GRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTION OF DEFENSE BULWARK OF THE THIRD FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT OF IX - X CENTURIES. IN THE KOROSTEN CITY (ON BASIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA)
Authors: Rybchynskyi Nestor-Mykolai 
Published: February 2022

From ancient times, mankind has tried to protect their settlement from predators and enemies. This promoted to creation of comfortable living conditions. This contributed to the emergence of fortified settlements. On the territory that archaeologists associate with the Slavs tribe Drevlyany, settlements began to appear in the IX century. when the Great Migration of the Slavs was finally completed. Bohdan Zvizdetsky, researcher of drevlyan՚s antiquity, provided information about 20 fortified settlements between the Horyn and Teteriv rivers. Such settlements are called in Ukrainian «horodyshche». Unfortunately, researchers rarely turned to archaeological research of the fortifications of drevlyan՚s fortified settlements. They primarily paid attention to the filling of cultural layer and archaeological excavation of ancient cemeteries. Therefore, few fortifications have been studied: Rayky, Secont fortified settlement in Korosten, Malyn and Third fortified settlement in Korosten. In general, it is worth mentioning the researchers who studied and analyzed the fortifications of the settlements of Kyiveian Rus՚ in the IX - XIII centuries. P. Rappaport was one of the first to pay attention to the construction of defensive bulwarks in his opinion, main types of wooden structures were palisade and the pillar structure, when horizontal logs are clamped between two verticals, or in the grooves of one vertical. Another archaeologist who paid attention to the study of fortifications was M. Kuchera. In his opinion, the most used was a framework structure. As a basis of a design, he put three-, or four-walled framework. They could be separate segments of the defense wall, or be structurally combined into a single line. Another option for fortifications, the researcher considered the walls of the pillar structure. Archaeologist Yuri Morgunov is also tried to study of fortifications of Kyievian Rus՚. He singled out separate elements: Escarpments; ditches; wooden-earthen defense constructions. In the middle of XX century. military engineer B. Sperk considered various types of defensive walls of fortified settlements of Ancient Rus՚. He wrote that, the main types of walls were three- or four-walled framework. They could be separate segments of the defense wall, or be structurally combined into a single line. Also, architect Vadym Lukyanchenko was engaged in architectural analysis. He turned his attention to the construction of wooden and earth defense construction. According to him, the earliest type of fortifications was a palisade, and later there were several types of fortifications: three, or four-walled frameworks. Based on the work of other researchers, as well as on analogies from the monuments of Poland (Motych; Naszacowice; Zawada Lanckorońska), Czech Republic (Uherské Hradiště- Rybárny; Breclav-Pohansko; Vlastislav) , Slovakia (Spišske Tomášovce; Pobedim), Germany (Behren-Lübchin; Lenzen; Oldenburg; Berlin-Spandau) and Austria (Gars-Thunau), was created a graphic reconstruction of the south-eastern section of the defensive wall of fortified settlement №3 in Korosten. The main structure was a 4-walled framework. We assume that the diameter of the deck could be 250 mm. In addition, frameworks, as the main structure of the defensive wall, were also found on the early medieval fortified settlement near Olevsk, which is also considered as drevlyan՚s fortress. Hypothetical size of each framework could reach 2x2 m in plan and up to 3 m in height. On the top of framework could be a palisade. It was protection for the defenders of the fortress. It was system of fences. The diameter of the deck of a single pile could be 200 mm and a height of 1.8 m. The difference in the height of individual piles formed loopholes. The piles were located on the inside, near the outer wall of the framework. A similar construction can be traced on the already mentioned settlement of Motych and Gars-Thunau. For construction of wooden and earthen construction was required a wide range of tools. It was partially represented by archaeological finds: wooden shovels with metal shells, axes of various types, saws, etc. Despite the fact that other segments of the defensive line of third fortified settlement in Korosten have not been studied. Based on the plan published by I. Samoilovsky, it is possible to draw a conclusion that such a construction of the defensive wall was not found along the entire defensive perimeter. So, the section on the eastern side adjacent to the steep cliffs on the Uzh river does not have clear protective fortifications. Therefore, Therefore, it was possible that this area was fortified only with a palisade. Also, according to I. Samoilovsky's plan, the western and northern parts of the defensive perimeter are surrounded by a powerful bulwark, which most likely had a more complex structure with larger parameters of fortifications. Unfortunately, the worst studied element of the lines of defense of the settlements of the IX - X centuries is the entrance remains. Therefore, were used analogies from well-researched monuments in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In all cases, it had pillar structure withn the gate tower. It has an exclusively observation function, because they do not have loopholes. That is why in visualization gate structures is also only as observation and guard points. The outer wall of such a gatehouse could be made of boards. The volume of the watchtower could be covered with a gabled roof. This design required the installation of a roof ridge and the placement of wooden brackets for the stability of the structure. A wooden bridge over the defensive moat could be located in front of the entrance, which would facilitate access to the settlement in peacetime.