Wooden Structures of the Starodub Fortress of the XVI–XVIII centuries (to the 40th anniversary of the start of research)

Abstract

In 1983, 1985, 1987–1988 and 1994, rescue archaeological excavations of the historical center of the annalistic town of Starodub (modern Russian – Ukrainian borderland) were conducted. These studies revealed a low-power Old Rus cultural layer, which was covered by the cultural layer of the XVI – middle of the XVIII century. This layer contained the fire traces of the Starodub War period (1535) and the remains of a fortress, erected on the site of a fire by decree of Elena Glinskaya. The remains of wooden fortifications unique to the region have been preserved. These are the “brama” (gates) of the Bastion Probitoy and remains of a wide earthen rampart with a log palisade and lattice klets (store-rooms) inside. In addition, part of the wooden pavement in the state sazhen is also studied. Starodub fortress is interesting because it combines: 1. European planning (it is one of the first earthen fortresses with bastions in the territory of Muscovy), 2. The wide earthen ramparts with a palisade on a slope (typical for Cossack fortifications in the Dnieper region). 3. Chopped towers in the so-called "simplified Russian style". Due to the building work at the site, it was not possible to preserve and museumification of the discovered wooden unique constructions.

Keywords

• archaeology
• starodub
• xvi–xviii century
• wooden fortifications
• earthen fortifications
• wooden pavement
• cossacks