Bata (Batskoe Gorodishche) — Harbour of the Toretae (Sindian Coast)
Bata · Batai · Bathai · Portus Hiron
Archaic to Roman (c.540 BCE – 200 CE)·Greek / Sindian·🇷🇺 Krasnodar Krai, Novorossiysk Bay, Tsemes River mouth, Russia
About
About Bata (Batskoe Gorodishche) — Harbour of the Toretae (Sindian Coast)
Bata, harbour of the Sindian Toretae tribe on Tsemes River mouth at modern Novorossiysk, founded c.540 BCE as Bosporan dependency for Sindian timber and iron. Small ashlar-walled emporium 2 ha with harbour pits, now lower quay 1–3 m submerged in Tsemes bay after river delta progradation and modest subsidence. Excavated 1938–1970s by Kruglikova: Greek walls, fish-salting vats, Sindian-Black burnished wares. Soviet Novorossiysk port expansion dredged submerged mole stub; remaining quay visible at low tide. Often confused with Phasian but distinct Sindic port south of Taman.
Why it mattersOnly excavated Sindian Toretae harbour — fish vats and Sindic ceramics anchor Sindic ethnicity vs Greek import debate; quay subsidence tests Novorossiysk Bay sea-level curve.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether bats is one site or two (Bata vs Bathata)
- 02Mole date — Archaic vs Hellenistic
Theories
- 01Tsemes delta avancée drowned lower quay after 200 CE
- 02Harbour supplied Sindian iron to Bosporan arms
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.540 BCE Milesian/Sindian foundation
- Period
- Archaic to Roman (c.540 BCE – 200 CE)
- Culture
- Greek / Sindian
- Purpose
- Sindian timber-iron emporium for Bosporan fleet
- Abandoned
- c.200 CE (Sarmatian raid, harbour siltation)
- Rediscovered
- 1938 Kruglikova expeditions
- Excavation
- Submerged
c.540 BCE
Greeks and Sindoi establish Bata on Tsemes delta
c.438 BCE
Bata tribute harbour of Bosporan Sindic district
1938–1970s
Kruglikova digs walls and maps submerged quay 1–3 m
On the ground
Structures & features
44.7233° N · 37.7938° E · -1 m · 3 mapped features
Bata Walled Emporium
citadelAshlar town wall and citadel on Tsemes levee
44.7240° N · 37.7940° ESubmerged Quay and Harbour Pits
harbourQuay headers and fish-vat complex at –1 to –3 m
44.7230° N · 37.7950° EFish-Salting Vat Complex
industrialRock-cut vat group with Sindic wares and amphora linings
44.7235° N · 37.7930° E