Again about the Sviyazhsk Fortress of 1551

Abstract

The article deals with the accurate definition of the construction elements of the Sviyazhsk fortress (middle of the XVI century), proposed in the article by A.M. Gubaidullin and R.N. Khamzin. Based on the 2016 excavation data, as well as examples of European fortification of the XIV-XV centuries, a different reconstruction of the Sviyazhsk fortifications is proposed by the author. It is hypothesized that some of the fortifications of Sviyazhsk were not fundamental and were structures, built for temporarily contain the enemy. The construction of such structures was as simple as possible, did not imply any complex elements. It was a sparse paling. The simplicity of the design was due to the short time of construction of the fortress, lack of materials and absence of serious danger of using firearms by the troops of the Kazan Khanate.

Keywords

• archaeology
• middle ages
• sviyazhsk fortress
• fortification
• history of fortification