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Russia

Kaup (emporium)

Norse burial site with amber trade connections

Time Periods

Paleolithic

Paleolithic

Mesolithic

Mesolithic

Neolithic

Neolithic

Chalcolithic

Chalcolithic

Bronze Age

Bronze Age

Iron Age

Iron Age

Classical Period

Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Post-Classical Period

Early Modern Period

Early Modern Period

Industrial Period

Industrial Period

Contemporary Period

Contemporary Period

Location

About

Kaup, located on the Curonian Lagoon's shore in modern Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, is an early medieval Norse burial site with significant archaeological importance. The site, identified as a potential starting point of the Amber Road, served as a major trading post and settlement for Old Prussians and later Swedish merchants from the 9th century CE. Excavations revealed a large cemetery with up to 500 tumuli, highlighting prominent Swedish connections through the grave goods. Kaup thrived as a market town and a strategic trading hub before suffering destruction in the 10th and 11th centuries due to raids by Danish forces, including those led by Haakon and Cnut the Great. The site remained significant until the Northern Crusades of the 13th century when Prussian occupation ended.

Archaeological Features

Explore the unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

Burial and Funerary Structures

CemeteriesFunerary Mounds

Transportation and Communication Structures

Roads

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's archaeological history

Plan Your Visit

Details

Country
Russia
Source
Wikipedia