Archaeological reserve museum "Tanais" was opened for visitors in August 1961. Its foundation was laid by an expedition of the Institute of Archaeology, the USSR Academy of Sciences. From the beginning of the 3rd century BC till the mid 5 th century AD Tanais was the northeastern point of the ancient world. It was founded by Bosporus Greeks in the delta of the Tanais river (the present day river Don). The town was a big commercial and handicraft centre and played an important part in the development of contacts with numerous nomadic tribes of the steppes. An original syncretiс culture with the elements of Greek and local ones was formed here. In the open air display of the reserve you can see houses, streets, defensive walls and towers of the ancient town. In the museum there are articles of everyday life as well as evidence of production and commercial activities of the town's inhabitants. The museum's depository keeps unique reference collection of amphorae and other archaeological materials of the early AD centuries