The defense system on the western borders of the European Bosporus during the reign of king Asander (on materials of archaeological investigations in the Adzhiel tract, 2018)

The study focuses on the reconstruction of the western frontiers of the European Bosporus during the reign of King Asander. Using the method of source analysis, the authors make a significant adjustment to the reconstruction of the defense system of the Bosporus kingdom's western borders in the 1st century BC. Having captured power in a difficult struggle, Asander understood that the threat to him could come not only from the Romans, but also from local barbarians, especially since some of them fought on the side of his opponents. The Bosporus king was forced, in order to ensure the safety of the agricultural regions of European Bosporus, to reinforce the ancient Uzunlar defensive earthwork with a system of walls and towers, which, according to Strabo, stretches for 360 stages. This information does not correspond to the archaeological data, according to which the length of the identified fortified defensive line with the towers on the Uzunlar defensive earthwork was much less. The archaeological surveys of 2018 in the Adzhiel tract, near the northern section of the Uzunlar defensive earthwork, have revealed the remains of another tower, which, judging by the material, clearly belonged to the defensive system existing there while functioning of similar structures in the 1st century BC. Moreover, the identified tower is located 1.7 km to the west of a similar object on the defensive earthwork. Thus, providing flank protection from the north, the system of towers, which is inextricably linked with the Uzunlar defensive earthwork and its fortified flanks, seems to be the most important defense element of the western borders of the Bosporus. In this form, the whole system can correspond to the length of the fortified border mentioned by Strabo. The main task of its garrison was not so much to organize the defensive line, as to timely supply appropriate signals and communication. Based on this, it can be assumed that the guard signal towers covering the northern flank of the Uzunlar defensive earthwork were most likely oriented towards one of the main passages in this defense line and the ancient road that ran from here towards the depths of the peninsula.