Medieval cave complex of Iograf ridge over Yalta

The medieval cave complex over Yalta is located at the height about 1250 m above sea level. It consists of two caves Iograf I and II. In the first of them the temple known on drawings of artists of the end of XIX - beginnings of the XX centuries, in the second cave - "small" once was located, according to local historians, there was "cell" or "chapel", "a place of the ancient settlement". As a result of archeological excavations of 2011 - 2013 in a cave of Iograf I was succeeded to localize the remains of the temple and to investigate the natural niche which is between the southern wall of the temple and east wall of a cave. Here on a rocky surface the drawn images of crosses and an inscription are found, and numerous subjects of personal piety, ornament, a detail of an ethnographic suit, fragments of church utensils and so forth are found in an occupation layer. These materials testify that the niche was especially esteemed place and was used for the votivnykh of gifts. At research of a cave Iograf II jewelry, subjects of personal piety is also found. The cave Christian complex of Iograf Ridge is a unique archaeological monument, a peculiar Christian sanctuary round which the set of legends and legends is collected. It is the Christian cave complex, only from the Crimean Mountains and the Southern Coast of the Crimea, known in the southern part. The analysis of the received materials from caves allows to allocate five stages in the history of a medieval Christian complex, begun in X (XI?) - XIII centuries and proceeding up to now.