Archaeologists have now, at long last, confirmed the location of the long-lost Ottoman fortress of Hajibey and the earlier Genoese stronghold of Ginestra, located under Odesa’s Primorsky Boulevard in Ukraine. The discovery was made by an expedition from the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University and the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences while excavating for three weeks near the well-known Duke de Richelieu monument.
This site, long believed to contain remains of ancient settlements, had never before been fully excavated—until now. Researchers uncovered cultural layers revealing that a 14th-century Genoese fortress was once there, which was later replaced by the Ottoman fortress of Hajibey. The Genoese fort, Ginestra, would have been occupied by traders from the maritime Republic of Genoa, who had a prominent presence in the region surrounding the Black Sea during the Middle Ages.
The results confirmed previous radar scanning conducted in 2021 that detected anomalies under the square. Recent excavations revealed the ruins of an Ottoman coastal artillery battery between the Duke monument, the funicular, and surrounding alleys—about 40 by 40 meters in size. The battery was made up of stone walls just a few meters from the cliff, meant to protect the harbor with cannonballs. The location of the construction, at 32 meters above sea level, was strategic as it allowed defenders to control the harbor and nearby ravines.
Remnants of destruction were widespread. Various walls had been dismantled, and their stones reused after Russian forces captured and leveled the fortress in 1789. Amidst the debris were Ottoman pilaster capitals and pieces of ceramics and bronze artifacts.
Scientists also identified layers that date to the 5th century BCE, indicating that the location was once part of the ancient Greek settlement of Histrian Harbor. This layer attests to the fact that the history of Odesa is not limited to the medieval period but goes far deeper in time.
Evidence of 14th-century Genoese artifacts, including imported Byzantine coins and ceramics, attests unequivocally to the existence of the Ginestra trading post. The artifacts are evidence of the influence of Genoa at the time when the republic controlled most Black Sea trade routes and benefited from commercial activities, including the slave trade.
The exact site of Hajibey Castle had been disputed for nearly two centuries because of the lack of maps and visible remains. Its foundations had been thought to be destroyed due to landslides and new construction. Architectural features consistent with 18th-century designs and a strategic location aligning with historical maps now assist in establishing the shape of the fortress.
This multi-layered excavation confirms Odesa’s rich history as a crossroads for trade and empires. Whatever lies beneath the city accounts not only for destruction and rebuilding but for hundreds of years of cultural exchange that shaped the region.
More information: Southern Ukrainian National Pedagogical University
