Destructive Crimean Earthquake in the Second Half of the 15th Century

Abstract

Four Crimean archeological monuments bearing traces of specific deformations in their structures are considered. Detailed analysis of these structures revealed that they suffered from seismic impacts in the medieval period: such deformations as interblock cracks, cracks in windows and window sills, clockwise or counterclockwise rotations of wall sections, upslope toppling, deformation (short-term opening) arch structures, etc. Archeological and historical analysis allowed chronological stratification of these seismogenic deformations, making it possible to identify and date several medieval earthquakes. Traces of one of them (which occurred in the second half of the 15th century) were found at three monuments: the Ilka tile production center, the Mangup fortress, and the Chorgun tower. Maximum seismic impacts, which caused damage to the Ilka tile production center (one of its kilns), Chorgun tower, and the Theodoro Palace of Dominus, apparently originated from the West Crimean seismogenic zone, where earthquakes with M ≥ 6.5 can occur. This earthquake dates back to the second half of the 15th century. Earlier, this earthquake was known only from one historical source and did not raise much confidence among researchers. However, the discovery and description of seismogenic deformations of the Funa fortress, attributed to the year 1423, made it possible to prove the occurrence of another strong seismic event in Crimea in the second half of the 15th century, in addition to the well-known earthquake of 1423.