Russian ancient city has Turkish traces

Known as Russia's Atlantis, the ancient city of Phanagoria reveals many discoveries, including traces of Turks.

The ancient Greek city of Phanagoria in Taman Peninsula, located in the Krasnodar region in the south of Russia, is estimated to be about 2,500 years old. It was first discovered thanks to a tombstone that washed up in the 18th century.

Another feature in the Phanagoria, one-third of which is underwater, is that there are many traces of the Turks and the Ottoman Empire.
Recently, the discovery of a 16th-century coin thought to belong to a Turkish officer in the Ottoman army has created excitement, especially among historians.

The coin is believed to have been brought to the Phanagoria as a trophy by the Turkish military after the victories in Cyprus.

While it is known that the Ottoman Empire fleet once established a base in Phanagoria, a few Ottoman-era structures in the region are among the recent discoveries.

Although Phanagoria is a region in the south of Russia today, it was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 17th centuries. Experts consider it a strong possibility that more traces of Turks will emerge over time.

The region is of great importance for Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin had also done scuba diving in the region in the past years.

Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency, the excavation director at the ancient city, Vladimir Kuznetsov, said that the region was very suitable for excavations because it was in an undeveloped area.

Defining Istanbul as a challenging area for historical excavations, Kuznetsov said that there was a huge and powerful cultural layer that allows tracing not only the history of the city but also the region.

Noting that...