Archaeologists from St Petersburg University determine the date of burial of ancient inhabitants of the Yaroslavl Region

The Timerevo archaeological site in the Yaroslavl Region is one of the largest significant monuments of the early Middle Ages in north-eastern Russia. It includes about 500 burial mounds, settlements covering an area of 11 hectares, three hoards of Arabian dirham coins from the 9^th century and other objects of archaeological significance.

The research findings are published in the scientific journal Stratum plus. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology.

As the researchers note, the material from these excavations clearly shows three ethnic components: Old Russian, Finno-Ugric, and Scandinavian. The large-scale study of the archaeological site began in 1872 with the study of the burial mound. This work was led by the Finnish researcher Johannes Reienhold Aspelin, the founder of the study of Finno-Ugric antiquities on the territory of the Russian Empire. He was also the author of the multi-volume edition "Antiquities of the Northern Finno-Ugric peoples," published after his travels and excavations in Russia.

In total, the archaeologists excavated 432 burial mounds during the period of active work from 1959 to 1963, after which the study of the burial mounds was considered to be fully completed. The materials of the excavations were published in the form of a collection of articles "Yaroslavl Volga Region 9^th-11^th century" (1963), which became one of the first collective monographs of archaeologists in the country. 

At the end of the 19^th and the beginning of the 20^th century, the interest in the Yaroslavl burial mounds increased due to the active excavation activity of the Yaroslavl local historian, archaeologist, archaeographer, and restorer Illarion Tikhomirov, who discovered the remains of Scandinavian objects in the burial mounds. Later, small excavations of the Timerovo and Mikhailovsky necropolises were carried out by the Soviet archaeologist Iadviga Stankevich. The most extensive studies of the mounds were carried out in 1959-1963 by an expedition of the State Historical Museum led by Mariia Fechner.

In 1973, Igor Dubov, a doctoral student in the Department of Archaeology at Leningrad State University and later a professor at the University, carried out reconnaissance work in the area of the Timerevo burial ground. He discovered a previously unknown settlement and excavated a burial mound that had been disturbed by treasure hunters and amateur diggers.

At the foot of the mound, the University researcher discovered an undisturbed cremation burial, which showed the need to resume excavations of the mounds, which had been damaged by pits and trenches. In the same season of excavations, the researchers discovered a hoard of Arabic dirham coins from the 9^th century, which became the largest hoard of this period in Eastern Europe. The study of the find was carried out by Igor Dobrovolskii, an employee of the Numismatic Department of the State Hermitage Museum. He recorded the so-called graffiti on the coins – images of signs, including Scandinavian runes, as well as the runic inscription "god/gods", drawn on the surface of the coin circle with a sharp object.

This discovery led to research in coin collections in museums in Russia and abroad. The result of the researchers' extensive work was the monograph "Graffiti on Eastern Coins," published by the St Petersburg University Publishing House in 1991.

Later, in the 1970s, research continued at Timerevo, with specialists from the State Historical Museum studying the burial mounds and archaeologists from St Petersburg University excavating the open settlement. Valerii Sedykh, who later became the head of the University's Yaroslavl expedition and is now the head of the Department of Archaeology at St Petersburg University, took part in the work of the University’s team. As a result, new settlements were discovered and old burial mounds were investigated. Additionally, unique artefacts were found, confirming the high social status of the inhabitants of Timerevo in the developed Middle Ages.

Today, experts from St Petersburg University and the State Hermitage Museum are using advanced methods to study the material collected during the years of archaeological excavations. For example, researchers identified a "fake" coin, covered with silver over copper, that had previously been thought to be original.

The study of the alloys of copper objects from burial mounds and settlements also helped to clarify the date of an important burial complex, considered to be one of the oldest. The object of this study was the burial of two women, cremated outside the mound, discovered in 1990. According to Valerii Sedikh, Head of the Department of Archaeology at St Petersburg University, of particular interest is a set of 27 carnelian and rock crystal beads, as well as rare finds for Russia at the time – single-shell, uncut Scandinavian fibulae – metal clasps for clothing.

Such finds are characteristic of the early 9^th century, and the horn combs found in the burial belong to the late 9^th – early 10^th century. This makes it possible to date the burial mound to the end of the 9^th – beginning of the 10^th century. Interestingly, fibulae of this type were found in only three cases out of several hundred burials in the Yaroslavl burial mounds. Two other finds were made at the Gnezdovo archaeological site near Smolensk, and at Rurikovo Gorodische near Novgorod.

Using X-ray fluorescence analysis, the archaeologists studied the metal composition of the finds in detail and found that the objects discovered during the excavations were made of lead and multi-component brass, and the alloys contained impurities of antimony and silver.

In the burial ground, the researchers also found fragments of a torc with a Thor's hammer, a ceremonial object of the Scandinavian peoples, as well as a gold decorated iron knife, previously deliberately damaged, which is unique for Northern and Eastern Europe.

"The listed finds of Northern European appearance of the burial ground in question clearly fit into the set of elements of Scandinavian women's clothing. There is no doubt that this is a Scandinavian burial. A knife with gold foil is an unusual find for this burial, and the decoration of knives, especially with precious metals, is an extremely rare phenomenon," said Valerii Sedykh, Head of the Department of Archaeology at St Petersburg University.

The question of the time and reasons for the appearance of the Scandinavians in the Upper Volga region remains controversial to this day. In order to draw clear conclusions, it is necessary to determine exactly when the Scandinavians arrived in these territories, and how their cultural customs and elements of clothing changed among the local population. To do this, it is necessary to find and date the earliest burials with Scandinavian artefacts.

Important tools in this work are the chronological scale of Staraya Ladoga and "bead chronology" – dating of the site by means of beads found in it. For example, the prismatic beads of rock crystal found by the archaeologists in the burial mound excavated in 1990 are dated to the 930s, which means that the burial of the mound can be dated to no earlier than 930 years ago.

"At first sight, there is a curious discrepancy between the dating of the burial ground by beads on the one hand and by the fibulae and the comb on the other. However, this chronological dissonance disappears when we turn to specific material. An analysis of the composition of the sites shows that in both the Upper Volga burial grounds and the Gnezdovo burial ground relatively early fibulae occur in series with relatively late crystal beads. This means that the beads significantly 'rejuvenate' the dating of the burial mound. Characteristically, this tendency extends to both early and late variants of oval fibulae. Thus, there is a gap of several decades between the “bead” and 'fibula' chronologies," said Valerii Sedykh.

St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia, was founded on 28 January (8 February) 1724. This is the day when Peter the Great issued a decree establishing the University and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Today, St Petersburg University is an internationally recognised centre for education, research and culture. In 2024, St Petersburg University celebrated its 300^th anniversary.

The plan of events during the celebration of the anniversary of the University was approved at the meeting of the Organising Committee for the celebration of St Petersburg University’s 300^th anniversary. The meeting was chaired by Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. Among the events are: the naming of a minor planet in honour of St Petersburg University; the issuance of bank cards with a special design; and the branding of the aircraft of the Rossiya Airlines to name just a few. To mark the 300^th anniversary of St Petersburg University, a postage stamp depicting the Twelve Collegia building and the monument to Count Sergey Uvarov was issued. Also, a Soyuz rocket bearing the symbols of the University was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

By the decision of the Governor of St Petersburg Alexander Beglov, 2024 was a year of the 300^th anniversary of St Petersburg University in St Petersburg. On the day of the University’s 300^th anniversary torches were lit on the Rostral Columns on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. St Petersburg University flags were raised on the Palace Bridge. The city public transport was decorated with the University’s symbols. During St Petersburg’s City Day celebrations in May 2024, St Petersburg University acted as a participating venue. Additionally, the University launched a website dedicated to the anniversary. The website contains information about outstanding University staff, students, and alumni; scientific achievements; and details of events held as part of the celebration of the 300^th anniversary of the University.