A mysterious dungeons and valuable Drevlian finds can be heard by a regular visitor from Zhytomyr even from a taxi driver who will be taken to the hotel. And where in these stories is true, and where – “driver’s fables”, know only historians, archaeologists, researchers and scientists. Moreover, it is precisely those who were engaged in excavations and described the findings, step by step moving from the past to the present

Step 1 The former Zhytomyr provincial prosecutor, Stepan Rusov, was the first who was interested in the honorable rule of Zhytomyr antiquities. In his book Volyn Notes, which saw the world in the distant 1809, the author describes the remnants of the fortifications that were located in the center of Zhytomyr at that time. And this could not but be of interest to fans of historical finds, even in St. Petersburg itself! The history of the Volyn region, and of Zhytomyr itself, was not of interest: in those days, prestigious for every official who was serving far from the capital, was the preparation of detailed descriptions of the history of the lands where they were in service. The author describes what he saw in the city: “all this is unknown when exterminated, so that now there are only earthly elevations, on a high rock above the river Kamianna.”
Step 2 Since the famous remnants clearly had a strategic significance, it is logical that they also fell into the field of view of the military department. In 1850, the world saw the tenth volume of “Military-Statistical Survey of the Russian Empire”, in which Captain Fritchy describes the monuments of Zhytomyr. The captain, as a military man, understood the importance of strategic consolidation, but, unlike the others, he noticed the historical value of the finds. Even the description section of Zhytomyr was called “Description of cities and interesting locals of the Volyn province”. And among the “interesting places” Fritchy distinguishes the earth shaft, which remained in memory of the castle over the river Kamianka and two rivers on Podil, surrounding the city castle.
Step 3 But these very authoritative sources did not answer the question of who and when built the castle, who lived in it and why there was almost nothing left of the castle. A little later, in 1864, historian and folklorist Jan Prusinowski, one of the first, urged scholars to engage in serious research in the city of Zhytomyr, and not in its surroundings. The scientist was interested in the mysterious cellars with correct form corridors that were discovered during the time they began in those days of construction. Interest in excavations was also heated by the finds that accidentally happened to the researchers: then the stone ax, then the ancient amphora.
Step 4 After a thorough publication of the authorship of the professor of the University of St. Volodymyr in Kiev, Vladimir Antonovich, historian, archaeologist, ethnographer and archeographer, interest in the past of Zhytomyr at the end of the XIX century flares with renewed vigor. In his book Volodymyr Bonifatiyovych wrote: “In the city on a rocky promontory, which was washed by the river Kamyanka, there was a fortress settlement, on which the Zhytomyr castle was located. This castle was burned down in 1802, and on the remaining shaft, the governor Zveginets set up a boulevard, so the town was called Zviahintsevka. Around 1890 the city dome sold the settlement for private homesteads, the valleys were planned, and the settlement was gone. ” The book contains many interesting stories about the finds: tools of stone, coins, treasures, weapons and objects of church antiquity. About these finds were legends and tales, especially among the inhabitants of Maliovanka, – a district of the city, located not far from Zamkova hora. As if buried here was either a prince or a king, and with him a lot of good is buried. Antonovich first carried out excavations on the territory of an ancient burial ground, summing up knowledge in the form of “Archaeological map of Volyn province”.
Step 5 Together with Antonovich Serhii Hamchenko began working, who understood the necessity of works in the city center: “… future research in this area will open another place for a man of stone age and will pour light on the outskirts of Zhytomyr in prehistoric terms.” Later, Sergei Sviridovich successfully engaged in archeology, informing Zhytomyr citizens about their valuable finds on the pages of Volyn provincial information. Former Lieutenant of the 32nd Artillery Brigade, Serhiy Hamchenko, for all his life, falls in love with history and becomes one of the most prominent Ukrainian archaeologists. From his monograph “Zhytomyr’s burial ground”, further generations will learn about the occupations of the ancient inhabitants of Zhytomyr, their life and culture, the first Zhytomyr cemetery and the origin of the necropolis. And although in the vicinity of the city in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, scientists will work very carefully, the results of their work did not reach us: neither the records nor the materials of the expeditions have survived. Only the creation in 1919 of the archaeological department at the Volyn Central Museum, headed by Sergei Gamchenko, improved the state of affairs. As a result of the large-scale work carried out by the scientist, several monographs were published that still do not lose their scientific significance.
Step 6 Repressions and World War II stopped archaeological research in Zhytomyr for a long time. Only in the post-war period, in the early 50’s, the work continued. Among those who took active part in them were Ion Vinokur, then still a young scientist at the local lore museum, who, after graduating from Chernivtsi University, returned to his native Zhytomyr. In 1955, the scientist wrote in the article “Ancient Zhytomyr”, which was placed by an oblast newspaper, about the fragments of pottery Drevlyan time and the period of Kyiv Rus, found at Zamkova Hora. And in 1956 the first brochure – “Archaeological Sites of Zhytomyr Region” – will be published. In her researcher will continue the case of Volodymyr Antonovych: will try to systematize the antiquities of Zhytomyr. In a small publication, the author shares “archaeological lafakhaks”: provides advice to students and ethnographers on the identification, fixation and preservation of ancient monuments, methods of organizing archaeological research. In the future there will be scientific discoveries and interesting researches, the title of Doctor of Historical Sciences and academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Higher School of Ukraine, many scientific works, grateful students – a long and rich life. But the very first finds are the most memorable and will be the basis of scientific activity.
Step 7 Created on July 15, 1981, the Zhytomyr Archaeological Society united enthusiasts and schoolchildren on a voluntary basis. Members of the society under the leadership of Oleksandr Tarabukin, besides the serious work on the outskirts of the city, were observing construction works in the Zamkova and Okhrimova mountains, in the historical center of the city. Then they managed to fix the layers of the period of Kyiv Rus. A little later, in 1988-1989, colleagues from the Zhytomyr regional organization of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments recorded further cultural layers of the post-Mongolian time, discovered the remains of ancient dungeons, expanded knowledge of the city’s topography and collected a large number of various finds of different times in the foot of the Zamkova Hora, near the building of the former Jesuit monastery and the nearby local lore museum. The work was generalized in Tarabukin’s work “Archaeological map of Zhytomyr” in 1994. In the 2000s, searches in the central part of the city continued, and to the modern researchers came the artifacts of the period of Kievan Rus, found on the ancillary area of ​​the former magistrate and the vicinity of the facade of the Catholic church. Laying depths of more than four meters contained traces of the cultural, economic and productive activities of the inhabitants of Zhytomyr, who lived here many centuries ago, and recently the new work of Zhytomyr in ancient times presented by scientists even raised the question about the date of the city’s founding.
Step 8 Today, Ivan Yarmoshyk is a doctor of historical sciences, a teacher of Zhytomyr State University, and in 1982-1983 the then historian-novice headed the archaeological expedition of the Zhytomyr Regional Museum of Local Lore. Innovation in the work of the expedition was that specialized excavations in Zamkova Hora, in the heart of the regional center, were carried out for the first time. Not outside the city, not in its surroundings, but where once, according to researchers, there were the most important strategic structures of the inhabitants of Zhytomyr! Scientists managed to find archaeological materials dated to the IX century. Excavations conducted by archaeologists under the direction of Ivan Yarmoshyk gave a solid material, based on which scientists specified the time of the city and the main milestones of its historical development during the Middle Ages. In addition, it became a beautiful city gift for its 1100th birthday.
Step 9 Since 2006, the Zhytomyr archaeological expedition is headed by the candidate of historical sciences Andriy Petrauskas, senior researcher of the department of ancient archeology of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. That he proved that all previous attempts at research of the city center were not in vain, and this site is perspective for the work of archaeologists. Whether the long-term experience or “sniff” of the searcher suggested that the research should be continued, as a huge complex of works touched the places located outside the settlement, mostly only within the boundaries of the post – a settlement located nearby. The scientist knew that the field of view of scientists did not fall into the territory along the left bank of the small river Rudavka from the street Zamkova to Zamkova Square, the area of ​​the estate of the Catholic church in Zamkova Hora and its buildings. In addition, the use of high technology and geo-radar surveys expands the scope of search work.
Andrei Valdasovych himself defines the prospects as follows: “The earth is opaque, therefore the results of the expedition are difficult to predict. It makes sense to dig or not – it is unknown. The chief in archaeological practice and the work of the archaeological expedition, almost no one notices, but in the process of work forming an attitude to the archaeological heritage – as to his own, to the property. It is formed not by percentages and shares in the corresponding columns, but every day, living on excavations by a particular student-practitioner. Namely, given his personal inclinations. This is one of the greatest problems in the development of the archeology of the region, and it is very vulnerable. Even in the first half of the twentieth century. It was different: there was adequate work security, inextricably linked with predecessors. Now we must not overpower the few who work. And then in the archeology of Zhytomyr region there will be a good future. ”

Of course, one at a time to remember all who studied the history of the city, trying to convey knowledge to us, is difficult. But we, Zhytomyr citizens, are infinitely grateful for other important things: love for Zhytomyr, a thirst for new knowledge and respect for the past, which is hidden under the stratifications of Time in a picturesque city on the banks of the ancient Teteriv …
According to O. Tarabukin’s book “Zhytomyr in antiquity”
Translated by Aliona Matushevich