Novyye Duboviki (Russian: Новые Дубовики; literally: "New Oak Grove") is an archaeological site in Leningrad Oblast of Russia, located about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) south of Ladoga upstream the Volkhov River, at the head of the lower Volkhov rapids.
In the Early Middle Ages, Novyye Duboviki was the site of a Norse-Slavic fort, which guarded the crossing of the rapids. The settlement flourished in the late 9th century, but was burned to the ground in the early 10th century. It was later revived on a much smaller scale, and was operated by the Novgorod Republic in the High Middle Ages, as a minor pogost.
Although the site is seriously damaged by modern building activities, a series of excavations, undertaken since 1884, revealed traces of a predominantly Scandinavian settlement, covering no less than six hectares. The fort was ringed by at least ten burial mounds, ranging from seven to ten metres in height. The tallest barrow, built around a 9-metre-high vertical pole, stands 10.5 metres (34 ft) high.
Recent research established Duboviki as key to understanding the earliest fortifications of Holmgard (Novgorod). As Ladoga did not possess strong fortifications in the early medieval period, it was Duboviki that shielded Novgorod from potential attacks by the Norse raiders. The Varangian (and later Slavic) military stationed at Duboviki could effectively block the passage for pirate ships moving up the Volkhov towards Novgorod.
Prior to the construction of the hydroelectric station, the shores of the river near Duboviki were craggy, exceeding twenty metres in height. As late as the 19th century, dozens of boats were shipwrecked while passing the rapids each year. Remains of another early medieval fort were detected at the head of the upper Volkhov rapids slightly upstream.
As a result of this ingenious system of natural and man-made defences, medieval Novgorod was never susceptible to pirate attacks, unlike its principal rivals, such as Sigtuna, Ladoga, Kaup, and others.
Referencesedit
Кузьмин С.Л., Тарасов И.И. Раскопки поселения Новые Дубовики в 1998 г. // Ладога и эпоха викингов. Четвертые чтения памяти Анны Мачинской. St. Petersburg, 1998.
Кузьмин С.Л. Волховские пороги в эпоху средневековья. // Новгород и Новгородская Земля. История и археология. №12. Novgorod, 1998.
Носов Е.Н. Поселение у ладожских порогов. // Краткие сообщения о докладах и полевых исследованиях Института археологии АН СССР. Moscow, 1976. №146.
December 18, 2023
novye, duboviki, novyye, duboviki, russian, Новые, Дубовики, literally, grove, archaeological, site, leningrad, oblast, russia, located, about, kilometres, south, ladoga, upstream, volkhov, river, head, lower, volkhov, rapids, early, middle, ages, novyye, dubo. Novyye Duboviki Russian Novye Duboviki literally New Oak Grove is an archaeological site in Leningrad Oblast of Russia located about 9 kilometres 5 6 mi south of Ladoga upstream the Volkhov River at the head of the lower Volkhov rapids In the Early Middle Ages Novyye Duboviki was the site of a Norse Slavic fort which guarded the crossing of the rapids The settlement flourished in the late 9th century but was burned to the ground in the early 10th century It was later revived on a much smaller scale and was operated by the Novgorod Republic in the High Middle Ages as a minor pogost Although the site is seriously damaged by modern building activities a series of excavations undertaken since 1884 revealed traces of a predominantly Scandinavian settlement covering no less than six hectares The fort was ringed by at least ten burial mounds ranging from seven to ten metres in height The tallest barrow built around a 9 metre high vertical pole stands 10 5 metres 34 ft high Recent research established Duboviki as key to understanding the earliest fortifications of Holmgard Novgorod As Ladoga did not possess strong fortifications in the early medieval period it was Duboviki that shielded Novgorod from potential attacks by the Norse raiders The Varangian and later Slavic military stationed at Duboviki could effectively block the passage for pirate ships moving up the Volkhov towards Novgorod Prior to the construction of the hydroelectric station the shores of the river near Duboviki were craggy exceeding twenty metres in height As late as the 19th century dozens of boats were shipwrecked while passing the rapids each year Remains of another early medieval fort were detected at the head of the upper Volkhov rapids slightly upstream As a result of this ingenious system of natural and man made defences medieval Novgorod was never susceptible to pirate attacks unlike its principal rivals such as Sigtuna Ladoga Kaup and others References editKuzmin S L Tarasov I I Raskopki poseleniya Novye Duboviki v 1998 g Ladoga i epoha vikingov Chetvertye chteniya pamyati Anny Machinskoj St Petersburg 1998 Kuzmin S L Volhovskie porogi v epohu srednevekovya Novgorod i Novgorodskaya Zemlya Istoriya i arheologiya 12 Novgorod 1998 Nosov E N Poselenie u ladozhskih porogov Kratkie soobsheniya o dokladah i polevyh issledovaniyah Instituta arheologii AN SSSR Moscow 1976 146 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Novye Duboviki amp oldid 1105588051, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
