Semikarakory: the eastern wall of the fortress and the donjon

The Lower Don Semikarakory fortress is the largest Khazar fortress; it was made ofadobe, with some baked bricks added; it is trapezoid in plan. The eastern wall of the fortress hasa kurgan-shaped embankment. Excavations at its base have shown that it conceals ruins of a donjon, which has survived to a height from two to three meters. The Semikarakory donjon containsa lot of baked bricks. No comparable donjons have been found in the Khazar kaganate. In theview of the author, it was probably modelled after Khwarezm donjons. The enclosure wall abutting the donjon is described in detail. A channel of the 18 cm χ 10 cm cross-section cuts throughits base. There are similar channels in Kaliakra (Bulgaria) and Khumara (North Caucasus).