Located in the Ukrainian forest steppe, the Bilsk archaeological complex is the largest archaeological site in the region, covering an area of about 5000 hectares (more than 50 km2) with 37 km of complex fortifications and several settlements and cemeteries. This grandiose archaeological complex, inhabited from the 8th to the 4th century B.C., includes the Western Fortification, the Eastern Fortification, and the Kuzemyn Fortification, which are interconnected by the ramparts of the Great Fortification of the Bilsk settlement. The powerful defenses consisted of deep ditches and high ramparts with wooden walls. The largest mound necropolises of the Bilsk settlement are located to the west and northwest of the Great Fortification. These are the cemeteries named Skorobir, Osniagy, Marchenky, Sarancheve Pole, and Pereshchepyne.
Bilsk’s importance in archaeological studies is determined by the developed system of connections between the remotest corners of the ancient world and the local production of iron and nonferrous metal items. Situated 500 km north of the Black Sea, Bilsk has a rich and varied record of finds of Greek origin, as well as other imports.
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