Pages: 102-104

The author discusses the possibility to apply methods of geographic information systems to study development dynamics of a medieval city and uses Bolgar as a case study. The archaeological components allowing reconstructing the dynamics of the urban area are characterized. These components include: the cultural stratum with good stratigraphy, chronological topography of the finds, and distribution of archaeological urban structures. Among the latter, the following items are identified: monumental buildings, urban planning elements (streets, squares, etc.), remains of aboveground dwellings and household structures, remains of dugout dwellings and household structures, fortification objects, industrial and agricultural facilities (furnaces, traces of arable land), burial grounds and hydraulic structures. The research involved drawing of cartograms to represent Bolgar historical and social topography.

Keywords: Volga Bulgaria, Golden Horde, medieval town, historical topography, layout, construction horizons, geographic information systems (GIS)

Information about author:

Denis Yu. Badeev. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Address: Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]