Lyubsha

Lyubsha is a settlement at the confluence of the Lyubsha River with the Volkhov River. A rampart about 70 m long has survived, faced with masonry masonry (preserved to a height of 2.2 m). The area of the settlement is about 2000 sq. m, the perimeter is 45 by 45 m.

This is the oldest preserved fortification of Ancient Rus, dating back to the 7th — first half of the 8th century. There is no exact information as to the name of the fortress in the Middle Ages, it is conventionally called «the settlement of Lyubsha». Scientists have made a 3D reconstruction of fortifications. 

Archaeologists believe that the population of the settlement was Slavic and Finno-Ugric, who were in close contact with the Varangians.

In the second half of the 9th century life on the settlement came to the end, may be, as a result of wars in the region in 840-865. Scientists associate these events with the story about the Rurik’s arriving about 862.

Photo by Lyubsha

Tags: castles and fortresses, before 13 century, The struggle for the Baltic until the 13th century, North-West Russia