Ancient Anchorage at Cape Tuzla

This article analyses the results of the author’s 2016–2018 underwater researches in the southern area of the Strait of Kerch (Cimmerian Bosporos in Antiquity) at Cape Tuzla. These works resulted in the discovery of primitive stone anchors, fragments of stone-and-wood and lead-and-wood anchor devices, and also fossilized parts and forms of iron anchors. The fragments of ancient and early medieval amphorae risen from the sea bottom date from the sixth century BC to the eight-to-tenth centuries AD. From the general distribution of archaeological materials in the areas of the bank of Tuzla under study there are reasons to suppose that this place was especially attractive for anchorage of various cargo ships in Classical and Byzantine Periods. Taking the types and size characteristics of the anchor elements uncovered into account, one may conclude that small boats relatively often moored near the rocks located closer to the ancient coastline. A little further out to sea, there was the anchorage for barges and small ships, and at the end of the bank was the roads for big cargo ships. The ancient anchorage at Cape Tuzla, near the Pontic entrance to the Cimmerian Bosporos, or the gates to the barbarian world, played vital role in the international and regional maritime trade of the Hellenic world.