The object of the research – the ancient and medieval history of the South-Western Crimea in the travel notes of the late XVIII – 1st half of the XIX century. The dissertation purpose: on the basis of the system analysis of travel notes of the late XVIII – 1st half of the XIX century to reveal and to generalize the information in their notes concerning ancient and medieval monuments of coast of the South-Western Crimea, which has scientific value for study of a history and culture of the Crimean peninsula. The methods: logic, historical; a method of coordination of system; reconstruction, description, measurement, analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, classification, typologization, method of analogy, methods of the structural and functional analysis, static and dynamic; a method of problem interpretation. Scientific novelty: based on a systematic analysis of the works, the information about ancient and medieval monuments of South-Western Crimea was found; these materials have scientific value for the study of the history and culture of the Crimean peninsula; the author has analyzed more than 60 works of 52 authors; most of them (43) left memoirs about the Southwestern Crimean region; the newest information about the life and work of unknown authors is used. Particular attention is given to individuals of travelers; target instruction of their visits is reconstructed and understood; a new methodological approach to historical reconstruction is used (the method of problematic interpretation); the effectiveness of comparative analysis is revealed; through a comparative analysis key issues were identified; these problems of ancient history of South-Western Crimea sharpened the attention of the authors while they were visiting the historical and archeological sites (Chersonesus, Inkerman, Balaclava, cape Fiolent); those key issues are: the location and year of foundation of ancient Chersonesus, New and Old Chersonesus, the safety of historical objects, the defences of Chersonesus, it’s neighborhood; Inkerman; Balaclava; the Sacred Cape and Parthenos Temple. Practical value of research: the materials of the dissertation can be used as a theoretical basis for the further spelling of on thematic scientific works, for preparation of special courses on a history of Ukraine and Crimea of times of ancient and medieval ages, history of Russia and Crimea in New time, and also in cultural-mass, educational and museum-exhibition work. Sphere of use: higher educational institutions, museum.
