The prime minister enjoyed some scuba diving and visited the Phanagoria excavation site.
Vladimir Putin arrived in the Taman Peninsula on Wednesday, where he was to visit the excavation site of the ancient city of Phanagoria, found 40 years ago and widely believed to be Russia's greatest archaeological discovery.
The Russian Geographic Society (RGS) granted the archaeologists some funding for expensive underwater research this year. Vladimir Putin, the chairman of the Russian Geographic Society's Council of Trustees, arrived on the site to inspect the progress made.
Putin visited the ancient burial ground first: a tomb that was made of earth, unlike the Egyptian stone pyramids.
"Most of the work is performed manually," said Vladimir Kuznetsov, the head of the expedition who's been working at Phanagoria for 38 years.
"Not bad!" Putin exclaimed. "What is this?" He picked up a ceramic fragment from the ground.
"A fragment of some amphora," the Russia's chief archaeologist waved it off indifferently.
"You mean you don't even collect these any more?" Putin sounded even more surprised. "Can I take it then?"
Scientists promised to find something of more interest for the prime minister, but Putin decided to take this artifact with him.
Russian archaeologists were not the first ones to explore this burial mound. Highly professional plunderers had visited this place before them. Corridors that they dug were made with mathematical precision. However, it remains a mystery who and when robbed the tomb.
"It was the ancient Genoese, according to our preliminary version," said Vladimir Kuznetsov. "They used to sail in this area and were very skilled in these matters."
Archaeologists led Putin to the entrance of a burial vault, which has not been opened yet.
"Is there any chance of the reposition still being intact?" Putin asked.
"There is always hope. People who built this burial mound were afraid of robbers. So, they did everything possible to mislead the intruders," answered the scientist.
The work is going on full steam in Phanagoria. The city was huge, and the excavation site is spread across a giant territory. Luckily, nothing was built here earlier: most of the ancient cities are buried under European cities.
Putin descended into an excavation pit and approached an archaeologist who was working on an amphora half buried in the ground.
"Want to have a go? Here you are," the archaeologist handed Putin a brush.
"Is there any wine left inside?" Putin asked with a smile following the archaeologist's instructions.
The tour of the site continued under water. Having donned on a diving suit, Putin headed towards a motor boat accompanied by Vladimir Kuznetsov and Sergei Shoigu.
"Is Deripaska not coming along?" The prime minister smiled, nodding towards the magnate who also came along to the excavation site.
"I don't have it with me..." The billionaire made a helpless gesture probably referring to the diving suit. Putin teased him rubbing his thumb against the index finger - the gesture meant "no money?"
As it turned out, Deripaska is very fond of history. However, journalists started asking him questions about the financial crisis.
"Russia has nothing to worry about for the next twenty years," the businessman answered with confidence.
After 40 minutes of diving, the prime minister emerged from under water holding two amphorae.
"Was there any wine left?" the journalists asked.
"They'd finished it off before we got there," the prime minister laughed. Then he continued seriously: "Amazing, 4th century B.C.! This is the most ancient settlement on Earth!"
"Will the amphorae go to the Russian Geographic Society's Museum?"
"I have asked the archaeologists' permission for that. By the way, I have visited Silvio (Berlusconi) at home. He showed off some ancient statues. Now Russia also has such statues."
This was his second scuba diving experience, the prime minister said. He trained in Sochi earlier. It's unlikely he'll keep up the hobby, however, as he simply does not have enough time.
Scientists suggested that a federal Phanagoria museum should be opened here. Putin liked the idea. The details should be thoroughly worked out, he said. For example, it could be an open-air museum, which is sure to attract more tourists.
Nigina Beroyeva