute of Archaeology of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences to Kamiana Mohyla. During these expeditions, his crucial contributions led to the discovery of over 30 new slabs adorned with petroglyphs. In 1939-1940, Danylenko completed his postgraduate studies at the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Leningrad Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
Military Service and Return to Archaeology
With the outbreak of World War II in 1941, Danylenko enlisted as a volunteer in the Red Army. His multilingual skills and analytical abilities led him to become a military intelligence officer. He rose to the rank of major in the elite SMERSH intelligence unit and was decorated for his wartime service. After the war ended, Danylenko resumed his archaeological career in 1945. From 1946 onwards, he worked under the guidance of prominent Ukrainian archaeologist P. P. Yefimenko.
Publication and Scientific Controversies
In 1965, Danylenko completed his monograph, "Cosmogony of Primitive Society," which he intended to defend as his doctoral dissertation. However, the publication of this groundbreaking work was prohibited by Soviet censorship. Consequently, he was only able to defend his doctoral dissertation in 1969. The publication of "Cosmogony of Primitive Society" was delayed until 1997, 15 years after his death.
During the Soviet era, Danylenko published several foundational works, including "Neolithic of Ukraine" (1969), "Eneolithic of Ukraine" (1974), and "Kamiana Mohyla" (1986). While his extensive research on Kamiana Mohyla yielded significant discoveries, including two additional grottoes containing unique petroglyphs in 1973, his assertion that these petroglyphs originated during the Paleolithic era (15-20 thousand years BC) remains a subject of debate. Most researchers favor a later dating of the site.
Legacy and Premature Demise
Valentyn Mykolayovych Danylenko passed away in 1982 from a sudden stroke in Kyiv. His contributions to Ukrainian archaeology, particularly his tireless work on Kamiana Mohyla, have left an enduring mark on the field. Despite the suppression of his most innovative ideas during his lifetime, his scholarship continues to inspire and inform future generations of researchers.
