Defensive Wall with Buttresses at the South Suburb of Tauric Chersonesos: reconstruction of classical engineering practices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2026.1.303.318Keywords:
archaeology, engineering structures, defensive walls, Tauric Chersonesos, classical necropoleis, alluvial fan deposits, retaining structures, buttresses, sacral topography, classical hydraulic engineeringAbstract
This study deals with the analysis of a unique classical engineering structure – a monumental retaining wall with buttresses, discovered in the southern suburb of Tauric Chersonesos. The purpose of the work is to determine the functional purpose, chronology, and role of the structure in the urban planning and sacral topography of the city. Based on stratigraphic observations, architectural features, and data from engineering and geological surveys, it is shown that the wall functioned as an anti-erosion protection for a section of the necropolis against alluvial fan deposits accumulating in the thalweg of a gully. The use of buttresses and a drainage fill at the base indicates to a deliberate engineering approach to the location and construction of the structure. Particular attention is paid to the synthesis of utilitarian and sacred functions of the wall, perceived as a boundary of the sacred space. Comparison with similar structures from the ancient Mediterranean allows this feature to be interpreted as an element of local hydraulic engineering strategy and an early example of integrating engineering solutions into the structure of a suburban landscape. This work contributes to the study of classical architectural thought, with particular emphasis on the adaptation of construction practices to local environmental conditions.
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