17 August 2026
(PHOTO: Screenshot from a video)
Andriy Krasnozhon, Ph.D. in History and archaeologist, spoke with "Intent" about the results of many years of research on Primorsky Boulevard in Odessa, where archaeologists were able to pinpoint the location of Khadzhibey Castle and clarify the boundaries of the ancient Greek settlement of Gavan Istrian.
According to the scholar, the excavations make it possible to trace the history of several different settlements and cultural layers within a single territory—from antiquity through medieval Dzhinestra and Kochubiev to Ottoman-era Khadzhibey.
Archaeologists have long been aware of the existence of an ancient settlement on the territory of Primorsky Boulevard. However, recent research has made it possible to determine its northern boundary with much greater precision.
As Krasnozhon explains, a fortification from a later period literally cuts into the ancient cultural layer. About eight meters away from it, researchers also identified a structure tentatively interpreted as the remains of an ancient defensive wall. At the same time, the archaeologist emphasizes that this interpretation remains a working hypothesis for now and requires further study.
That is why, according to the researcher, the stratification of different historical eras can be traced at a single site.
The ancient port of Istrian was located on the site of today’s Primorsky Boulevard; later, traces of medieval Dzhinestra can be seen here, and subsequently, those of Ottoman Khadzhibey. Intent previously reported that archaeological research revealed a 14th-century cultural layer associated with Ginestra, as well as coins and numerous ceramic fragments from that period.
One of the main results of the long-term research was the identification of the location of Hadzhibey Castle.
Archaeologists compared the results of the excavations with historical plans and documents, including 18th-century cartographic materials. In 2025, they announced that they had gathered enough data to pinpoint the castle’s location on Primorsky Boulevard.
At the excavation site, a large circular structure was discovered, which archaeologists identify as a tower of an Ottoman fortification complex. Researchers also documented signs of the structure’s destruction and dismantling.
According to Krasnozhon, this is indeed an Ottoman fortification that was used during the Ottoman Empire. After the storming of Khadzhibey in 1789, the fortress was blown up, and its structures were later dismantled for building materials.
At the same time, the archaeologist suggests making a clear distinction between proven facts and scientific hypotheses. That is why researchers continue to verify the origins of individual structures.
A separate section of the study focuses on the names and how various historical sources referred to this territory.
According to Krasnozhon, maps from various periods feature the names Hadzhibey, Kochubiev, and other spellings. At least ten maps allow for a fairly precise localization of Hadzhibey in the area of modern-day Odesa.
Of particular interest is a map from 1766, which mentions “the town of Hadzhibey, currently under construction,” while separately marking “the ruins of ancient Kachubey.” According to the archaeologist, this may indicate that in 18th-century Ottoman Hadzhibey, there was already a local tradition regarding an ancient settlement associated with Kochubiev.
Thus, archaeological findings, historical documents, and old maps come together to form a coherent picture of the development of this territory.
Krasnozhon also emphasizes that Hadzhibey should not be imagined as a small, isolated settlement surrounding a fortress.
According to him, there was a stone mosque, a khan or caravanserai, a port pier, and storage facilities here. The settlement itself was located on the slopes of what is now Karantinnaya Balka, while the fortress stood separately on a hill near Primorsky Boulevard.
It is precisely the presence of such infrastructure that allows the researcher to refer to Hadzhibey as a city of its time, rather than merely a settlement.
<span class="ratio ratio-16x9">
One of the key conclusions from Krasnozhon’s interview is that modern Odessa did not spring up out of nowhere after 1794.
Previous settlements existed within the city’s boundaries, serving various functions and linked to trade and transportation routes.
According to the archaeologist, it has long been standard practice in academic circles to refer to the ancient Greek port of Istrian, the medieval Dzhinestra, and the Ottoman-era Khadzhibey as the historical predecessors of modern Odessa.
Therefore, in his opinion, the discussion should not revolve around the question of “whether there was anything here before Odessa, ” but rather around specific aspects of the history of these settlements: their boundaries, dating, functions, and connections between them.
An important part of this history is the economic role of Odessa and its predecessors.
Its coastal location made this territory a natural transportation hub. Trade links with the inland regions of the Black Sea coast and the Right Bank passed through the port. In later periods, it was the development of trade—particularly in grain from Podillia—that contributed to Odessa’s transformation into a major transportation and trade center. In his analysis, Krasnozhon emphasizes that the rationale for using this territory as a port and transportation hub can be traced back approximately 2,500 years.
In this context, the history of Odessa emerges not as the history of a city created “from scratch” by an imperial decree at the end of the 18th century, but as a continuation of the long history of a port and commercial center on the Black Sea coast.
At the same time, Krasnozhon himself points out that the history of Odessa was heavily politicized throughout the 20th century. According to him, during the Soviet period, the question of Odessa’s predecessors was interpreted differently, whereas today archaeology, cartography, and written sources allow for a fresh look at the city’s history
Андрій Колісніченко