Description:
The mysterious siege well discovered in 1998 at Chufut Kale, an ancient cave city in Crimea, located on a 580-meter plateau. Excavations by archaeologists and speleologists revealed a 50-meter deep well with a 120-meter stone gallery, a 30-meter spiral staircase, and a platform with an altar and fountains.
Historical records, including an 18th-century French traveler’s account, mention the well, whose location was lost until its rediscovery. The fortress, known as Kirk-Or ("40 fortresses") or Chufut Kale ("Jewish fortress"), was a key center for the Crimean Karaites, a Turkic-Jewish group, and served as a residence for Crimean Khans from the 15th to 16th centuries.
The city, inhabited since the 6th century by various ethnic groups like Alans and Karaites, was abandoned by the late 19th century. The well, possibly a sacred site rather than a practical water source, contained inscriptions in Latin, Aramaic, and proto-runes, and a treasure of gold and silver coins.
The site, blending natural caves and man-made structures, remains a tourist attraction, though its future archaeological exploration is uncertain due to political changes in Crimea.
Historical records, including an 18th-century French traveler’s account, mention the well, whose location was lost until its rediscovery. The fortress, known as Kirk-Or ("40 fortresses") or Chufut Kale ("Jewish fortress"), was a key center for the Crimean Karaites, a Turkic-Jewish group, and served as a residence for Crimean Khans from the 15th to 16th centuries.
The city, inhabited since the 6th century by various ethnic groups like Alans and Karaites, was abandoned by the late 19th century. The well, possibly a sacred site rather than a practical water source, contained inscriptions in Latin, Aramaic, and proto-runes, and a treasure of gold and silver coins.
The site, blending natural caves and man-made structures, remains a tourist attraction, though its future archaeological exploration is uncertain due to political changes in Crimea.
