Studies of bolgar Fortified Settlements Defensive Structures by A.P. Smirnov

Abstract

The paper considers the archaeological studies of the Volga Bolgaria fortifications by the famous archaeologist –researcher of Bolgar A.P. Smirnov, one of the founders of Bolgar archaeology. His archaeological works on the Volga Bolgaria sites, started in the 30s of the XX century, served as an impulse for the development and further continuation of studies of medieval fortified settlements, located in the Middle Volga region. One of the important directions in archaeology, developed by A.P. Smirnov, was the study of fortified settlements of the X–XIV centuries. In particular, he paid serious attention to the defensive structures of these settlements, tried to determine the development of military engineering of that time in the region. The article presents his insight and interpretation of the fortification sites of the Bolgar period. Due to the archaeological excavations by the researcher, we got some of the first materials on the subject. This allowed his colleagues and following generations of scientists – archaeologists, historians and specialists in local history to use the most interesting scientific data, to lean on it in their work and, thus, to continue the archaeological studies of the defensive lines of the Bolgar fortified settlements.

Keywords

• archaeology
• middle volga region
• bolgar settlements
• fortification study