Status and life strategy of Orchis punctulata Steven ex Lindl. (Orchidaceae) in the South-Eastern Crimea

This article presents the results of the population studies of rare protected species Orchis punctulata (Orchidaceae). Based on analysis of local floras in eastern and southeastern Crimea and personal observations, we identified the three most numerous populations of O. punctulata: two in the steppe (on the Tepe-Oba mountain ridge) and one in forest communities (on the Kiziltash mountain ridge). The ontogenetic, demographic, and vitality structures of the populations were studied. We also assessed the life strategies of the species in different habitats. The populations in steppe communities were characterized by high number and density parameters. O. punctulate often formed large clusters and was dominated here. A small number and low density characterized the population in the forest community; the distribution of individuals within the population was scattered. The age spectra were also different. The populations in steppe communities had a left-sided spectrum with a maximum in immature individuals, while in forest communities, it had a bimodal spectrum with maximums in generative (with a predominance of mature and old generative) and immature individuals. Specimens from forest communities were more extensive than those of steppe communities, they had longer leaves and inflorescences, and their inflorescences had a more significant number of flowers. As a result, the population in the forest community had a higher vitality index. It included individuals of the highest and middle class of vitality. The populations in the steppe community consisted of all classes of vitality or only of middle and lower classes. Thus, optimal environmental conditions for the growth of species are in forests. At the same time, a low level of regeneration and competition from other plants hinder its wide distribution. As a result, the species exserts as a phytocenotic patient (S-strategy). In steppe communities, the species is characterized by a mixed patient-explerant-violant strategy (SRC strategy).

CHRONOLOGY OF RAMPARTS IN EASTERN CRIMEA (2015-2018 EXCAVATIONS)

Статья посвящена результатам работ автора на оборонительных валах Восточного Крыма в 2015-2018 гг. В ней кратко изложена история изучения этих объектов, рассматривается археологический материал, полученный в процессе работ, и делаются некоторые предположения относительно времени и обстоятельств возникновения этих масштабных сооружений. The paper reports on excavations conducted by the author on defensive ramparts in Eastern Crimea in 2015-2018. It summarizes the history of the excavations on these fortifications, examines archaeological materials obtained during the excavations and provides some suggestions on the period and the circumstances concerning these impressive constructions.

HOARDS OF THE 4th - 3rd CENTURIES BC PANTICAPAEUM BRONZE COINS FROM THE EXCAVATIONS IN THE MANITRA SETTLEMENT (THE EASTERN CRIMEA)

В 2018 г. в ходе раскопок античного поселения Манитра, расположенного в Восточном Крыму, были найдены три клада пантикапейских бронзовых монет IV-III вв. до н. э. Два из них (24 и 62 монеты) относятся к начальной фазе денежного кризиса на Боспоре и были сокрыты в первой четверти III в. до н. э. Третий клад (10 монет) принадлежит более раннему времени, последней трети IV в. до н. э. Публикуемые комплексы являются ценным свидетельством экономического состояния Боспора и денежного обращения на хоре в конце IV - первой четверти III в. до н. э. Дата двух первых кладов ок. 290-275 гг. до н. э. является terminus post quem для жизнедеятельности поселения Манитра. In 2018, three hoards of the 4 and 3 centuries BC Panticapaeum bronze coins were found during excavations in the Settlement of Manitra located in the Eastern Crimea, in Kerch environments. Two of them (consisting of 24 and 62 coins) belong to the initial phase of the monetary crisis on the Bosporus and were concealed in the first quarter of the 3 century BC. The third hoard is dated to the last third of the 4 century BC, consisting of ten coins. The assemblages are the valuable evidence for the Bosporan economic situation and currency in the chora in the late 4 to the first quarter of the 3 century BC. The latest coins in the hoards date to c. 290-275 BC, providing a terminus post quem for the end of the Manitra settlement life.

BLADED WEAPONS FROM GRAVE 16 DATING TO THE MIGRATION PERIOD AT THE DZHURGA-OBA CEMETERY IN THE EASTERN CRIMEA

Описывается погребение - кенотаф № 16 из могильника Джурга-Оба в Восточном Крыму. По найденным в нем вещам (элементы ременной гарнитуры) это погребение датируется второй половиной V - первой половиной VI в. Здесь было обнаружено оружие с прямым однолезвийным клинком, которое можно идентифицировать как скрамасакс. В его конструкции и декоре есть элементы как восточного происхождения (железная гарда), так и западного (накладки на ножны с декором в виде птичьих голов). Погребения со скрамасаксами немногочисленны в Северном Причерноморье и, возможно, отражают сасанидскую воинскую традицию. The paper publishes a cenotaph grave 16 from the Dzhurga-Oba cemetery in the Eastern Crimea. Based on the items retrieved from the grave (belt sets details), the grave is dated to the second half of the 5 - first half of the 6 centuries. Among the finds there is a straight single-edge knife that can be identified as scramasax. Its design and decoration reveal some elements of Oriental origin (iron guard) and Western origin (scabbard plates featuring bird heads as a decoration). The graves with scramasax are not numerous in the North Pontic region, possibly, they reflect a Sasanid military tradition.

Study of the diversity and mapping of xerophytic vegetation of the southeastern coast of Crimea peninsula using remote sensing data

The study of diversity and ecological-phytocenotic mapping of the vegetation cover was carried out at the key area located in the eastern part of the Echki-Dag mountain range in the territory of the Lisya Bay Reserve (Eastern Crimea). A generalization of the classification and ecological patterns of vegetation was carried out to create a legend for a large-scale ecological-phytocenotic cartographic model (at the scale of 1:10000). The ecological-geomorphological series and combinations of xerophytic and mesoxerophytic plant communities indicating erosion-denudation processes on different substrates of the underlying parent rocks were the thematic basis of the cartographic model. The developed legend is based on the units of vegetation of the association rank obtained using the Braun – Blanquet method combined into ecological series in accordance with their position on the gradients of the leading ecological factors as well as on the hierarchy of phytochories determined by the categories of erosion-denudation relief of coastal slopes. The resulting vegetation map demonstrates the main regularities of the regional phyto-diversity and serves as the basis for assessing the resource potential of vegetation, its landscape-stabilizing and nature conservation value.

Scarab Amulet-Beads from 1st–2nd Century Children’s Burials at a Necropolis on the Iluraton Plateau, Eastern Crimea

We describe a group of Egyptian faience scarabs unearthed from the necropolis on the Iluraton Plateau, Eastern Crimea, by the expedition from the State Museum of the History of Religion (St. Petersburg) in 1987–1990. Artifacts made of so-called Egyptian faience were found in eight of the sixty-two burials—those of g irls aged below 1.5, dating to the 1st to early 2nd centuries AD. The most numerous among the faience items were beads in the form of scarabs. The analysis shows them to fall into three groups in terms of presence and nature of images on the reverse side: those without images (3 spec.), those with abstract images (3 spec.), and those with anthropo-zoomorphic images (2 spec.). In two cases, representations point to specifi c Egyptian workshops. Scarabs in girls’ burials of the Roman period elaborate on the thanatological imagery, which originated among the Scythian-Saka tribes of Eurasia in the mid-1st millennium BC.

THE POTTERY ANT HOUSEWARE OF THE VOLNA 12 SETTLEMENT FROM EXCAVATIONS 2013-2015

The settlement of Volna 12 was excavated in 2013– 2015, on the Taman Peninsula. The settlement is located on the south-western coast of the Taman Peninsula, 5.8 km north-west of the outskirts of the Volna village and 1.8 km north of Cape Panagia. The period of the settlement's existence falls on the late 17th (possibly the beginning of the 18th) – early 19th centuries. The settlement with an area of ​​31 hectares has been fully explored, so we have the opportunity to work with its materials in full. The previously unpublished ceramic material of the settlement - dishes and ceramic household items – is considered in the article by groups and categories. Particular attention is paid to non-glazed ceramics, which for a long time remained outside the interests of researchers. The article considers such categories of ceramic vessels as Aquarius, jugs, bowls, household vessels, braziers. The settlement did not exist for a very long period of time (about 100– 150 years), therefore, chronological differences in the ceramic material cannot be found. Obviously, it mainly comes from one or several centres of the South-Eastern Crimea, but the question of the centre of production of these vessels remains unresolved.

ADDITIONAL BELTS OF CHORA TOWER OF CHERSONESSOS: FORTIFICATION OR ANTISEISMIC?

The article discusses the question of the appointment of additional belts, which were erected on the sites of Chersonesos Chora in the III-II centuries BC. In ordinary sense, these architectural elements served to strengthen the walls and towers, however, for today in Russian historiography there is no consensus about the reasons and purpose of such strengthening. Almost all of researchers, who have addressed this case, agree with on their “anti-ram” (ie fortification) or anti-seismic purpose. In connection with the significant accumulation of archaeological data both in Russia and abroad, it seems possible to consider this architectural phenomenon in a wider time and geographical framework, as well as to attach some facts that may indicate other reasons for the emergence these architectural elements. This research based on the consideration of analogies to the studied architectural objects - construction remains similar in design, recorded in the territory of the Eastern Crimea. Thus, the expanded geography and chronology of the architectural phenomenon allows one to obtain new theoretical generalizations.