In the autumn 2003 the site of Chornobyl’, known from documents, was found on a high terrace of the right bank of the Pripyat’ river. It was investigated by an expedition of the State Scientific Center for the protection of cultural heritage from development. An area of 120 m2was excavated in the north-west part of the hillfort. The stratigraphy of the site consisted of 5 layers. The topsoil was filled by objects of the 18th–20thcent. AD and redeposited remains of the material culture of the 12th–17th cent.AD.
There were the remains of the material culture of 17that the top of the second layer and objects of the 13th in the lower part of the same layer. The medieval and modern objects were redeposited in the second layer. Dating of the finds of the modern layer was made possible by two silver Polish coins of the 17thc. and the broken remains of a pot.
The objects of the Kiev Rus period, in particular of the13rd cent. AD, were, mainly, in the third layer, which was not redeposited. The remains of pits, constructions, and houses were found. Among the finds were pottery, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, slate, and glass. The most important of these are the glass braceletswe associate with citizens. It confirms, that the site of Chornobyl’ should be related to the third layer.
The fourth layer also contained items of the Kiev Rus period(11th– the beginning of the12th cent. AD, but there were no glass bracelets in this layer; most scientists date these to the middle of the 12th cent. AD. Perhaps this was a previous rural settlement, destroyed during the construction of the hillfort.
The lower layer was empty. During investigation were found, in all, 12000 sherds, 553 glass bracelets, 18 fragments of the glassware, 2 glass beads, 15 bone objects, 150 objects in non-ferrous metals, 26 objects in ferrous metal, 1 pyrophyllite cross, and 20 slate spindle whorls.