Сельская округа Xepcoнeca Taврического (Kpым). Исследованиа 2012 г. в микрорегионе Верxне-Юxapиной Балки

Abstrakt

during the fieldwork of 2012 carried out by the joint Ukrainian-Polish Protection Expedition we proceeded further with archaeological investigations on theancient settlement activity in the yukharine Ravine, situated in the heraclean Peninsula within the agricultural territory (chora) of Crimean Chersonesos, divided into plots by Greek colonists in the Late Classical Period. 1 This summer investigations took place only at two sites – 341 and 343 – containing the remains of countryside farmhouses. The farmhouse at Site 341 is situated on the north-eastern slope of the upper part of the yukharine Ravine, between the Sevastopol municipal cemetery and the area occupied by modern garden houses (datchas). After the site had been cleared by removing grass and any existing rubbish, vertical and oblique aerial photographs were taken from a kite by M. Pisz and S. Rzeźnik. The pictures (fig. 1) show contours of a rectangular stone enclosure, measuring about 48×35 m. In the north-eastern part of the inner space there can be seen distinct traces of a masonry stone tower with a cistern. In 1989 the site was an object of an archaeological survey2 and in 1995 and 1996 a small rescue excavation was carried out. 3 The ceramic material collected during these works can be mostly dated to the 2nd and 3rd c. Ad but somelater sherds (8th–10th c.) were also present. The main goal of our project in 2012 was to go on with further investigations of topography and architecture of the countryside farmhouse at Site 343 (fig. 2). Situated between two upper watersheds of the yukharine and Berman ravines, it forms one complex (Bliznecy) with another farmhouse (Site 344), each provided with a large square tower. The last excavation campaigns revealed within the former a winery (Room 14), a storeroom (Room 4), partially sunk in bedrock, with nineround rockcut pits for large clay containers (pithoi) and an entrance leading to the courtyard. Both rooms show traces of two building and occupation phases.