Поволжская археология (Jun 2016)

New Studies on the Territory of Malyi Gorodok on Bolgar Fortifi ed Settlement

  • Belyaev Leonid A. ,
  • Elkina Irina I.,
  • Lazukin Alexandr V.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 16
pp. 151 – 163

Abstract

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Malyi gorodok is a monumental architectural ensemble, located at the southern extremity of the Bolgar fortifi ed settlement and dated by the second half of 14th c.; it was substantially, but not fully studied during the digs of 1981–1984. In 2011–2015, the authors of this article undertook a new fi eld research on the site, during which they completely cleared the southern structure. The debris discovered belonged to an earlier unstudied stone structure – a mausoleum with fi ve burials. The authors carried out another stratigraphic study of fortifi cations to prove that the internal ditch was not accompanied by a wall, while the external ditch was. Generally, the new data prove the fi ndings of 1980s, including the hypothesis that the ensemble, or at least its north-eastern part, was meant for cult.