Necropolises and burial sites on the Island of Sviyazhsk case study of archaeological data

Abstract

© The author(s). The archaeological explorations on the island of Sviyazhsk, which are conducted more actively in recent years, allowed discovering the complicated history of ancient days hidden and buried deep in the ground of the island which in the mid-fifties was completely cut off from the modern world by the waters of the Kuibyshev reservoir. Mapping of the necropolises discovered during archaeological, construction and restoration works is important component of the set of actions aimed at complex studying and preservation of cultural heritage sites. Besides abounding material culture, archeologists managed to track the planning features of the development of Sviyazhsk island mountain of the late Middle Ages and Modern Age including those reflected in the arrangement of the monastic and the parish cemeteries. The article provides data on localization of the necropolises discovered during archaeological researches of 2008-2010 on the island of Sviyazhsk. The Orthodox necropolises and individual burial sites under study date back to the XVI-XX centuries. The study materials are of great practical importance for the reconstruction of historical planning and establishment of the memorial site to bring out tourist potential, and to conduct scientific researches of the historical and demographic processes in the Middle Volga region.