Ladoga of the Early Middle Ages Period

     Old Ladoga is unmatched in respect of the antiquities of the VIII-IX centuries excavations. The most ancient things in the territory of Russia were found there: arms, jewelry, costume elements, tools used for housekeeping and for crafts.

     A unique set of the iron tools, the oldest tools found in Russia are age-dated to the 8th century. Two barbs spear was presumably discovered on the grave of Oleg the Oracular. The toy swords, the amusements of the small citizens of Old Ladoga came to us through the mists of time. Beads served as a currency. The grade of a person’s wealth was determined on the beads. This is a small part of the antiquities discovered by the archeologists in the occupation layer of Old Ladoga. How many mysteries Old Ladoga land still preserves!
The excavations have been carried out in Old Ladoga for almost two centuries. Burial and architectural monuments attracted the archeologists yet in the XIX century but an occupation layer of the early mediaeval time was researched only in the beginning of the XX century.

     The exploratory woks at Ground Town were performed from 1909 till 1910. From 1911 the stationary excavations were evolved for the first time in Russia.

     Old Ladoga expedition under the leadership of the professor V. Ravdonikas continued the research at Ground Town with some breaks from 1938 till 1959. The finds of the expedition turned to be a basis of Old Ladoga collection of the Hermitage.

     In 1972 the professor A. Kirpichnikov headed Old Ladoga expedition. He still manages the works of archeologists.

     Today the fortress towers were cleaned from rubbish and stones but no one hides any entrances into the secret catacombs. N. Brandenburg in his book wrote: “…the existence of the secret conduits was noted several times even in scientific literature…” despite his expedition did not find them. A historian Kostomarov did not doubt about the existence of the secret conduits under Old Ladoga fortress: “There were secret corridors in the wall leading down to the underground. It is unknown to which area do these catacombs spread and to which direction a local legend will lead them under the Volhov”. However it’s worth mentioning that the sureness of Kostomarov is based as well on the legends and suppositions.