(Source: http://osradio.ru/culture)

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on establishment of Phanagoria State Historical and Archaeological Museum-reserve, the website of the Russian government reports. The newly established museum-reserve, which will be assigned the status of state budgetary cultural establishment, was founded by Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

"The main functions of the institution will be providing educational and scientific research activities, as well as the identification, collection, museumification, storage, governmental accounting, the study of museum objects and museum collections (archaeological objects), preservation of cultural (archaeological) heritage," the report says.

Antique polis city of Phanagoria was located on the shore of the Gulf of Taman between contemporary settlements of Sennaya and Primorsky of Temryuksky District of Krasnodar Krai. Phanagoria, founded by Hellenic settlers about 540 BC is a large ancient archaeological site and one of the oldest cities in Russia.

As it was shown by researches conducted by the Institute of Archaeology of RAS, the city existed for about 15 centuries. Establishing Phanagoria Museum-reserve will ensure the preservation and promotion of the archaeological heritage in the Krasnodar Krai. In addition, it is intended to create additional conditions for attracting tourists.