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Russia

Sarkel

Khazar limestone-and-brick fortress on Don River

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

Sarkel was a significant Khazar fortress constructed in the 9th century CE on the left bank of the Don River, with strategic assistance from Byzantine engineers. The fortress, built using white limestone bricks, functioned as a crucial defensive structure protecting the north-western border of the Khazar state. Notably, it served as a bustling commercial hub, overseeing the Volga-Don portage, a key trade route known as the Khazarian Way. In 965 CE, Sarkel was captured by the Kievan Rus' and renamed Belaya Vezha, marking a shift in its cultural and political landscape. The site, now submerged under the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, was pivotal in the regional dynamics of the Early and Late Post-Classical Periods.

Gallery

Explore photographs of ancient structures, artifacts, and archaeological excavations at Sarkel

FileChasaren.jpg
FileHungarian_migration.png
FileSarkbric.jpg

Archaeological Features

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

Defensive Structures

Fortresses

Water Management Features

Reservoirs

Transportation and Communication Structures

Portage

Historical Timeline

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

Plan Your Visit

Details

Country
Russia
Source
Wikipedia