Russian occupiers showcase looted archaeological artifacts from Crimea’s Artesian settlement

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, illegal archaeological excavations have been going on for the third month in a row on the territory of the ancient Artesian settlement located near Kerch.

The “Artesian Archaeological Expedition” has released information about artifacts found during “excavations” at a Ukrainian cultural heritage site, Ukrinform reports, citing the Voice of Crimea.

It is noted that on the territory of the ancient settlement, “archaeologists” found a coin minted by King Sauromates I, a bronze fibula, a teardrop-shaped miniature insert for a ring or pendant made of carnelian or ruby, another fragment of a white marble statue of Zeus Genarch and Soter with an image of folds of clothing, bronze Bosporan coins, and a fragment of a theatrical terracotta mask with an image of hair, forehead, and eye.

And the last find of the “archaeologists” was the ruined fortification walls of the fortress.

The organizers of the “archaeological expedition” also boasted of involving students from various regions of Russia and the occupied peninsula, as well as members of the All-Russian Military Patriotic Social Movement “Young Army” (Yunarmiya) in illegal activities in the occupied territory.

Artesian is an ancient settlement on the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea, which was a Greek colony and later a fortified settlement of the Bosporan Kingdom. It existed from the 6th century BC to the 4th century AD, when it was destroyed by the Huns. Artesian covered an area of 7 hectares, was fortified with ramparts and moats, and also had a citadel and two separate forts.

As reported by Ukrinform, illegal archaeological excavations are continuing in Crimea, systematically destroying Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar cultural heritage.

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