Sensations from the depths of ages

The third tower of the castle, thousand-year-old beads, a jeweller’s casting mould: we have examined the most significant archaeological finds of the season

Time ruins granite castles and covers towns with sand, but this makes it all the more interesting for archaeologists, armed with knowledge, shovels and brushes. Every year, in the warmer months, they head out into the fields to uncover more new pages of history. The archaeological season of 2025 proved to be challenging due to the torrential rains. However, the sunny, dry days, as if in compensation, brought sensational finds. With the help of staff from the Institute of History under Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences, we have compiled a top five of artefacts that are revolutionising our understanding of ancient times.

Church book clasp in Luchin

Today, Luchin is a small agro-town in Rogachev District. Historians are interested in a large annalistic city that stood on the border of Polotsk, Chernigov and Smolensk principalities. The route ‘from the Varangians to the Greeks’ passed through it. Its exact location was unknown. During excavations near Luchin, archaeologists found many artefacts. Among them was a bronze clasp from a church book. This rare artefact emphasises status, because in those days only a large, fully-fledged city with an administrative-military and ecclesiastical structure could afford church literature.

Beads — contemporaries of Stonehenge

Swamps are a supplier of ancient artefacts of organic origin. Peat has become an excellent preservative for bone and wood products. This summer, at a site dating back to the early stage of the North Belarusian culture (mid to second half of the 3rd millennium BC) in Krivino of Senno District, Vitebsk Region, bone pendants unique to that region were found. Most likely, these are parts of a single necklace, as they were discovered in the same square of the same layer. The pendants are almost triangular in shape and made from the tubular bone of a large animal. There is a hole at the top through which a thread was passed. The four intact and two broken pendants are clearly well-worn, meaning the owner wore the decorative adornment for a long stretch of time.

Casting mould for jewellery

The territory of the ancient annalistic city on the Menka River has become a real archaeological capital of Belarus — not only because the most extensive studies in the sovereign history of the country are being conducted here, but also thanks to the most valuable artefacts found. One of them is a stone casting mould from the 10th–11th centuries for jewellery. It is perfectly preserved, and the outlines of the lunula — a favourite adornment of fashionable women of that time — are easily visible. On the reverse side is a matrix for miniature pendants. According to the archaeologists, this is one of the most important finds of all time during excavations. It testifies to the fact that the jewellery, trapezoidal pendants, which we previously considered to have been brought from other countries (that is, imported) could have been made here. This proves that even in those days, the production of jewellery was in full swing in the city on the Menka. Experts intend to study the casting mould for microparticles in order to find out with which precious metals the ancient jewellers worked.

   

Secret of the third tower

It was always thought that Krevo Castle had two towers: the older one — Kęstutis’, and the one erected slightly later — Vytautas’. Last year, during reconstruction work, a suggestion arose that there also might have been a third tower, and this season it has been confirmed: a foundation has been discovered. It turns out that it is based on wooden logs, which are driven into the ground at an angle — apparently to distribute the pressure of the massive stone walls onto the swampy ground. Moreover, this construction technique complicated the movement of battering rams. In addition, there has been found a four-metre-long wooden log with traces of the fire of 1433, which broke out when Prince Švitrigaila stormed the castle. The discovered objects force a revision of both the architectural and social history of the castle in the 14th and early 15th centuries. Until now, it has been regarded as a castle-shelter for the local population, but now it is becoming obvious that it served as a residence and was the centre of the Olgerdoviches’ patrimony. Furthermore, we can learn about the construction features of such sites and understand how the architects of that time thought.

Legendary underground passage

Zaslavl Castle, built in the mid-16th century, was one of the earliest bastion structures on the territory of Belarus. Its defensive structure — that is, moats and ramparts — as well as the ruins of the castle gate have survived to our time. Specialists began to explore them this summer. During the work, an underground passage was discovered, about which local residents have long told legends. The tunnel is about 80cm wide, about 1.2m high, and the currently known length is more than 24m. The purpose of the passage has not yet been determined, but it may have been combined: an element of the air duct or drainage system could also serve as a secret passage, if necessary. This is the only structure of this kind from the 16th century that has been preserved in our country. The castle gate and underground passage allow us to get an idea of the features of medieval bastion structures. The site can become the first historical underground tunnel in Belarus open to tourists.

FOR THE BIRTHDAY 

A memorial sign will appear on the site of the Minsk citadel  

The capital city will receive a new object that will become a reminder of the rich history of Minsk and its ancient roots — a memorial sign about the most ancient fortification and temple. In addition, for the city holiday, which is usually celebrated on the second Saturday of September, the Institute of History under the National Academy of Sciences is preparing a collective monograph about the Minsk citadel. The book contains unique research, documents and discoveries dedicated to our capital.

By Oksana Nevmerzhitskaya