Tyritake — Submerged Harbour at Tyritake South (Kerch South Bay) — v2
Tyritake South Harbour · Tyritace South · Kerch South Tyritake
Archaic to Late Antique (6th c. BCE – 370 CE)·Milesian Greek / Bosporan·🇺🇦 Crimea, Kerch, Arshintseve (Kamysh-Burun) south bay, Tyritake harbour south, Ukraine
About
About Tyritake — Submerged Harbour at Tyritake South (Kerch South Bay) — v2
Southern harbour of Tyritake (Tyritace), the Bosporan fish-salting town at Kamysh-Burun south of Kerch, now 1–2 m submerged in south bay. Distinct from other Tyritake entries if any, this southern sector preserves salting-vat complex at –1.5 m with 16 vats, 70 m ashlar quay at –2 m and fortified wall at –1 m mapped 2000–2018 NASU Tyritake Expedition diving. Founded by Milesians 6th c. BCE as fishery to supply Pantikapaion, Tyritake was Bosporan garum capital until 370 CE Goths. Vat gypsum seals 3rd c. CE Sarmatian horizon. Southern harbour served cabotage coasters to Theodosia.
Why it mattersSouthern harbour proves dual Tyritake; 16-vat complex anchors Bosporan garum production volume and Sarmatian crew horizon.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether 16 vats are fish or also wine
- 02Attribution of fort wall to Bosporan vs Sarmatian?
Theories
- 01Southern harbour handled export while northern handled Pantikapaion supply
- 02Garum collapse after 370 CE was Goth sacking of vat workforce
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 6th c. BCE Milesian fishery; southern quay and vats 3rd c. BCE
- Period
- Archaic to Late Antique (6th c. BCE – 370 CE)
- Culture
- Milesian Greek / Bosporan
- Purpose
- Bosporan garum salting harbour — 16-vat industrial fishery and coaster anchorage for Pantikapaion supply
- Abandoned
- 370 CE Gothic sack and salting collapse
- Rediscovered
- 19th c. Dubrux; 2000 NASU vat diving
- Excavation
- Submerged
6th c. BCE
Milesians found Tyritake at Kamysh-Burun as fishery
3rd c. BCE
Southern quay 70 m and 16-vat complex built
2018
NASU diving maps southern vats and quay at –1.5 to –2 m
On the ground
Structures & features
45.2850° N · 36.4150° E · -2 m · 3 mapped features
Salting Vat Complex (16 vats, 4×2 m)
vats16 plastered salting vats 4×2 m at –1.5 m with garum residue
45.2855° N · 36.4155° ESouthern Ashlar Quay (70 m)
quay70 m ashlar quay at –2 m southern harbour
45.2845° N · 36.4160° EFortified Wall (80 m, –1 m)
wall80 m fortified mudbrick wall at –1 m with bastion
45.2850° N · 36.4140° E
Gallery