MOSCOW, May 28.Russian archaeologists have found elements of an ancient water-lifting structure at the bottom of the deepest well of Chersonese, the press service of the Chersonese Tauride Museum-Reserve reported.
According to them, small clay vessels were discovered at the bottom of one of the wells, reaching a height of 25 cm and having a wall thickness of about 1 cm. The vessels were used in the ancient system of raising water. This technology has been used since ancient times and still exists in some countries of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
The examined well was not previously known and, according to experts, by the standards of Chersonesos it has a significant depth — more than 15 meters.
Archaeologists suggest that the well ceased to be used in the middle or second half of the 3rd century BC AD, presumably due to the mixing of fresh and salt water. After which it was filled with garbage, including broken dishes from the turn of the 3rd-2nd century BC. The repeated filling took place in the 10th-11th centuries, when a large-scale reconstruction of the city was carried out in Chersonesos.
After complete clearing, in the water layer, at the very bottom of the well, the researchers discovered a dozen vessels, the discovery of which confirms the existence of an ancient water-lifting structure at this place.
“»The discovery of these finds in the well sheds light on one of the most important pages of everyday life Hellenistic Chersonese — a system of using water-lifting mechanisms,” noted senior researcher at the museum-reserve Ekaterina Lesnaya.
The fragments of the structure fastening themselves were not found due to the characteristics of the soil, in which wooden parts are not preserved, but thanks to the vessels, scientists were able to more accurately understand the principle of operation of this mechanism.
«Cone-shaped vessels could be attached to a wooden structure ( wheel) using rope straps, creating a so-called “garland of pots.” Such a “chain” made it possible to raise water in small portions, but continuously for a long time and from a great depth — 10-20 meters,” explained Lesnaya.
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According to scientists, finds of such vessels are unique for the Northern Black Sea region and are closest to analogues that were found in the Middle East, as well as during excavations Athens Agora.
It is believed that the well was located in the agora, a socially significant place with shopping arcades and shops, so its jugs were smaller than those of wells for technical needs, but sufficient for city residents to collect water there for themselves.
“» We assume, in simple terms, that this system is a kind of ancient prototype of a modern cooler. However, it is worth remembering that the principle of its operation was probably based on continuous movement. This well played an important role for people who could be in the heat all day. as a result, we experienced a constant need for water,” noted Natalya Ginkut, scientific secretary of the Chersonese Tauride Museum-Reserve.
She added that tanks for collecting water in this part were found earlier, but they already belonged to the early Middle Ages, and their storage system was arranged differently.
Ginkut said that the square itself was explored back in the mid-19 century, when a cathedral was built in the central part of the ancient city in honor of Saint Prince Vladimir, who was baptized in Kherson. Then, during the construction of the temple, only the uppermost buildings were dismantled, and the foundations were deepened to fit the contours of the building. However, according to modern requirements, the research area was increased, and as a result this well was found.
“The wells in Chersonesus have never been completely cleaned out, this is the first time,” she said.
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