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Now Putin's an Archaeologist, Too?

Judo expert/whale hunter Putin discovers ancient artifacts in Black Sea

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 11, 2011 9:57 AM CDT

(Newser) – Move over, Chuck Norris. Hang up that whip, Indiana Jones. There's a new hero in town, and his name is Vladimir Putin. Yes, the Russian prime minister is not only a judo expert, artist, whale hunter, and muscle-bound fisherman, he is also a great and successful archaeologist, who, while the cameras were rolling, discovered two Greeks urns while scuba diving in the Black Sea yesterday, reports the New York Times.

Yes, it's just another day in the life for Putin. According to Russian broadcaster RIA Novosti, the prime minister was diving there to draw attention to the ancient city of Phanagoria, sometimes called the Russian Atlantis. “Can I take it?” Mr. Putin reportedly asked, after pulling out the somewhat damaged, reportedly ancient artifacts (which the Times humorously notes were peeking out from the bottom at "photographically appealing angles"). “It might be useful in my household.”

In this Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011 photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, carries two pieces of archaeological trophies he discovered during diving.
In this Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011 photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, carries two pieces of archaeological trophies he discovered during diving.   (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
In this Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011 photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, foreground, carries two pieces of archaeological trophies he discovered during diving near an archeological excavation of an ancient Greek port on the Taman Peninsula, about 1150 kilometers (720 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, . Ancient Greek colonies were located...
In this Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011 photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, foreground, carries two pieces of archaeological trophies he discovered during diving near an archeological excavation of...   (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
In this Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011 photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, walks on a rubber boat as he prepares to dive during a visit to an archeological excavation of an ancient Greek port on the Taman Peninsula, about 1150 kilometers (720 miles) south of Moscow, Russia, . Ancient Greek...
In this Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011 photo Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, center, walks on a rubber boat as he prepares to dive during a visit to an archeological excavation of an ancient Greek port...   (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin scuba dives at the site of a Greek ruin on the southern Black Sea coast. Rough cut only (no reporter narration)   (Reuters)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
lvan
Aug 11, 2011 9:58 PM CDT
Look! I find! Greek thing!
JoeQ
Aug 11, 2011 4:59 PM CDT
Geez, they already named a sea after Rebecca Black?
JOHNSPEAKS
Aug 11, 2011 4:13 PM CDT
Too bad we don't have a real man like -Putin- or -Stalin- or -Hitler- they would get rid of all the pansy unamerican liberals and sexual perverts etc. etc. etc. -God- willing???
 

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