Investigations at Gorodische, Ladoga, Northwestern Russia

The Geographical Setting: Between Ladoga and Novgorod

A vast area of lowlands south of the Lake Ladoga is naturally delimited, surrounded as it is by swamps and marshes, and the ridges of Tikhvin and Vepsa hills. Volkhov river, emanating from Lake Ilmen in the south and running towards Ladoga in the north, was the main communication route of the region, central for its development. The Ladoga region has always manifested its cultural independency, interacting with its southern counterpart, Novgorod , in sharp competition. Novgorod was controlling the start of the Volkhov, at Ilmen.

Already during VIIIAD Staraja Ladoga became an early urban centre - so far the only site in NW Russia of that date with well-preserved wooden structures, indications of much craft production, and trade. Historically, Staraja Ladoga had the advantage in the rivalry with Novgorod .

Novgorod was founded later, as a result of politics and commerce. The so-called "Ruriks Hill-fort" south of Novgorod was settled in the middle of IXAD. Novgorod itself was founded in the 920-930s. The main strength of Novgorod was that it had a significantly larger hinterland than Staraja Ladoga, thus being able to function as a regional centre rather than a mere port. This, perhaps, was also the decisive factor in Staraja Ladoga's incorporation into the Duchy of Novgorod in XIAD. Even though the later Hansa alliance in the Baltic also used the "routes of the Vikings", Staraja Ladoga never succeeded in regaining its earlier position.

Fig. 5. The hillock of Gorodische seen from the river Sjas,i.e. from west. The row of stones in the river indicates the rapids, which were blown up by the military of Peter the Great to ease transportation.