Military Archaeology: Poisk.Pro Discovers Hidden Tunnels at the Arpad Line

As one of the most effective fortification systems during World War II, the Arpad Line and its bunker complex endured offensives despite the numerical superiority of the Russian army. After the Soviet troops outflanked the line and occupied Romania, the Hungarian forces finally retreated.

More than half a century later, the expert team from Ukraine, Poisk.Pro, has explored the area and the bunker complex to reveal what is still hidden underground and to rediscover what has been left behind in the facilities.

The Rediscovery of the Underground Tunnel System

Equipped with OKM Rover CII New Edition, the Poisk.Pro research team inspected a bunker complex at the Arpad Line in the Zakarpattya region. At the south side of the facility, the ground scanner detected an underground passageway in about 20 meters depth.

Not only inside the tunnel system, that is partilly open to tourists, but also on the hills, the georadars and ground scanners detected further hidden tunnels and entrances to the underground bunker complex. Its shafts are blocked by heavy metal hatches. Its main entrance is located on the west side.

The first of its two levels is located at a depth of approximately 20 to 30 meters. When following the tunnel, you reach the guardhouse after about 25 meters, after another 20 meters you find the infirmary with another hatch. From the medical station, a 150 meter corridor and 84 steps lead to the second level. Two exits to the surface connect the catacombs with the permanent fire positions. The lower level provides access to a tunnel in the direction of the village of Podpolozie.

Read more at poisk-pro.com

The Explorers of the Bunker Complex

Poisk.Pro is a professional team of archaeological researchers and geophysicists who search for hidden objects and structures in depths up to 40 meters – in Ukraine and abroad. Moreover, Poisk.Pro organizes and conducts archaeological excavations, monitors underground communications and diagnostics and supports geotechnical engineers.

We find what you are looking for!

• Assistance in organizing and conducting archaeological excavations and prospecting, professional GPR research.
• Detection of iron and precious metal alloys in various types of soil and under water.
• Identification of voids of natural and artificial origin and examination of the walls and foundations of buildings.
• Diagnostics of soil stability state at the territories under construction and monitoring of engineering structures.
• Training and professional advice on working with geophysical equipment, georadars and scanners.

Preparation of the Exploration

The first step is to prepare the area for geophysical surveys in order to obtain accurate and meaningful measurement results. First, obstacles such as bushes, branches and tree trunks that could prevent a consistent measurement are removed from the scan field. Afterwards, the magnetometer is used to clear the scan field of uninteresting metal objects.

Since high-voltage power lines with their electromagnetic fields may falsify the measurements, the use of metal detectors and ground scanners in the immediate vicinity is not recommended. Scanning is also difficult after interventions in the ground and excavations, since these measures disturb the earth's natural magnetic field and the scanner can no longer locate the desired objects.