Archaeological investigation
on Lava Hillfort, Kirovsk distr. Len.obl., Russia
Lava
Hillfort on the Russian-Sweden frontier is well known throw many documents
of 17th c.
According to Valerij Petrenko's
opinion it appeared on the place of Novgorod medieval Novgorod reinforced
settling with the lays of 12-13 cc. Later, with 1500 and before the end
of 16th c. - before the hillfort building a village existed on the place.
Before forfeitures created by Ivan III it be-longed one of the most largest
landowners of Ladoga district Fedor Pobeditsky. Petrenko's studies revealed
the traces of tollgate XVII в. on Lava borough; is necessary to notice
that frontier fortification system along the Russian-Swedish borders of
1617-1700 was clearly connected with the main transport pathways
- all of these - Lava tollgate, Tesovo hillfort, Kostovo tollgate were
clearly clinging to roads.
The negotiations between
Moscow and Sweden commissars were hold in 1617 firstly on the bridge across
the river, then on horses in the river valley.
In the 17th c. there was
not a constant garrison, but alternately were on duty troops of cossacks
and streltsers, most often from Ladoga.
2001
During the excavations in August
2001 we studied a very small part of the settlement. All the achieved data
belongs to 17th c. (only one fragment of probably more ancient ceramic
was founded). Flint
(a thing used in a gun), handle
of a knife or an awl (founded outside the wall), bone disk,
a part of a small bronze cross,
bronze buckle
(inside of the walls) were founded this year. But the system of fortification
seems to be of Old Russian period.
2002
In 2002 we continued studies
on the place of Lava hillfort.
The wall of the hillfort
was the main object of excavation. It is about 3 mteres heigh and was done
in 2 times, probably first in late Old-Russian period, then in 17th c.
