The conclusion made as a result of archaeological excavations in 2019 is reflected in an article by VyatSU scientist Alexey Kaisin, published in a prestigious scientific publication.
The article “Topographic and cultural-chronological aspects in the study of the Chizhevsky settlement” was published in “Volga Archeology” (No. 3 (33) for 2020) - a journal indexed in Scopus. Alexey Kaisin, the head of scientific research archaeological laboratory VyatSU, in collaboration with Eduard Orudzhov, the employee of the Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov, Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, wrote the article.
The Chizhevsky settlement is located on a promontory formed by the radical left bank of the Vyatka River in the area of the former village of Chizhi - now this territory is part of the city of Kirov. The study of the Chizhevsky settlement began in the 18th century and continued in the 19th-20th centuries. During the research, the remains of a defensive structure were found, and it was assumed that people lived on this territory in the Iron Age. However, direct evidence of the existence of the cultural layer could not be found - as a result, it was not possible to establish the chronological framework for the existence of the settlement.
A real breakthrough in the study of the Chizhevsky settlement was the archaeological excavations carried out in August 2019 by the staff of the research archaeological laboratory of VyatSU together with colleagues from the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan. During the field work, which included two excavations, a cultural layer was discovered, which made it possible to conclude that people lived here in the early Iron Age.
We found traces of human activity, bones of domestic animals, a large number of fragments of dishes. The study of the found ceramics by the method of analogies with other well-known monuments, carrying out radiocarbon analysis indicate that the active life of people on the territory of the Chizhevsky settlement with a total area of 0.16 hectares proceeded within the
second half of the 7th century - the first half of the 6th century BC. This period belongs to the so-called Ananyino cultural and historical region, - explained Alexey Kaisin.
The scientist said that hunting and gathering were the main occupations of the inhabitants of the Chizhevsky settlement. The inhabitants of the settlement kept livestock: horses, pigs, and cows. The role of the fortification was played by a rampart about 3 meters high and a moat 3 meters wide and 0.8 meters deep.
The rampart remained on the territory of the Chizhevsky settlement until the 30s of the last century, however, as a result of plowing, and subsequently construction work, it was destroyed - stated Alexey Olegovich.
Among the finds of archaeologists at the site of the Chizhevsky settlement is a copper pendant cross. According to the researcher, it indicates the arrival of the Russian population from Veliky Novgorod to the territory of the Chizhevsky settlement in the XIV century and pushed the original inhabitants: Udmurts and Mari.
The scientific research archaeological laboratory VyatSU plans to carry out archaeological excavations on the territory of the Nagovitsinsky settlement (springboard area). The work will be carried out jointly with the Khalikov Institute of archaeology of the RT Academy of Sciences. They are slated for October - November 2020.
