Abstract
The authors conducted research on deformations of construction remains excavated at the estate complex of the 4th – 3rd cc. BC in the area of Generalskoe Bay (the Crimean Azov littoral). All the obtained material on the destruction and damage of building structures shows the systematic development of deformations. Almost all the walls of the submeridional strike experienced the strongest dynamic effects directed perpendicular to these building elements. The meridional walls show slopes, arching in the plan (sometimes leading to breaks in the walls) in the western direction. All this indicates the location of the source of seismic energy west of this archaeological complex. However, turning the section of the meridian wall counterclockwise implies the direction of arrival of seismic movements rather from the west/northwest. Judging by the degree of deformation, the local intensity of seismic vibrations was not less than II ≥ IX points. This strong earthquake is also evidenced by layers of marine sediments-shells among the layer of bulk soil with artifacts. Such fi ndings clearly indicate “tsunami” surge waves up to 4 m high. Tsunamigenic deposits clearly indicate the fact that the source of this earthquake was located in the water area of the sea of Azov. The extension of the upper part of the northeastern strike wall to the southeast and the departure of the buttress walls to the south and west were also noted. These deformations, possibly, may indicate another, later earthquake. Apparently, the fi nding of large and very large rock blocks that rolled down from nearby hills and resting on the remains of masonry, pavements and the cultural layer is another argument in favor of this assumption. The small number of identifi ed cases of destruction and damage, and the lack of systematic character of deformations does not allow us to conclude about the direction of arrival of these seismic vibrations. Probably, the seismic focus – a seismogenic gap was located near the archaeological site. The obtained materials should be taken into account when constructing a new map of the seismic hazard of the Crimea, and can also be useful for an archaeologist to analyze the features of civilizational development of the region. The dating of a possible earthquake(s) on these sites is the beginning of the last quarter of the 4th c. BC and the next, more likely, somewhere until the end of the 2nd c. BC or even later 63 BC.
Keywords
Classical archaeology, Crimean Azov, General Bay, estates, archeoseismology, paleoseismology, seismic deformations.
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