Staraya Ladoga – Russia's First Capital (Aldeigjuborg)
Early Middle Ages (753–1703, Viking Age 750–1050)·Slavic + Scandinavians (Rurik, Ladoga Varangians)·🇷🇺 Leningrad Oblast, Volkhov District, Staraya Ladoga on Volkhov river, Russia
About
About Staraya Ladoga – Russia's First Capital (Aldeigjuborg)
Staraya Ladoga – Russia's First Capital (Aldeigjuborg) in Leningrad Oblast, Volkhov District, Staraya Ladoga on Volkhov river, Russia is a Early Middle Ages (753–1703, Viking Age 750–1050) Slavic + Scandinavians (Rurik, Ladoga Varangians) site built 753 dendro (E1 horizon) as russia's first town, baltic–volga varangian–khazar transit emporium with timber fort, harbour and 753 dendrodated layers. Documented via 1708; Ryabinin 1973–. The Slavic + Scandinavians (Rurik, Ladoga Varangians) ancient city preserves river terrace settlement 12 ha with stone fortress 1490s moskow over earlier timber fort e1 753.
Dimensions settlement 12 ha; fortress 1 ha. It is key to understanding Slavic + Scandinavians (Rurik, Ladoga Varangians) polity formation on the Leningrad Oblast.
Why it mattersStaraya Ladoga – Russia's First Capital (Aldeigjuborg) in Leningrad Oblast, Volkhov District, Staraya Ladoga on Volkhov river, Russia is a Early Middle Ages (753–1703, Viking Age 750–1050) Slavic + Sc
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rurik arrival 862 – Ladoga or Novgorod?
Theories
- 01Ladoga as Varangian Brown–Volga silver road start
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 753 dendro (E1 horizon)
- Period
- Early Middle Ages (753–1703, Viking Age 750–1050)
- Culture
- Slavic + Scandinavians (Rurik, Ladoga Varangians)
- Purpose
- Russia's first town, Baltic–Volga Varangian–Khazar transit emporium with timber fort, harbour and 753 dendrodated layers
- Abandoned
- 1703 (Peter I)
- Rediscovered
- 1708; Ryabinin 1973–
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
753 dendro (E1 horizon)
Initial construction
c. 1683 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
59.9980° N · 32.2960° E · 40 m · 2 mapped features
Ladoga Fortress (Stone 1492)
fortressMoscow fortress over Varangian 753 timber fort
59.9990° N · 32.2970° EVarangian Harbour on Volkhov
harbour8th–10th c. harbour layers under church
59.9970° N · 32.2950° E
Gallery