Pages: 47- 60 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp2654760

The article presents the results of LiDAR surveys of two sites associated with the Ryazan–Oka culture: the Undrich burial ground and the Terekhovo hillfort, both linked to an early medieval center of power. The survey clarified the layout of the hillfort’s defensive structures and the sequence of their construction. At the Undrich burial ground, it also revealed traces of burial mounds associated with members of the military elite, as well as two ritual areas where sacrifices were apparently performed. The sanctuary had been in use since the turn of the first and second centuries AD, when burials furnished with Roman- and Chinese-type swords were established at the site. From the fourth century onward, the burial ground was used extensively, and a substantial proportion of the graves belonged to members of the elite. The necropolis was apparently founded by one of the ruling clans and subsequently served as the burial place of representatives of the Terekhovo center of power.

Keywords: early Middle Ages, Middle Oka, Ryazan Finns, lidar survey, ancient settlement, burial ground, sanctuary

Information about authors:

Alexander Gavrilov (Shilovo, Russian Federation). Shilovo Museum of Local Lore. Spasskaya St., 38, Shilovo, 391500, Ryazan Oblast, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0009-0002-4506-6006
Vladimir Stavitsky (Penza, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Penza State University. Krasnaya St., 40, Penza, 440026, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-5957-3781
Mikhail Scheglov (Moscow, Russian Federation). JSC “Research and Design Institute for Information Technology, Signalling and Telecommunications on Railway Transport”. Nizhegorodskaya St., 27, building 1, Moscow, 109029, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0009-0000-2212-5793
Stanislav Milshtein (Moscow, Russian Federation). JSC “Research and Design Institute for Information Technology, Signalling and Telecommunications on Railway Transport”. Nizhegorodskaya St., 27, building 1, Moscow, 109029, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0009-0007-7217-7824