__Natalia Galchenko

__Director

__Kerch historical and archaeological museum is one of the oldest museums on the territory of Ukraine. It was officially opened on June, 15, 1826. Since 1987 it is a part of the structure of Kerch historical and cultural preserve. Its fund collections count about 200 thousand exhibits and are the most numerous in Crimea. Museum archaeological funds are its main part. It includes lapidary collection of united notes from the 3 century B.C. to the 15 century. Presently museum exposition is represented by two exhibitions: "The history of Bospor kingdom" and "Bospor in medieval period". They count over 3 thousand exhibits, majority of them are archaeological finds of the latest years (they are exhibited for the first time). New approaches were used while preparation of exhibitions. They differ with maximal richness of exposition space and wide application of artistic methods that form visual images and clearly illustrate particular periods of the history of ancient Kerch.

__Exhibited complexes recreate bright images of antique city and state, characterize economy of Bospor, and represent wonderful examples of painted black japan crockery, that became an original symbol of Greek culture of the epoch of Bospor kingdom. "Golden treasure-house" opened in June of 2005 became one of the first in Crimea and perfectly enlarges museum exposition. Its collection demonstrates high level of development of jewellery art in Bospor and in medieval Korchev. The central part in numismatic section is occupied by unique treasure of the coins of Small-Asian city Kizik dated by the 5 century B.C. It was found in 2003 on the territory of the ancient site Myrmekiy and counts ninety nine coins. There also Pantecapean coins, coins of Mitridat the VI Yeupathor, Alexander Macedonian, gold and silver coins of Bospor kings are exhibited.

__Medieval numismatics is represented by Byzantine soldo, and coins of the Golden Horde and Crimean khanate. The latest include collection of silver coins of Crimean khan Mengli-Girey the I who ruled from 1468 to 1515.

__Jewellery wares occupy significant place of the exposition. The earliest of them are dated by the 4 century B.C. They include such wonderful wares of antique jewellery art as golden neck-clain and pair bracelets in form of lion heads on the tops made in Scythian animal style. Several exhibited complexes visually illustrate funeral rites of Bospor people. "Golden treasure-house" also includes a part of collection of finger rings with carved coils. Ancient people believed that these rings possessed magic power. Creation of "Golden treasure-house" and exhibitions of historical and archaeological museum was realized with financial support of charity fond "Demetra". Kerch archaeological museum works for you for two centuries of its history.

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__7 Sverdlov Street, 98320 Kerch,

__Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine

__tel: +38 (06561) 2-04-75, 2-04-92

__fax: +38 (06561) 2-04-75