OPEN-SETTLEMENT AND BURIAL MOUND NEAR THE VILLAGE OF BIRULI, DOKSHITSKY DISTRICT, IN THE CONTEXT OF SYNCHRONIC ARTEFACTS OF THE LATE 1ST – EARLY 3RD MILLENNIUM AD IN THE UPPER BEREZINA DNIEPER REGION

Abstract

Some factors which were reflected in the time of origin of a trade and craft open-settlement in the upper reaches of the Berezina River in the 10th century, located near the present-day village of Biruli, Dokshitsky district are being presented in the article. This favourable geographical position (the Berezina Dnieper connected Central Belarus with the Dnieper and gave access to the rivers of the Neman basin), natural conditions (a large lake, forest lands rich in game), hill-fort located near the river (the only one in the region near the Berezina). The settlement provided the population of the region with imported goods and quality ones of its own production, including pottery, which was unknown there until then. The local population supplied the former with fur and possibly slaves. This place was permanently inhabited by craftsmen – blacksmiths, jewellers, potters and representatives of the trading class, who at the same time fulfilled a military function. This environment formed the local elite, the burials of representatives of whom were recorded in the burial mounds. By the middle of the 11^th century the trade route connected with the Berezina River gradually decayed and ceased to function. At that time, activities ceased at the settlement near the hill-fort near the village of Biruli. Other ones acquired exclusively agrarian in character in the region.