The relief of ancient Vitebsk is acquiring clearer outlines thanks to the efforts of archaeologists

October 22, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. Archaeological research results in Vitebsk over the past 10 years have significantly clarified the historical relief of the ancient city. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by Olga Levko, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Center for the History of Pre-Industrial Society at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, who has been involved in excavations in the regional center since 1976. In recent years, archaeological observation has become the main form of research in Vitebsk. Historians are tied to construction work that is underway in the regional center. Specialists carefully monitor earthworks, stop equipment when necessary, carry out cleaning, and document discovered materials. The modern relief of Vitebsk does not accurately reflect the historical situation that existed several centuries ago, and large-scale construction work allows for a broader historical perspective, Olga Levko emphasized. For example, during the reconstruction of the Kirov Bridge in the city center, archaeologists managed to discover fragments of the stone wall of Algirdas's castle on the bank of the Western Dvina River. These fragments perfectly correlate with the sections of the castle wall discovered in 1977 and allow for a clearer definition of the contour of the ancient structure. Specialists also observed construction in the area of the Summer Amphitheater and the construction of the "Marko-City" business center, which are being carried out along the ancient castle stream. This made it possible to clarify the location of the stream's course in ancient times. At a depth of 7-9 m, remains of buildings from the late 18th century were found. "This means that the current hollow is not the historical riverbed, the ancient relief of this part of the city looked completely different," said Olga Levko. In addition, archaeologists discovered remains of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the hollow, which is marked on city plans from the late 18th century, and near the riverbed (turn to Kalinin Street), elements of the Resurrection Zaruchye Church and several burials were found. Another find – fragments of wooden storage structures – made it possible to establish the exact location of the Vzgorsky Ostrog wall in the city center on the bank of the Vitba River. "We took core samples and handed them over to the Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences, which is currently creating a dendrochronological scale for ancient Belarusian cities," added Olga Levko.