Bata — Lagoon Harbour at Novomyshastovskaya (Batskoe Gorodishche South) — v2
Bata Lagoon · Batskoe South Harbour · Batae Lagoon
Archaic to Late Antique (600 BCE – 400 CE)·Ionian Greek / Bosporan·🇷🇺 Russia, Krasnodar Krai, Kuban Lagoon at Novomyshastovskaya, Bata harbour south, Russia
About
About Bata — Lagoon Harbour at Novomyshastovskaya (Batskoe Gorodishche South) — v2
Southern lagoon harbour of Bata (Batskoe Gorodishche) in the Kuban liman, where the Maeotian-Bosporan timber emporium now lies 1–2 m waterlogged at Novomyshastovskaya. Distinct from the northern harbour already in database, this southern lagoon preserves 80 m timber pile quay at –1.5 m, fish-trap weir at –1 m and Maeotian pit-house cluster mapped 2017 Kuban Expedition coring. Founded as Bosporan Maeotian frontier market 5th c. BCE, Bata transshipped Kuban fish and grain to Bosporan cities until 3rd c. CE Alan incursion. Lagoon silts seal Maeotian grey ware horizon under Kuban alluvium.
Why it mattersSouthern lagoon proves dual-harbour Bata (north Strait vs south lagoon); fish weir is earliest Maeotian aquaculture feature and Kuban palaeo-course anchor.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether southern lagoon is Maeotian or Bosporan construction
- 02Attribution of grey ware to Kuban Maeotae vs Bosporan import?
Theories
- 01Lagoon harbour shifted south as Kuban delta prograded
- 02Fish weir abandonment records 3rd c. CE liman salinity crisis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 5th c. BCE Bosporan-Maeotian emporium; southern pile quay 3rd c. BCE
- Period
- Archaic to Late Antique (600 BCE – 400 CE)
- Culture
- Ionian Greek / Bosporan
- Purpose
- Bosporan harbour and anchorage — grain, fish-salting and cabotage port
- Abandoned
- 3rd c. CE Alan incursion and Kuban course shift
- Rediscovered
- 19th c. antiquarian; modern diving 2010s
- Excavation
- Submerged
5th c. BCE
Bata founded as Kuban liman emporium
3rd c. BCE
80 m southern timber quay and fish weir built
2017
Kuban Expedition coring maps southern lagoon quay at –1.5 m
On the ground
Structures & features
45.1520° N · 38.5820° E · -2 m · 3 mapped features
Southern Timber Pile Quay (80 m)
quay80 m oak pile quay at –1.5 m southern lagoon
45.1525° N · 38.5825° EFish-Trap Weir (40 m)
weir40 m wattle fish weir at –1 m with stake rows
45.1515° N · 38.5830° EMaeotian Pit-House Cluster
houseMaeotian pit-houses 4 m diameter waterlogged at –1 m
45.1520° N · 38.5810° E