On Research of Peribolos at Curtain Wall N 16 in Chersonesos in 1970-1971
The article is prepared for publication by A.V. Buyskikh on the basis of the detailed report of Inna Anatoljevna Antonova (1928-2000) on the results of research undertaken by her in peribolos opposite curtain wall N 16 of the south-eastern defence line of Chersonesos. The report was written as a completed scientific article; the text is given in author’s editing and provided with commentaries. Having examined the material the author came to the following conclusions: the frontline defence wall - proteichisma - in Chersonesos was built at the end of the 1 st - the beginning of the 2 nd centuries. Its construction considerably increased the effectiveness of defence buildings of the city. Originally the road to Chersonesos went along the western slope of the present day Quarantine gully, and the gates leading to the Port district were hidden behind tower XIV. Only later, perhaps in the medieval epoch, the road to Chersonesos was laid from the eastern slope of the gully. Vaults N 1013 and Nо 1014 were not underground, they were constructions on the surface; entrance into them mark the level of day surface dating to the 1 st - 2 nd centuries AD. The erection of the front wall caused the necessity to increase the level of the main defence line and towers. Roman tier of layer is not the foot of the wall at that time but the top of it. Wide use of peribolos for burials and different household constructions testify to the fact that the defence capacities of this fortification innovation were not known. It is substantiated by preservation of pomerium - a military street in the city which was built-up only in the 9 th - 10 th centuries; water pipes were transposed into peribolos later. The text of the article is completed with the catalogue of tomb stones that were taken out from layer of proteichisma.