Account of the Lykov Family's Escape from Modern Society, Living in Seclusion and Wilderness for Four Decades
Living in Isolation: The Story of the Lykov Family
For over four decades, the Lykov family lived in the heart of the Siberian taiga, a vast and unforgiving wilderness. This isolated existence began in 1936, and the family grew to include two more children, Dmitry in 1940 and Agafia in 1944 [1].
Living in such harsh conditions, the Lykovs had to be self-sufficient. They crafted their own clothing, shoes, and kettles from materials like hemp cloth, birchbark, and potato peel [1]. Their diet consisted mainly of what they could hunt, gather, or farm.
Karp Lykov, the family's patriarch, was a member of the Old Believers, a fundamentalist Russian Orthodox sect. His brother was tragically murdered by the atheist Bolsheviks in 1936, an event that likely contributed to the family's decision to flee into the wilderness [1].
The Lykovs' isolation meant they were unaware of significant events in the world, such as World War II and the moon landing, which had occurred by the time they were discovered in 1978 [1]. Cars had become commonplace, and mankind had set foot on the moon, but the Lykovs remained oblivious to these advancements.
The family's initial encounter with the outside world was fraught with mistrust. They were hesitant to accept food from the Soviet geologists who discovered them, having lived for so long without such aid [1]. However, they gradually began to adapt, albeit slowly and with great difficulty.
The family's lifestyle underwent a significant shift. They were introduced to television, learned about World War II, and even encountered germs for the first time when the geologists offered help for Dmitry's pneumonia [1]. Yet, despite these changes, they continued to live in near isolation, preserving much of their traditional way of life.
Tragedy struck the family in 1981, when Savin, Natalia, and Dmitry died suddenly within a few days of each other. Akulina died of starvation in 1961, during a snowstorm that killed their crop [1].
Agafia Lykov, the youngest member, was airlifted to a hospital for treatment in January 2016. After recovering from her leg issue, she returned to the Siberian wilderness in 2016, choosing to continue her life in the isolation she had known for so long [1].
Yerofei Sedov, one of the geologists who had initially discovered the family, was living down the slope from Agafia by 1988 [1]. Despite their initial mistrust, the Lykovs and Sedov developed a friendship, symbolising the slow process of adaptation and understanding between the isolated family and the outside world.
References: [1] Belfield, P. (2016, January 29). The last recluse: Agafia Lykov's return to the wild. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/the-last-recluse-agafia-lykovs-return-to-the-wild [2] Solomonov, A. (2015, July 1). The last of the Lykov family: Agafia Lykova. The Siberian Times. https://siberiantimes.com/culture/history/features/the-last-of-the-lykov-family-agafia-lykova/
Upon their introduction to the modern world, the Lykov family discovered a new appreciation for home-and-garden conveniences, as they were amazed by the amenities that can now be found in a typical household, such as television.
The Lykovs' lifestyle evolved significantly with outdoor-living becoming a lesser priority, as they learned about global events and even encountered health concerns like germs that necessitated a modified approach to living in the Siberian wilderness.
