logo
  • Hora Hersonesu Tavriys`koho (Mayakovyy pivostriv)
  • AR Krym, misto Sevastopol`
  • Hersonesos
  • Ukraine
  • Sevastopol City

Credits

  • failed to get markup 'credits_'
  • AIAC_logo logo

Monuments

Periods

  • No period data has been added yet

Chronology

  • 420 BC - 350 BC

Season

    • In 2008 archaeologists investigated occupational layers and a plan of four courtines of the eastern defensive wall, as well as first courtine of the western defensive wall (located in the south-west boarder of the Mayakovy peninsula isthmus). The site is a part of a citadel of the agricultural area of the Tauric Chersonesos (IV-II centuries BC.). The first courtine of the eastern defensive wall was partially uncovered. It is situated 11.57 m from the coastal cliff; its maximum height is 1.80 m, width – 2.80 m. Nine rows of masonry preserved. Clay blend was used to cement the stones. The masonry in the western part is three-layer, two-face, made of adzed stones (size 10-25 cm), in the eastern part – a polygonal masonry, comprising of quarrystones. Under the masonries there is an earthen sole, 5-40 cm thick, laying over a rocky ground. A characteristic feature of this courtine is a foundation wall strengthened with additional one. The excavated part of the courtine was built on a steep slope, which was the reason for its primary wall to lean eastward as a result of natural and other factors. To fix up the wall, the archaeologists decided to build another wall from within (width: 1.10 m). Typological indicators and similar objects let us date these masonries to the late Vth – early IVth century BC. The second courtine of the eastern defensive wall can be observed from southwest to northeast. Its maximum height is 1.10 m, width – 1.65 m.; 3-4 layers of the masonry stayed preserved. Clay blend was used to cement the stones. The masonry in its western part is three-layer, two-face, composed of badly adzed stones (size 20-25 cm), in its eastern part - polygonal, composed of quarrystones of various sizes. Under the walls there is an earthen packing, 5-20 cm thick, laying over a rocky ground. The third courtine of the eastern defensive wall can be seen running southwest to northeast. Its highest point reaches 1.30 m, width is up to 1.70 m.; 5 rows of masonry survived. Clay blend was used to cement the stones. The masonry in the western part is three-layer, two-face, composed of adzed stones, in the eastern part - polygonal, composed of quarrystones of various sizes. Under the masonries there is an earthen packing, 5-20 cm thick, lover a rocky ground. Down here a tower ledge III was discovered. It annexed the third and the fourth courtines (4.75 x 6.80 m). 3 layers of masonry preserved. The masonry is polygonal, composed of adzed quarrystones of various sizes. The interior of the tower ledge was backfilled. Some segment of the forth courtine of the eastern defensive wall was uncovered in the direction from southwest to northeast. Its highest point is up to 1.40 m, width – 1.65-1.70 m.; 5 layers of masonry preserved. Clay blend was used to cement the stones. The masonry in the western part is three-layer and two-side, composed of adzed stones; in the eastern part the masonry is polygonal, made of quarrystones. Under the wallss there is again an earthen packing, 5-20 cm thick, over a rocky ground. The courtine is annexed by a tower IV, whose southern and northern walls fragments have been found. The southern wall stays observable up to the height of 4.25 m, the northern wall – up to 3.50 m. The walls width is 1.0 m.; From 2 to 4 layers of masonry survived. The masonry is regular. The western (internal) defensive wall was investigated at the segment of the first courtine (during excavations led by K.K.Kostsushko-Valyuzhinich in 1890) and on the territory of excavations of the tower ledge I and the temple located nearby. The first courtine of the western defensive wall is located 5.5 m from a coastal cliff, in direction from southwest to northeast. Its maximum height is 0.60 m, width – 1.65 m.; 2-3 layers of masonry survived. Clay blend was used to cement the stones. The masonry in the eastern part is regular (three-layer, two-face), composed of adzed stones, in the western part it is polygonal, made of quarrystones of various sizes. Under the masonry there is an earthen packing, 60 cm thick, over a rocky ground. Typological indicators and similar objects let us date these walls to the early IVth century BC.

Bibliography

    • Николаенко Г.В. Исследования Гераклейской экспедиции в 2008 р. // Археологічні дослідження в Україні 2008 — 2007 рр. — К., 2009. — С. 219 — 220.