Archaeological excavations are ongoing in Vinnytsia on the territory of the Dominican monastery

Archaeological excavations are currently underway at the site of the Dominican Monastery complex (now the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine) in Vinnytsia. The work is being conducted by the Archaeological Expedition of the Vinnytsia Regional Local Lore Museum.

The main goal of this year's research is to uncover and clear the excavation site that was initially explored between 2013 and 2017. During that period, various historical structures and objects dating from the early 16th to the 19th century were discovered. Experts conducted research that enabled them to identify substantial foundations at the site of the Dominican Monastery complex, the precise purpose and dating of which still need to be determined.

In 2018, the research site was preserved with the possibility of future museumification. This year, the city authorities made the decision to resume the work. Experts will examine the area and provide their conclusions regarding its future.

"We know that the Dominicans described their life in Vinnytsia from the moment the monastery was founded in the early 17th century. Thanks to documents, we also know where the first monastery was established, and that it was wooden. However, we do not have a detailed description of it. We don't know whether it was entirely wooden or had a stone foundation. But we have more information about the Dominicans themselves from their documents. For instance, at the height of their times, up to ten people lived on the monastery grounds. Therefore, their first complex was not very large. From what we see in the uncovered foundation, we can conclude that it was dismantled for later structures because only a small part of it remains (the intersection of the foundation). Perhaps some structure was located above it, which preserved the remnants of the foundation," says Olga Manihda, a researcher at the Vinnytsia Regional Local Lore Museum and a candidate of historical sciences.

This year, archaeologists have found two Cossack clay pipes dating back to the 17th century, several coins from the Russian Empire era, two sets of 18th-century tiles, and fragments of ceramics from the 17th to 19th centuries, among other artifacts.

The excavations at the "Dominican Monastery" site began in the second half of June and are expected to continue until the end of July.