During all history Olbia was closely connected to the antique world. In V century BC it was, probably, visited by Gerodot, and at the end of I  century of our era - Dion Chrisost. Many antique authors mention Olbia. It was included into the Athenian sea union, was under besiegement of the troops of Alexander the Great which were led by the commander Zopirion. Olbia was affiliated to a province of the Roman empire. Besides Olbia rendered the large cultural influence on the environmental barbarous world - the Scythians, the Sarmatians, carriers of chernyakhov culture. However, for process of scientific knowledge the importance of study Olbia is determined first of all by high degree of safety of its Greek layers. Now here they are opened much more full, than at other centers of Northern Pontia.

In 1794 the academician P.S. Pallas has established an exact site of Olbia. However, systematic archaeological researches here have begun much later, they were carried out by three generations of the scientists: in the beginning under a management of B.V. Pharmakovsky (1902 - 1926) and then Scientific council, then by followers of B. V. Pharmakovsky - L. M. Slavina (Kiev), À. N. Karaseva and Å. I. Levi (Leningrad) - (1936 - 1971, expedition Academy of Science USSR till 1974), now here works modern generation of the researchers under a management of S.D. Kryzitsky (1972 - present time).

The concrete tasks of field researches at each stage of study Olbia were various, however there were united by, system, a uniform technique of field works, which bases were incorporated by B.V. Pharmakovsky, and also continuity and thematic completeness.

The results of works under a management of B. V. Pharmakovsky were regularly published in «the Reports of Imperial archaeological commission», «News of Imperial archaeological commission», later - «the Messages GAIMK». We list only basic objects, which were dug out in that time. First of all it were defensive structures of city: northern town gate IV-III centuries, fragments of northern, northeast and western walls of a citadel of the Roman time, and also rich inhabited quarters in a southern part of the Bottom city (site NGF), in the central part of the Top city (site AGD); structures of I-III centuries BC on territory of a citadel. The various sites of necropolis from archaic till the Roman time, including two monumental structures - stone crypts of Zeus burial hill, burial hill of Evrisivy and Apeta of second half II century were investigated also. All this has allowed to determine northern and western borders of the town and its citadel, to look after designs of defensive walls of Hellenistic and Roman time, to receive representation about rich apartment houses of Hellenistic Olbia, to find out general character of burial monuments.

At the second stage (1936-1971-73 ) the works in Olbia were carried out by scientists from Kiev and Leningrad. In the beginning the archaeological researches were headed by L.M. Slavin (Kiev), then the expedition shared on Kiev - led by L.M. Slavin, and Leningrad - led by A.N. Karasev and E.I. Levi. The excavations of these years also has received sufficient reflection in the scientific literature. Basic results of the excavations were opening of temenos of Apollo Delphinius and agora with buildings, surrounding it, building of court, apartment houses V-II cent. BC in the Central quarter, on sites AGD, I, NG. In the Bottom city also were revealed kurtines and tower of a defensive wall of Roman Olbia, and also rests of inhabited and economic constructions of this time. The works in territory of a citadel were carried out on the places where were investigated a building Pretoria, metalcutting workshop, fragment of northern wall of a citadel and rests of an peristil apartment house near it. On Olbia necropolis were opened basically entombments of classical and Hellenistic time.