Chebaki fortress, Bronze Age mountain fortress in Khakassia, Russia

Chebaki fortress is a Bronze Age structure on Mount Takh in Khakassia, with two dry-stone walls of sandstone slabs. The outer wall, 210 m long, cuts off a saddle and encloses an area of 160 by 170 m; the inner wall surrounds a small citadel. Inside the citadel are a semi-dugout about 4 by 15 m and two stone outbuildings of 4×5 m and 4×6 m.

The fortress originates from the Okunev culture and demonstrates settlement patterns from the Bronze Age in Southern Siberia. Archaeological investigations spanning decades uncovered artifacts and structural details that confirm this ancient time period.

The fortress represents one of 45 similar mountain structures in Southern Siberia, demonstrating the architectural methods and defense strategies of ancient societies.

The site sits on Mount Takh near Chebaki village and requires advance planning to visit. Accessibility varies by season and visitors should prepare appropriately and check local conditions before traveling.

Excavations in the citadel covered 330 m² and yielded 32,000 bone fragments; Sablin of the Zoological Institute in St. Petersburg identified 16 wild species, among them roe deer, maral, elk, musk deer, bear and lynx, while domestic animals were represented by only a few individuals. No hearth was found anywhere in the cultural layer, which is why the site is hard to interpret as a fortified farmstead.