Russian scientists from the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences discovered in Gorokhovets, Vladimir Region, a large number of medieval burials dating back to the second half of the 12th century. This was reported by the press service of the university.

According to written sources, Gorokhovets was founded between 1158 and 1174 on the eastern borders of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. It is believed that the city was built from scratch. Currently, the medieval settlement is located on the territory of the Holy Trinity Monastery, and a necropolis of 105 barrows is located on the territory of the Central City Park.

  • Gorokhovets, Puzhalova Gora. Excavation site
  • © Institute of Archeology RAS

During excavations in the spring of 2020, scientists discovered 24 burials hidden under a park alley. Some of them were soil graves, the other was under burial mounds. A new study made it possible for the first time to date the burials in the middle of the XII - the beginning of the XIII century, that is, the time of the foundation of Gorokhovets.

The burials were rectangular pits, at the bottom of which the remains of the buried were found. The deceased are oriented with their heads to the west, buried in wooden coffins with their hands folded on their chest or in the abdomen.

In two male burials, metal buttons were found, in five female ones - temporal rings, woven rings and a bracelet made of non-ferrous metal. In a children's burial, archaeologists found a necklace of glass beads and moon pendants.

  • Temporal rings in situ (directly at the place of detection)
  • © Institute of Archeology RAS

“The ancient Russian inhabitants of Gorokhovets began to erect mounds on Puzhalova Gora at a time when mounds were no longer the norm in the old centers of East Slavic settlement. Here we see the parallel existence of both burial mounds and soil burials, and this is an interesting touch to understand the features of the medieval funeral rite, ”noted Academician Nikolai Makarov, director of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Further study of the findings will clarify the chronological relationship of the two groups of burials (barrow and ground), the researchers believe. They also hope to find out what is the reason for the existence of soil burials near the mounds: with the obsolescence of the burial rite or with the original variety of funeral rites of the medieval Slavs.

The final results of the excavation will help to understand how one of the small cities of North-Eastern Russia was formed, and the study of anthropological material will show who the first inhabitants of the medieval city were, what their life, habits and state of health were.