The classic period necropolis of the Raevskoye fortified settlement: history of research, topography and chronology

The Raevskoye fortified settlement was a regional and economic center of southeastern Sindike (chora of Greek Gorgippia) throughout 3rd century BC –1st century AD. The site was introduced in scientific discourse thanks to excavations conducted by V.I. Sizov in 1886. The issue relating to the location of the necropolis of the hillfort where several hundred people had probably lived remained open for a long time. The excavations over the recent 50 years have shown that graves of the Classical period are located on hills extending east of and west of the settlement. Unfortunately, at the current stage of research the chronology of graves in the necropolis does not always correlate with the period of functioning of the Ancient Greek center at the Raevskoye hillfort. In particular, few burial assemblages date back to the 3rd century BC; and there are practically no materials that could be linked to the inhabitants of the northeastern promontory of the fortified settlement during the Early Roman period. A lack of tombstones evidences the marginal character of the settlement at that time.