Defensive Buildings of the Bakalskaya Culture (The Staro-Lybaevskoe-1 Settlement in the Forest-Steppe Trans-Urals)

Purpose. The purpose of this article is to evaluate defensive potentialities of the Middle Age population in the Trans-Urals. The main task is to reconstruct the exterior of the fortified areas and the necessary amount of work.Results. The defensive buildings of the Staro-Libayevskoye-1 fortified settlement were used. It has been established on the terrace of the Middle Tobol river and had the 5-angle form, size 65 × 75 m and a simple rampart-and-ditch line with two approach gates. This square was used for habitation twice in Middle age epoch. Apparently, large earthworks were not carried out due to the features of the relief, which had a height difference of 2 meters; considering the wooden wall and the ditch depth. Based on the analysis of the archaeological finds and the cultural layer, we established that in the early period of the Bakalskaya culture (4th – 5th centuries) the settlement was encircled with timber-framed wall and the terrace slope possibly played a role of a berm. The inhabitants created a defense line minimum of 5.5–6 meters in height. We assume that there was exacerbation of social and local conflicts, and the population sought to prevent these conflicts by strengthening defense. The Ustyug-1 synchronous cemetery testifies to the existence of a constant military threat, such as attacks by migrants and conflicts with the use of weapons. Later, in 8th – 10th centuries the settlers used traditional methods and created a new earthen wall. It was built two times wider, then earlier, using pre-existing land cultural layer. The settlers abandoned the laborious movement of soil from the ditch to the height of the wall. For greater protection, they equipped the earthen rampart with timber-frame structures and created a barrier 5.5 meters high.Conclusion. Concluding, we suggest that a dangerous military situation persisted during this period, as evidenced by samples of weapons and a cemetery in the settlement. The study also revealed a trend towards increasing labor costs for fortifications construction.