Chapter 118：Mountain gorge

On two sides of the mountain ravine were rocks, with little vegetation, steep slopes. Outcrops of rocky limestone and shale. In the sun for hundreds of thousands of years, they have acquired brown. reddish, purple hues.

The very path to the valley, where Dara, wanted to search, went along the bottom of the gorge, which passed along the floodplain of a mountain stream. The floodplain was wide in some places where the base itself was located about 5 meters, and then the first and second terraces went on both sides. After 100 meters, the floodplain of the brook expanded and was already about 300 meters, wild nut trees grew in it, and below the stream, there are two types of peppermint and lemon mint. And also burdocks.

The time of extreme hunger has already ended, it is time to wean from such a meal, as any viral infections can be transmitted through the meat of these birds and animals. But there is a tradition that is difficult to abandon. Although it would be worth it. Ecology in the world is not the same as it was 100 years ago. Everywhere pollution, viruses mutate, become stronger.

And then came a small grove of old trees, oaks, maples. They were about three hundred to five hundred years old, and individual trees were all 1000-2000 years old. Large in girth needed to involve 10 people! Just the path passed through these trees.

And then the path went to the second terrace, it was without vegetation, goats and rams trampled grass decades ago. It has been 70 years, but the grass has not been able to recover. Since the soil was washed away during rains and sat down. For restoration, another 40-70 years were required so that no one disturbed the natural peace of the territory.

And then the road led to a hidden valley, two man-made hills blocked the path into it. Apparently centuries ago, the hills were higher, but over time they swam away and became smaller. Dara pulled out his battered Chinese android, turned on the measurement function. Pointing the camera at point "A" on the top of the hill, he drew a line to point "B", where, the hill began at the foot of the floodplain. Android showed a height of 14.7 meters. And the site, where fortresses or forts were located in antiquity, was equal to 90 square meters. meters off.

It was possible to climb to the top earlier only by a rope ladder. But during the second empire, these slides were used to dry vegetables and fruits, so they did the steps, they were cut in the hill. And also installed iron railings.

The passage was made through the hills, it was also made during the time of the second empire, since then there was an idea to catch up and overtake the USA in wheat production. Therefore, wheat was grown wherever there was land, in the desert, steppe, plains, mountains, in the city. The main thing was the volumes of grain delivered in tons. No one thought about quality, about where and how to store, how to export, how to deliver to the consumer. Such an irresponsible approach to a planned economy. Smart heads did not think how much water would go, that not all soils are suitable for chipping wheat. Of course, it did not work to catch up and overtake the United States. The experience of growing wheat failed, and the field was abandoned in the early 60s of the 20th century.

This is where Dara strove to go. See what you can find. Earlier there in this valley, children, old people, and women of a mountain gorge were hiding. Pre is the last point of hope. Further up came sheer elephants, on which small holes were visible, these were caves, there remained the remaining warriors who were wounded, but could still shoot from bows or throw stones. This was the last bastion of the highlanders. According to local historians, they could never be taken by enemies. Only in the time of the second empire, having applied gases, was it possible to smoke the last highlanders.

The caves were karst, not very deep but already inhabited. Archaeological research has shown that the cultural layers in the caves were the earliest, the Late Paleolithic and the late 30–40s of the 20th century.

Through the ridge, from the caves, ancient melting shops were located, and 1 km south in the depths of the gorge, at the altitudes of 1,100 meters, there were two mines. In one, gold ore was mined, and the second, which was 2 km south of the first mine, was mined.

It was in those places that Dara was walking, during a campaign to the place of the valley, he turned on the metal detector. This is the basics since during a walk, interesting finds can be found on the paths!

Everywhere and always look under your feet and follow the signals of the finder metal. Sometimes finds are in unexpected places ...