Archaeologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Archaeology have discovered a tower and walls in Crimea belonging to a fortress that was built more than 2,000 years ago, during the period of the Bosporan Kingdom.
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| Ancient fortress found in Crimea [Credit: Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences] |
The findings, which came to light during excavation work on the Kerch peninsula, are located near the village of Gornostayevka (about 1,000 miles south of Moscow), on the Kimmersky rampart.
The archaeologists believe that the rampart was built in the first 30 years of the 3rd century B.C. and then in the 1st century B.C., during the reign of King Asander, it was fortified with watchtowers. At the time the rampart protected the Greek colonial Kingdom of Bosporus and its capital at Panticapaeum (modern-day Kerch) from the Scythians, the rulers of most of Crimea.
In 2016, excavations near Gornostayevka began as part of preparations for a planned gas pipeline from the Krasnodarsky Territory (in mainland Russia) to Crimea. The archaeologists studied the area of the rampart and the mound next to it.
In the first month of research a well-preserved antique stone tower was found in the top of the mound. East of it the scientists found a farmstead with holes containing numerous artifacts from the time.
The archaeologists also found some graves, including an woman’s tomb with a pitcher and plate, a bronze mirror, beads and earrings.
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines [August 16, 2016]
