Cremation Site 7 (Excavation 4.1), Southern Suburb of Taurica Chersonesos

During a comprehensive exploration of the Southern suburb of Tauric Chersonesos in 2021–2023, about 340 cremation sites were discovered; those were designated locations where the bodies of the deceased buried in the necropolis were burned according to the cremation rite. These structures had the appearance of pits of various sizes with heavily calcined walls and bottoms. A characteristic feature of most of the complexes is the presence of a special truncated-conical protrusion located in the central part of one of the walls and serving as a kind of blower. At the bottom of the sites, there was a layer of ash and cinders containing burnt bone fragments and human teeth. The accompanying burial material is sparse. These are mainly fragments of ceramic and glass vessels, small metal items, beads, etc. Against this background, the wealth of the cremation site 7 (excavation 4.1) stands out noticeably. Among other things, it contained a set of gold jewelry: a miniature fibula, a large ring with a lost insert, a corrugated bead with a teardrop-shaped pendant, two similar beaded pendants without pendants, five sewn-on plaques, two trefoils, and 116 scraps of foil. All these objects are quite valuable both in cultural and chronological terms. The abundance of gold products in it is indicative, testifying to the high social status of the cremated individual (individuals?). The fibula dates the monument back to the late 1st century AD. It is interesting to note that almost all the ornaments from cremation site 7 find direct analogies in the inventory of the attached crypt of 1013, widely known for the abundance of gold jewelry found in it, and which was the burial vault of the elite of the Chersonesos society. In this regard, it cannot be ruled out that the ashes of one or two buried individuals in the crypt were cremated on site 7, which is located 70 m from the area, later placed in a special, urn and buried in the tomb.