Stones with a mysterious cipher: a discovery that has been deciphered for over 20 years
In the Zolochiv Castle, behind the defensive structures, among the historical monuments, there are stones with mysterious inscriptions. Many legends surround them. Some say the stones contain a carved love message, others believe they can grant wishes. The story of the enigmatic stones is told by Ihor Zhuk — a historian and local researcher who stood at the origins of these studies.
It all began at the turn of the millennium. In 1999, two large stones with mysterious inscriptions and one smaller stone without inscriptions were transported from a forest near the village of Novosilky in the Zolochiv district of the Lviv region. Their size and weight were impressive: one weighed 4.5 tons, the other 9 tons. During excavation, a large number of bird bones and a 14th-century axe were discovered. Bohdan Havryshko Voznytskyi, Director General of the Lviv National Art Gallery, decided to bring the find to the territory of Zolochiv Castle to protect it from vandals. During discussions about what to do with the stones, B.H. Voznytskyi suggested attempting to read the inscriptions. Thus began one of the longest research projects, which has lasted almost thirty years.
Ihor Zhuk recalls that the cipher was not initially taken seriously—many assumed the message was no more than a joke. But when the first cryptographers and other specialists could not decipher the text, it became clear that the letters on the stones were not random signs. It was decided to conduct archaeological and search work in the areas surrounding the place where the stones had been found, including the territory of the former Potocki Castle, which later became a convent of the Sisters of Mercy. Ihor Zhuk is grateful to Cardinal Marian Jaworski, who did not oppose the research and fully supported the process.
Specialists from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv were involved, as well as an expedition by the Regional Scientific Research Center “Rescue Environmental Service” and the Carpathian branch of the S.I. Subbotin Institute of Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It soon became clear that the research area needed to be expanded to dozens of square kilometers, including all surrounding settlements. At the same time, Ihor Zhuk reached out to experts at Ivan Franko University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Jagiellonian University, the Sorbonne, and the International Association for Cryptologic Research. The investigation even led to the Vatican, where Ihor Zhuk met with the head of the Vatican security service. He lived and worked in European convents, where many archival materials are preserved. And the search yielded results.
The research intensified. Experts began studying the material from which the stones were made. The geology faculty of Ivan Franko University determined that the rock belongs to the Badenian stage and formed approximately 12–19.5 million years ago. Specialists examined the structure of the stones under a polarization microscope, for which four petrographic thin sections were prepared. On one of the stones, two wreath-rings were carved: one dry, the other blooming. Specialists from the Department of Botany at Ivan Franko University examined this imagery — the foundation requested an official conclusion from them.
During the research, Ihor Zhuk spoke with local residents, collecting recollections from elderly people, most of whom were over ninety years old. Supporters of unconventional methods also joined the investigation. Ihor Zhuk notes that their contribution unexpectedly produced results. At a certain stage, a meeting with the head of a monastic order provided an important clue. Specific manipulations had to be performed with the stones: rotating them during a full moon at midnight so that the light fell at a particular angle. Equipment was built, the experiment was conducted, and Ihor Zhuk says it proved worthwhile.
There was also a tragic story: a priest called from abroad and said he would soon bring information and materials related to the research. On the way, he died in a car accident. This was not the only death connected to the story: the people who initially lifted the stones from the discovery site also died tragically under various circumstances. Almost all residents who participated in dismantling the convent and building houses for themselves soon passed away as well—most of them tragically. Ihor Zhuk says the story contains more than enough mystical events. He also emphasizes that he does not recommend inserting a finger into the hole found on one of the stones — he says the reasons not to do so are quite convincing. He recalls that during that period, the film “The Da Vinci Code,” based on Dan Brown’s book, was released. It felt as though the plot was based on nearly the same story — except in the case of the stones of Zolochiv, it was real.
Later, the research expanded across the entire forested territory of the Zolochiv district. As a result of aerial photography near the site where the stones were found, similar images were discovered on the ground.
The more discoveries were made, the more questions arose. Now the focus is not only on the stones themselves, but also on the large surrounding area, the structures, or what remains of them. For certain reasons, the research results are not being disclosed yet — they will be made public in due time. Today, the stones are kept under a special dome that protects them from destruction. The installation of the cover was supported by the Avalon company. The study of the stones has led to many other discoveries. Ihor Zhuk is grateful to everyone who joined the process and continues to help — including the Bychkovskyi family, the Drevko family, A. Zheburniuk, and the couple Serhii and Anna, as well as many others.
Stones with a mysterious cipher: a discovery that has been deciphered for over 20 years
Stones with a mysterious cipher: a discovery that has been deciphered for over 20 years
In the Zolochiv Castle, behind the defensive structures, among the historical monuments, there are stones with mysterious inscriptions. Many legends surround them. Some say the stones contain a carved love message, others believe they can grant wishes. The story of the enigmatic stones is told by Ihor Zhuk — a historian and local researcher who stood at the origins of these studies.
It all began at the turn of the millennium. In 1999, two large stones with mysterious inscriptions and one smaller stone without inscriptions were transported from a forest near the village of Novosilky in the Zolochiv district of the Lviv region. Their size and weight were impressive: one weighed 4.5 tons, the other 9 tons. During excavation, a large number of bird bones and a 14th-century axe were discovered. Bohdan Havryshko Voznytskyi, Director General of the Lviv National Art Gallery, decided to bring the find to the territory of Zolochiv Castle to protect it from vandals. During discussions about what to do with the stones, B.H. Voznytskyi suggested attempting to read the inscriptions. Thus began one of the longest research projects, which has lasted almost thirty years.
Ihor Zhuk recalls that the cipher was not initially taken seriously—many assumed the message was no more than a joke. But when the first cryptographers and other specialists could not decipher the text, it became clear that the letters on the stones were not random signs. It was decided to conduct archaeological and search work in the areas surrounding the place where the stones had been found, including the territory of the former Potocki Castle, which later became a convent of the Sisters of Mercy. Ihor Zhuk is grateful to Cardinal Marian Jaworski, who did not oppose the research and fully supported the process.
Specialists from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv were involved, as well as an expedition by the Regional Scientific Research Center “Rescue Environmental Service” and the Carpathian branch of the S.I. Subbotin Institute of Geophysics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It soon became clear that the research area needed to be expanded to dozens of square kilometers, including all surrounding settlements. At the same time, Ihor Zhuk reached out to experts at Ivan Franko University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Jagiellonian University, the Sorbonne, and the International Association for Cryptologic Research. The investigation even led to the Vatican, where Ihor Zhuk met with the head of the Vatican security service. He lived and worked in European convents, where many archival materials are preserved. And the search yielded results.
The research intensified. Experts began studying the material from which the stones were made. The geology faculty of Ivan Franko University determined that the rock belongs to the Badenian stage and formed approximately 12–19.5 million years ago. Specialists examined the structure of the stones under a polarization microscope, for which four petrographic thin sections were prepared. On one of the stones, two wreath-rings were carved: one dry, the other blooming. Specialists from the Department of Botany at Ivan Franko University examined this imagery — the foundation requested an official conclusion from them.
During the research, Ihor Zhuk spoke with local residents, collecting recollections from elderly people, most of whom were over ninety years old. Supporters of unconventional methods also joined the investigation. Ihor Zhuk notes that their contribution unexpectedly produced results. At a certain stage, a meeting with the head of a monastic order provided an important clue. Specific manipulations had to be performed with the stones: rotating them during a full moon at midnight so that the light fell at a particular angle. Equipment was built, the experiment was conducted, and Ihor Zhuk says it proved worthwhile.
There was also a tragic story: a priest called from abroad and said he would soon bring information and materials related to the research. On the way, he died in a car accident. This was not the only death connected to the story: the people who initially lifted the stones from the discovery site also died tragically under various circumstances. Almost all residents who participated in dismantling the convent and building houses for themselves soon passed away as well—most of them tragically. Ihor Zhuk says the story contains more than enough mystical events. He also emphasizes that he does not recommend inserting a finger into the hole found on one of the stones — he says the reasons not to do so are quite convincing. He recalls that during that period, the film “The Da Vinci Code,” based on Dan Brown’s book, was released. It felt as though the plot was based on nearly the same story — except in the case of the stones of Zolochiv, it was real.
Later, the research expanded across the entire forested territory of the Zolochiv district. As a result of aerial photography near the site where the stones were found, similar images were discovered on the ground.
The more discoveries were made, the more questions arose. Now the focus is not only on the stones themselves, but also on the large surrounding area, the structures, or what remains of them. For certain reasons, the research results are not being disclosed yet — they will be made public in due time. Today, the stones are kept under a special dome that protects them from destruction. The installation of the cover was supported by the Avalon company. The study of the stones has led to many other discoveries. Ihor Zhuk is grateful to everyone who joined the process and continues to help — including the Bychkovskyi family, the Drevko family, A. Zheburniuk, and the couple Serhii and Anna, as well as many others.