GORODNYA – KYIV DEFENSIVE WALLS IN IX–XIII CENTURIES. PART ONE. RAMPARTS

Authors

  • Vadym Lukyanchenko National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15407/mics2016.01.087

Keywords:

Ancient Kyiv, defensive walls, ramparts, city

Abstract

The article examines the issues of structural and functional features of ground shafts as a component of defensive structures of the city of Kyiv IX – XIII centuries. Based on a detailed analysis of the scientific literature on the problem and the available written sources, materials of archaeological research, scientific and hypothetical reconstruction of urban defensive fortifications of the Slavs of a certain time, as well as the experience of reproduction of the fortifications of medieval Europe in the territory of modern Ukraine, Poland and Denmark, it is suggested to own the evolution of the earthen fortifications of.
The author denies the widespread idea about the widespread development in the Ancient Rus in the ninth and thirteenth centuries defence structures, which were a complex timber structure that consisted of a reinforced earth shaft and wooden fortifications of various kinds above it. It is argued that the division of earth shaft structures into "complex" (tree-reinforced) and "simple" (non-reinforced) types are erroneous. According to the author, the reinforcement of earth shafts at the beginning of their erection was never performed. It has been concluded that, first, virtually all earthen shafts and their wooden structures, which functioned for a long time, were not preserved in their original form; second, the fortification builders of that time did not have the proper education to design and construct such structures. In the course of construction, they were guided by their own experience and circumstances; therefore, "complex shaft type structures" are not the product of a single design; they are the result of multiple repairs and remodelling of initially low timber fortifications; thirdly, the complexity of the fortifications was influenced solely by the duration of the active functioning of the monument.
The article is accompanied by numerous illustrative material, including the author's reconstructions of the evolution of tree-walled defensive walls and methods of their strengthening at various stages of construction.

References

Darkevich, V.P. i Bogusevich, G.V. (1995). Drevnyaya stolitsa ryazanskoy zemli. Moskva, Rossiya: Izdatelstvo “Krug”.

Grigorev V. (2000) Ceverskaya zemlya v VIII – nachale XI veka po arkheologicheskim dannym. Tula, Rossiya: “GRIF i Ko”.

Koziuba, V. K. (2008) “Misto Volodymyra” u Kyievi: istorychna realnist chy istoriohrafichnyi mif? V O. P. Motsia (Hol. Red.) Starodavnii Iskorosten i slovianski hrady. Zbirka naukovykh prats (T. I, ss. 237–271). Korosten, Ukraina: Triada S.

Kuchera, M.P. (1999). Sloviano-ruski horodyshcha VIII–XIII st. mizh Sanom i Siverskym Dintsem. Kyiv, Ukraina: Instytut arkheolohii NAN Ukrainy.

Kyievo-Pecherska lavra-pamiatka istorii ta kultury Ukrainy (2006). Red.-uporiadnyk Yu. O. Ivanchenko. Kyiv, Ukraina: Natsionalnyi Kyievo-Pecherskyi istoryko-kulturnyi zapovidnyk.

Morgunov, Yu. Yu. (2007). Fortifikatsiya yuzhnoy Rusi X–XIII vv. Avtoreferat na soiskanie uchenoy stepeni doktora istoricheskikh nauk. Moskva, Rossiya: Institut arkheologi RAN.

Movchan, I. I., Borovskyi, Ya. Ye.i Honchar, V. M. (2003) Nove u vyvcheni oboronnykh sporud Kyieva. V Novi doslidzhennia davnikh pamiatok Kyieva (ss. 150–162). Kyiv, Ukraina.

Myshanych, O. V. (Vidp. red.) (1989). Litopys ruskyi (L. Ye. Makhnovets, Per. z davnorus.). Kyiv, Ukraina: Dnipro.

Rappoport P.A. (1956). Drevnerusskie kreposti. Moskva, SSSR: Izdatelstvo AN SSSR.

Rappoport P.A. (1956). Ocherki po istorii Russkogo voennogo zodchestva X–XIII vv. Moskva, SSSR: Izdatelstvo Akademii nauk SSSR

Violle-le-Dyuk, E.E. (2007). Kreposti i osadnye orudiya. Sredstva vedeniya voyny v Srednie veka. Moskva, Rossiya: Tsentrpoligraf.

Published

2017-06-14

How to Cite

Lukyanchenko, V. (2017). GORODNYA – KYIV DEFENSIVE WALLS IN IX–XIII CENTURIES. PART ONE. RAMPARTS. City: History, Culture, Society, (1), 87–105. https://doi.org/10.15407/mics2016.01.087

Issue

Section

Urban Archaeology