A fragment of terracotta sculptures found in the area of construction of Crimean bridge
At the Institute of archaeology Academy of Sciences said the find is unique, and to detect its analogues in the Northern black sea have not yet succeeded.
KRASNODAR, March 22. /TASS/. Part of the unique terracotta sculptures found in the area of construction of Crimean bridge in the course of underwater excavations at Cape AK-Burun, head of the underwater unit of the Institute of archaeology RAS Sergey Olkhovsky.
“According to our data, this finding is unique for the Northern black sea region, to find its analogues have not yet succeeded. To clarify its functional purpose, origin and date we will attract the leading experts on ancient Greek art and conduct laboratory tests of the clay. At the moment, we believe that a terracotta head made in Asia Minor in the fifth century BC”, — quotes the information center “Crimean bridge”.
Mass production of terracotta products began in the VI century BC. Usually produced statues no higher than 40 inches and wall thickness of the product more than an inch. But the excavated fragment is part of a more massive product.
In the area where the discovery was made and there are two diving stations. Excavations are carried out manually to reduce the risk of damage to objects. Archaeologists plan to complete the excavation at the Cape AK-Burun to fly, but found the exhibits to transfer the funds of the East Crimean historical and cultural Museum-reserve.
The press service said that the Kerch Bay near Cape AK-Burun more than two thousand years has been the main transit point on the trade route from the Mediterranean to the sea of Azov. Part of the ceramic containers for the carriage crashed, and the damaged items were thrown into the sea. So the piers were formed from deposits of pottery from different time. Significant amounts of sediments containing pottery, has been moved to shallow water near Cape AK-Burun — formed ceramic cluster, which began to explore during construction of Crimean bridge.