Pages: 121-130

The article presents archaeological research of trench VII on the area of 122.5 square meters within the boundaries of the Bolshoy Uspensky Monastery in Tikhvin. Disclosed were undisturbed cultural layers, the earliest of which date back to existence of Pretchistensky churchyard. The researchers examined graves of the monastic cemetery (65 graves dated by 18th—19th cc.) in the western part of the trench and defined its eastern border. In the central part of the trench, a fragment of the foundation of the western wall of the Zhitennye cells (barn cells) (this part of the building was disassembled) and foundation trench for the eastern wall of the cells were examined.
As a result, we have identified main stages in development of the site, which are confirmed by written sources. First stage (12th—14th centuries) — primary population of this territory; second stage (15th — middle of 16th century) — the settlement prior to construction of the monastery; third stage (second half of 16th — 17th century) — reclaiming of territory by the monastery, construction of the wooden Zhitennye (“barn”) monastic cells; fourth stage (turn of 17th/18th — early 19th century) — stone construction, functioning of the monastic cemetery; fifth stage (middle — second half of the 20th century) — “civil” use of the monastery’s territory. Collection of ceramic material and individual findings can quite accurately date the stratigraphy.

Keywords: Tikhvin, Leningrad region, 12th—20th centuries, Bolshoy Uspensky Monastery, Zhitennye (barn) cells, archaeological research, stone foundation, monastery cemetery, pre-monastery settlement, ceramic collection

Information about author:

Svetlana Shungina (Saint Petersburg, Russia). Saint-Petersburg Scientific, Research and Design Institute for Restoration of Historical and Cultural Artefacts «Spetsprojektrestavratsia», Dekabristov St., 21, Saint Petersburg, 190000, Russia
E-mail: [email protected]