14.08.2026, 07:19
An atypical altar mosaic was found during excavations of a church in Crimea
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS A fragment of a mosaic covering from the Early Byzantine period (VI–VII centuries) in the altar part of the church at the Mangup settlement in the Bakhchisarai region of Crimea was discovered by archaeologists of the Vernadsky KFU, the press service of the university reported. According to the researchers, this is the first find of its kind on the monuments of the Mountainous Crimea outside of Chersonesos.
The archaeological expedition took place at the Large Mangup Basilica (about 50 by 30 meters), which was built in the middle of the VI century along with the fortress and burned down in 1475 during the Ottoman assault. According to the university's press service, the monument has been known since 1890, but previously it was studied only as a temple, whereas now archaeologists are exploring it as a bishop's complex — potentially the political and administrative center of the settlement up to the 15th century.
It was on the territory of this complex, to the north of the basilica, that archaeologists discovered a separate church measuring 15 by 6 meters, inside which they found a baptistery font and a fragment of mosaic covering in the altar part, said the expedition leader, head of the Department of Archeology and General History of the V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (CFU named after V. I. Vernadsky) Valery Naumenko.
"This mosaic was known after the excavations of our predecessors, but it was then discovered in a very small area. We managed to open it much wider. The mosaic is simple in execution. Previously, we can say that three types of materials were used: ceramics, which produce red cubes, ordinary limestone or marl, and large river pebbles. The disclosure of this mosaic fragment also shows that it marks the early stage of the temple's existence," Naumenko added.
In addition, according to the university's press service, during archaeological work at the Bolshaya Mangupskaya Basilica, experts discovered three individual items: a fragment of a Byzantine molyvdovul — a lead seal of the VIII–IX centuries with a cruciform monogram; a bronze icon of the X–XIII centuries with the image of a holy warrior, as well as a gold earring in the form of a question mark with two pearl beads at the end, characteristic of the Golden Horde period of the late 13th–14th centuries.
The archaeological expedition took place at the Large Mangup Basilica (about 50 by 30 meters), which was built in the middle of the VI century along with the fortress and burned down in 1475 during the Ottoman assault. According to the university's press service, the monument has been known since 1890, but previously it was studied only as a temple, whereas now archaeologists are exploring it as a bishop's complex — potentially the political and administrative center of the settlement up to the 15th century.
It was on the territory of this complex, to the north of the basilica, that archaeologists discovered a separate church measuring 15 by 6 meters, inside which they found a baptistery font and a fragment of mosaic covering in the altar part, said the expedition leader, head of the Department of Archeology and General History of the V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (CFU named after V. I. Vernadsky) Valery Naumenko.
"This mosaic was known after the excavations of our predecessors, but it was then discovered in a very small area. We managed to open it much wider. The mosaic is simple in execution. Previously, we can say that three types of materials were used: ceramics, which produce red cubes, ordinary limestone or marl, and large river pebbles. The disclosure of this mosaic fragment also shows that it marks the early stage of the temple's existence," Naumenko added.
In addition, according to the university's press service, during archaeological work at the Bolshaya Mangupskaya Basilica, experts discovered three individual items: a fragment of a Byzantine molyvdovul — a lead seal of the VIII–IX centuries with a cruciform monogram; a bronze icon of the X–XIII centuries with the image of a holy warrior, as well as a gold earring in the form of a question mark with two pearl beads at the end, characteristic of the Golden Horde period of the late 13th–14th centuries.
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