ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION IN CHERKASY IN THE CONTEXT OF CITY FOUNDATION DEBATES

Abstract

This paper deals with the archeological findings dated to the Medieval Age which come from Cherkasy and represent the time of the origin of this city. These data are crucial for solving the issue of Cherkasy foundation.
 The lack of Old Rus findings (11th—13th centuries) disprove the «Chorni Klobuky» and «Kasogi» versions of the city origin. Also the «official version» of Cherkasy foundation by the Northern Caucasus Cherkessians in 1286 (700 anniversary was celebrated in 1986) is not confirmed by the empirical evidence. Argumentation of this version is in fact only the repeating of legends and mystifications of Russian historians of the 18th century. The «Cherkessy» theory of the foundation of a city and origin of its name is not supported by any evidence. It is based on mixture of facts and similar pronunciation of «Cherkasy» and «Cherkessy». At the same time, the proposed here «Lithuanian» version of the foundation of a city is confirmed by linguistic analysis of city’s name and logic of historical processes.
 Archeological finds from Cherkasy, especially the ones obtained in the last dozens years, indicate the origin of the city in the second half or the late 14th century. It was caused by the victory of Lithuanian-Rus army headed by the Great Prince Olherd at Syni Vody in 1362. Cherkasy castle was built as the south-eastern outpost of the Lithuanian colonization. The castle was first documented in the 1390s. At first, these documents recognize Cherkasy as the part of Koriatovychi Princedom, a vassal of Lithuania.