Ancient Russian shrines

Externally, the sanctuary looked like a real fortress on the high Bank of the Desna: a deep moat, a high horseshoe-shaped rampart and wooden walls (fence?) on the upper edge of the platform. The diameter of the rounded (now triangular) site was about 60 m, i.e. it was equal to the diameter of medium-sized marsh settlements.

The inner structure of the courtyard of the sanctuary-fortress was as follows: along the entire rampart, close to it was built in the Western part of the site a long, curved structure with a width of 6 m. its Length (including the collapsed part) should have been about 60 m. Continue reading →