Mezhyrich, Cherkasy Oblast


Mezhyrich is a village in central Ukraine. It is located in Cherkasy Raion of Cherkasy Oblast, near the point where the Rosava River flows into the Ros'. Mezhyrich belongs to Kaniv urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine.
Until 18 July 2020 Mezhyrich belonged to Kaniv Raion. The raion was abolished as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Cherkasy Oblast to four. The area of Kaniv Raion was merged into Cherkasy Raion. Mezhyrich hosted the administration of Mezhyrich rural hromada, which was abolished and merged into Kaniv urban hromada.

Prehistoric finds

In 1965, a farmer dug up the lower jawbone of a mammoth while in the process of expanding his cellar. Further excavations revealed the presence of 4 huts, made up of a total of 149 mammoth bones. These dwellings, dating back some 15,000 years, were determined to have been shelters known to have been constructed by pre-historic man, usually attributed to Cro-Magnon. Also found on the site:
  • a map inscribed onto a bone, presumably showing the area around the settlement
  • remains of a "drum", made of a mammoth skull painted with a pattern of red ochre dots and lines
  • amber ornaments and fossil shells