In the depths of centuries

The photo is provided by the participants of the expedition
The photo is provided by the participants of the expedition

During the whole month 13 volunteers of the Russian Geographical Society from various cities of Russia have been participating in the excavations of the ancient city of Akra together with the staff of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Hermitage, the Black Sea Center for Underwater Research and the Russian Geographical Society.

The ruins of Akra, which existed from the end of the VI century BC. E. to the IV century AD. E., located on the shore of the Kerch Strait. Part of the site is immersed in the Black Sea. Scientists are conducting ground and underwater studies here to learn more about the device of the ancient city. Studying Acre gives a rare opportunity to learn what way in the ancient world the forts and other military fortifications were built.

 

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The photo is provided by the participants of the expedition
The photo is provided by the participants of the expedition

In the ground excavations, archaeologists studied the age of cultural layers, as well as the features of the layout and of the fortifications of the ancient settlement. Thus, the scientists found out that the city was well protected by the various defensive walls and towers. The researchers discovered a defensive wall two meters wide. It consists of three layers: two of the rough-hewn stone slabs, the third one - from smaller stones and clay. The researchers found out that the wall was built at the beginning of the IV century. BC. yet, and in the II century. BC. - III century AD the villagers began to dismantle it for stones to build their own houses. The scientists concluded that at this time that Akra turned from a city into a coastal village. Participants of the ground expedition found fragments of amphorae, pitchers and other artifacts as well.

In the course of underwater research of the residential quarter of the IV-III centuries. BC. The archaeologists discovered copper coins of Bosporan coinage, a wooden crest, numerous fragments of amphorae, fragments of a dining room and kitchen utensils - of foreign and local production.

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Photo courtesy of the expedition "Akra - the ancient city of Bosporus"
Photo courtesy of the expedition "Akra - the ancient city of Bosporus"

During the expedition the volunteers were joint not only with the scientific interest but with the friendship as well. Victoria Sharayeva tells: «I have just come back home – and I want back to Acre already! It was very fun and interesting in the expedition. We made friends with other volunteers. We are all from different cities, so now we are just corresponding. We would like to go back to this archaeological expedition next year».
Note that on August 15 in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan there is celebrated the Day of the Archaeologist. Researchers of antiquities and geographers are united by many things. It was not without reason that the first chairman of the Society the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich headed the Russian Archaeological Society. 

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The photo is provided by the participants of the expedition
The photo is provided by the participants of the expedition

Usually on this day excavations are arranged for initiation into the seekers of antiquities. In the archaeological and geographical expedition "Akra - the ancient city of Bosporus - 2017" the volunteers of the Russian Geographical Society had been introduced to this specialty a little earlier – before their departure the 10th of August. Over the heads of history lovers there was carried out a bayonet shovel, the guys uttered the oath of the archaeologist.