Problems of Engineering Seismology: article

Аnnotation: The historical and architectural study of the Surb Khach monastery shows that the main buildings of the complex (the temple of the Holy Sign, gavit, refectory) were erected in the XIV – early XV century, which allows us to attribute the deformations identified in them to one strong seismic event. Apparently, it was the earthquake of 1423, the traces of which were identified and described by us in the architectural ensemble of the Uzbek mosque and the Inji-Bey-Khatun madrasah in the city of Staryi Krym, located near the studied monastery. The damage caused by this strong earthquake was also discovered by us during an archaeoseismological examination of the walls of the Sudak fortress, and systematic seismogenic deformations identified in the walls of medieval temples and curtinas and the tower of St. Constantine in Kaffa-Feodosia belong to the same event. The seismic event was characterized by a submeridional propagation of maximum seismic oscillations; its epicentral zone was apparently located in the South Crimean seismogenic zone. In the monastery of Surb Khach, the traces of this earthquake, apparently, include a counterclockwise rotation of the entire eastern wall of the temple of the Holy Sign, the tilts of the outer walls of the refectory and the southern wall of the temple, as well as probably significant interblock cracks in the northern wall of the atrium and the southern wall of the temple of the Holy Sign. Such significant deformations could occur only in an earthquake with IL ≥ VIII. After the earthquake of 1423, the buildings of the Surb Khach monastery were largely damaged or even destroyed (the rooms to the north and south of the modern atrium); these seismic deformations were subsequently repaired. The second strong earthquake in the area of Staryi Krym and the monastery of Surb Khach occurred in the XIX century. This earthquake was also detected by us in the walls of medieval temples and towers in Kaffa-Feodosia. It dates back to 08.08.1875, its epicentral zone was located to the west of the city of Feodosia. In the monastery of Surb Khach, the second earthquake manifested itself in the form of deformations of arches and vaults, as well as cracking of stone door and window plates. Seismic damage is observed in buildings built in the second half of the XVII century, when large-scale construction works were carried out in the monastery, which were completed by 1694 and significantly changed its appearance: in particular, a complex of cells and a gatehouse appeared. There is also significant damage in these buildings. Such deformations could occur only in an earthquake with IL ≥ VII. The historical and macroseismic information obtained during the survey of the Surb Khach monastery can be used to compile a new map of the seismic deformation of the Crimean Peninsula and a new assessment of the seismic hazard of the southern part of the Republic of Crimea. These data can also become the basis for a new interpretation of the historical development of Crimea in the late Middle Ages.