History of the Architectural and Archaeological Study of the Cave City of Tepe-Kermen (Southwestern Crimea)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2026.5.95.114Keywords:
archaeology, Southwestern Crimea, Tepe-Kermen, cave cities, research history, historiography., archaeology, Southwestern Crimea, Tepe-Kermen, cave cities, research history, historiographyAbstract
This paper offers a comprehensive historiographical review of the research on Tepe-Kermen, one of Crimea’s most underexplored cave cities. Based on an extensive body of published literature, archival documents and fieldwork reports, it reconstructs the over 200-year history of the site's archaeological and architectural investigation. The study's chronological scope spans from the initial accounts of travelers and local historians in the late 18th and early 19th centuries up to present-day research. By sequentially reviewing the contributions of pre-revolutionary scientists, soviet archaeologists and contemporary experts, the overview tracks how academic perspectives on Tepe-Kermen timeline, functional use and cultural significance have evolved over time. Special emphasis is placed on the pivotal early excavations that laid the groundwork for the modern scientific interpretation of the site.
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