Museums of Russia: New federal museum reserve to open in the Kuban

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on the establishment of federal historical and archaeological museum "Fanagoria," which will study the ancient city founded 2, 500 years ago.

Creation of a new museum reserve on the banks of the Taman Bay, between the villages Sennoy and Primorsky, Temryuksky district, Krasnodar region, will not only make a significant contribution to the preservation and promotion of cultural and historical heritage of the Kuban, but also will create additional conditions to attract tourists to the Taman Peninsula and the region in general.

City-polis Fanagoria was founded by Hellenic settlers around 540 BC and is one of the oldest cities in the territory of modern Russia and the largest archaeological monument of antiquity in the eastern Black Sea. From the three sides Fanagoria is surrounded by necropolis - the largest on the Taman Peninsula. Excavations of the ancient site and the mounds of Fanagoria’s necropolis began in the 18th century. Currently, the research of the ancient city is carried out by Fanagoria archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archaeology RAS.

According to experts, excavations of Fanagoria enable to feel historical connection of the south of Russia and the Taman Peninsula with the ancient civilization. Creation of the museum reserve will ensure the preservation, study and promotion of archaeological heritage in the Krasnodar Territory.