The Early Mediaeval Capitals Excavated from the “Karalez Basilica”

Abstract

n 1983, the excavations in Karalez-Dere ravine at the north-western foot of Mangup discovered a church. The scholarship calls this structure the early mediaeval basilica from the seventh to tenth centuries. There are field documents and two excavation reports, but the results of the archaeological studies of the monument have not been published yet. Epigraphic finds have been introduced into scholarly circulation, but the discussion of their chronology continues. At the moment the location of the archaeological collection remains obscure. This article is the first publication of the capitals excavated at the “Karalez Basilica” and discovered in the collections of Crimean museums. Particular attention has been paid to their architectural analysis and chronology. The article addresses the question of the planning structure of the “Karalez Basilica”.