Russians destroy ancient Chersonese and erect new building in its place – photos
Russian archaeologists and developers have completely destroyed an authentic monument of world significance in Crimea, Tauric Chersonese. A new open-air theatre was built on the site of the excavations. Some archaeological finds were taken to Russian museums.
Source: Evelina Kravchenko, a senior researcher at the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, told this to the press at the III International Forum of the Crimean Platform Expert Network.
Details: The researcher said that Russians are replacing original monuments with new buildings, destroying their authenticity:
Quote: "Negative processes are now taking place with the only monument of world significance that we managed to nominate and include in the list of monuments in Crimea, Tauric Chersonese."
In 2015-2016, the developers fenced off the archaeological remains that were on the surface, such as towers, walls and pillars, with viewing platforms. Later, an open-air theatre was erected on the site of the ancient citadel, which puts a load of about a tonne on the original structure.
Most of the artefacts found were taken to museums in Russia. Among them are frescoes, dishes, household items, and icons. Subsequently, the construction of the New Chersonese Archaeological Park began on the site of the necropolis.
Quote: "The Russians did not know anything about the geological situation at this site, so they began to remove the soil on the territory with ordinary excavators. Somehow, they unearthed an ancient spring there, so everything was flooded," said Evelina Kravchenko.
Today, a new city has been built on the site of the archaeological remains. An archaeological park covers the old finds, and several excavated sites have been gradually moved and rebuilt elsewhere. On the site of the settlement, the Russians erected St Vladimir's Cathedral, which is subordinate to and consecrated by the Moscow Patriarchate.
For reference: Tauric Chersonese is a unique historical monument of the ancient era. The research of this building revealed the system of organisation and planning of that time. It is the only monument in Crimea that is of global importance.
Since the early 2000s and before the occupation of the Crimean peninsula, Ukrainian researchers have proposed creating an archaeological park to preserve not only individual sections of Chersonesus but the entire area.
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