In Crimea, found the ancient capital of the Scythians

60 km from Simferopol discovered the residence of the kings and the necropolis, where they buried the inhabitants of the city.
This discovery was the main sensation of the season of archaeological excavations in the Crimea. Scientists maintain that they are lucky to be found in the steppes of the Crimean peninsula, 60 km from Simferopol, the capital of the ancient Scythia.



There has been only one known Scythian capital - it was the place of modern Simferopol was called "Neapolis," that is "new town", associated with the activity Skilur king and his heirs. In the tourist guides, this archaeological complex known as the Scythian Naples, opened back in 1827. Researchers speculated that up to "new town" probably somewhere and was "old".
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"We know many of the Scythian settlements, tens of thousands of burial mounds, but the monuments of this size and status has long been not found, - commented on the opening director of the Crimean branch of the Institute of Archeology Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Viktor Myts. - These are the opening times in a hundred years. To find a city with fortifications , this can only dream about! "We found the administrative and cultural center of the Crimean Scythia, at least to the III century AD, which affects the entire region. There were kings".
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The expedition of the Crimean branch of the Institute of Archeology NAS for several years worked in the area of one of the largest cemeteries in Eurasia, exploring the neighborhood complex of mounds of Besh-Oba, has not stumbled in the wilderness near White Rock (Ak-Kaya) in the ruins of ancient buildings. It was found that residents of nearby villages had long been pilfered stones to their farms. It was at the White Rock had previously been found the most outstanding Scythian burial grounds - the king's burial mounds. It turned out that the residence of the Scythian kings - very close. Exploratory excavations brought archaeologists instead of medieval cultural layer immediately on a very interesting antique - were open walls, towers, facilities, sanctuaries, layers of fire. Comparisons excavation plans with aerial photography and space imagery showed that found a big city with a fortress, which had existed for two centuries earlier than the Scythian Neapolis. This discovery promises to provide unique material for studying the history of the nomadic peoples of the Northern Black Sea coast.

"Of particular interest is the fact that it is - a fortress, which had flourished at the III century BC - says the head of the foothills of the expedition, Department Head of the Greek-barbarian archeology Yury Zaitsev. - And this time, for a variety of circumstances, so remains a blind spot in the history of Northern Black Sea coast. Then, after the collapse of the empire of Alexander of Macedon began the war and redistribution of territories, which led to instability in the Black Sea basin, and in Asia and the Mediterranean.
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In the archeology of this period left few traces. And just on our border steppes and mountains Belogorsk we have excellent in terms of archeology of the picture! Over time, we can read that story here - in these storms and fires the fortress, in the cultural layers, which we opened. "

As fragments of masonry professionals can easily determine the architecture of the city. It occupied an area of about 10 hectares, and has undergone sieges and fires. Houses and outbuildings were surrounded by a strong defensive wall thickness of which reached five meters. Identify the dating of Greek pottery has helped, in large numbers found in residential neighborhoods. In their pottery ancient masters put personal stamp, which can determine the period of manufacture of these amphorae and pitchers - in this case, it is the middle of III century BC. Studies of the monument will continue for a further year. But now archaeologists say that the Black Sea region - is the most significant discovery of the XXI century.

RIDDLE SCYTHIAN

Scientists have found and the necropolis, where they buried the inhabitants of the city, not belonging to the aristocracy. The researchers faced with a mysterious case of ossuary - when the graves were made on the side, and the bones of 80 soldiers were brought and laid in the tomb. "This is unusual, and it's hard to say, What is the reason, - says researcher of the Crimean branch of the Archaeological Institute of NASU Valentine Mordvintseva.
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- People who were buried there are many wounds in the skull - blunt instruments and cross-cutting impacts boom, many of them died during the hostilities. Among the things found in this tomb, there is a mirror that was made in Greece in the III century BC In the mirror is attacked by a ritual murder, destroying the mirror and put to the dead. Interesting censer - a vessel for the aromatic incense that burned within. Many ceramic utensils - pots, bowls, jugs, with a typical coating, which is called - polishing. The same molded vessels, which glistened in the sun, and found on the site, which allows us to say that they are people of one culture and we can associate archeology archeology life and death. Necropoleis always give more than ample material - a dead give to each other in the afterlife are many things that we do not find on the site. For us it is very interesting and important addition. "

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