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Imports of Building Stone to the Northern Black Sea Region in the Middle of the First Millennium BC According to Micropaleontological Analysis Data

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of micropaleontological studies of stones that were found during the study of the pier of the ancient Greek city of Phanagoria. Foraminifers of the Late Turonian, Coniacian, Campanian, and Maastrichtian, which are characteristic of Central Tethys zones, have been recorded in the samples. This makes it possible to exclude the Crimean–Caucasian region from the possible regions of origin of the material. The absence of signs of deformation and metamorphism in the studied rocks may indicate their origin outside the Aegean Sea area. The closest areas to the studied rocks with respect to genesis and geochronology are Upper Cretaceous carbonate strata on the southern coast of the Black Sea near the ancient cities of Heraclea and Sinope.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank their colleagues from the Equipment Analytics Room (Laboratory) of the Orlov Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Laboratory of Local Methods of Matter Study, Department of Petrology, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, for providing the opportunity to study shells using scanning electron microscopes. The authors are also grateful to A.S. Alekseev and N.Yu. Bragin for discussion of the results and valuable advice on the interpretation of the materials and geology of the Black Sea region. The authors are especially grateful to E.M. Tesakova (Moscow State University) for the very careful analysis of complex issues and invaluable assistance in preparing this paper.

Funding

This study was performed within the themes of the state assignment of the Geological Institute of the Russian Federation (no. 0114-2021-0003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia

    A. O. Khotylev, L. F. Kopaevich, M. R. Latypova, A. A. Mayorov & F. S. Shchepelev

  2. Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    P. A. Proshina

  3. Underwater Archaeological Heritage Center, Institute of Archeology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117292, Moscow, Russia

    S. V. Olkhovskiy

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  1. A. O. Khotylev
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  2. L. F. Kopaevich
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  3. M. R. Latypova
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  5. A. A. Mayorov
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  6. S. V. Olkhovskiy
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Correspondence to A. O. Khotylev, L. F. Kopaevich, M. R. Latypova, P. A. Proshina, A. A. Mayorov, S. V. Olkhovskiy or F. S. Shchepelev.

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Translated by D. Zabolotny

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Khotylev, A.O., Kopaevich, L.F., Latypova, M.R. et al. Imports of Building Stone to the Northern Black Sea Region in the Middle of the First Millennium BC According to Micropaleontological Analysis Data. Moscow Univ. Geol. Bull. 78, 183–199 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0145875223020072

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