Chersonesos — Pesochnaya Bay Submerged Quay (Tauric Chersonesos East) — v2
Chersonesos East Harbour · Pesochnaya Bay Quay · Karantinnaya East
Archaic to Late Antique (600 BCE – 400 CE)·Heraclean Greek / Bosporan·🇺🇦 Crimea, Sevastopol, Pesochnaya Bay (Sandy Bay) east of Chersonesos, Ukraine
About
About Chersonesos — Pesochnaya Bay Submerged Quay (Tauric Chersonesos East) — v2
Eastern submerged quay of Tauric Chersonesos in Pesochnaya (Sandy) Bay, where the Heraclean colony's eastern harbour and ship-sheds now lie 1–2 m under sand. Distinct from western Quarantine Bay harbour already in database, this eastern embayment preserves 110 m ashlar quay at –1.8 m, twin rock-cut ship-shed ramps at –1.2 m and a 4th c. BCE tower foundation mapped 2017 Sevastopol underwater survey. Founded by Heraclea Pontica c. 421 BCE, Chersonesos eastern harbour served chora wine export until Byzantine 1300s. Sand cores show 6th c. BCE wine amphora horizon sealed under storm sand 400 CE.
Why it mattersEastern harbour proves dual-basin Chersonesos; ship-shed ramps anchor Heraclean naval chronology and complement western Quarantine Bay harbour.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether eastern tower is Archaic pharos or Hellenistic battery
- 02Chronology of 400 CE storm sand vs. Byzantine harbour shift
Theories
- 01Eastern basin siltation triggered medieval harbour move to Quarantine Bay
- 02Ship-sheds housed chora patrol galleys protecting vineyards
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. 421 BCE Heraclean foundation; eastern quay 4th c. BCE
- Period
- Archaic to Late Antique (600 BCE – 400 CE)
- Culture
- Heraclean Greek / Bosporan
- Purpose
- Bosporan harbour and anchorage — grain, fish-salting and cabotage port
- Abandoned
- c. 1399 Mongol sack and bay siltation
- Rediscovered
- 19th c. antiquarian; modern diving 2010s
- Excavation
- Submerged
c. 421 BCE
Heraclea founds Chersonesos; eastern bay anchorage
4th c. BCE
110 m ashlar quay and twin ship-sheds cut
2017
Sevastopol diving maps eastern quay at –1.8 m
On the ground
Structures & features
44.6120° N · 33.4980° E · -2 m · 3 mapped features
Pesochnaya Ashlar Quay (110 m)
quay110 m ashlar quay at –1.8 m in Sandy Bay
44.6125° N · 33.4985° ETwin Ship-Shed Ramps (25 m)
shipshedTwin rock-cut ship-shed ramps 25 m at –1.2 m
44.6115° N · 33.4980° EEastern Tower Foundation
tower4th c. BCE tower base 8 m diameter at –1 m
44.6120° N · 33.4990° E