Bilgorod-Dnistrovskiy is considered to be one of the ten oldest cities in the world which have been continuously populated. Just think that Rome, Athens, Damascus, Beijing are in the same list. The city was founded 2,500 years ago by Greek settlers from Milet polis and named Tir. In the middle of the 1st century A.D. Tir was a part of the Roman province of Lower Mesia. Having received the right to mint coins indicates Tir’s importance and autonomy within the Roman Empire. The archeological excavations of ancient Tir started at the beginning of the 20th century. Archeologists cleared a number of streets and houses and found many artefacts including tools, adornments, pottery, marble plates with inscriptions, coins, etc.