A thousandth birch bark letter was found in Veliky Novgorod

The other day there was an event that can be considered one of the most memorable for lovers of Russian history. According to reliable sources, two more birch-bark letters were found at the Trinity excavation site in Veliky Novgorod. The first such find was recorded in the middle of the last century. Thus, the total number of birch bark letters found during archaeological excavations at the moment is a little a lot of 1001.

According to the professor of Moscow State University, Doctor of Historical Sciences Elena Rybina, this amazing Novgorod find consists of one whole letter and the second fragmentary preserved. Alas, time takes its toll, not all found artifacts are preserved to this day in a state close to the original. In addition, birch bark is a rather fragile material, so the uniqueness of such finds is increasing every year. At the moment, as Elena Rybina reports, painstaking work is underway to preserve and decrypt texts found in birch bark letters.

Since July 26, 1951, that is, the moment of finding the first birch bark letter, celebrations dedicated to this event are annually held in Veliky Novgorod. This celebration is referred to as Birch Bark Day. It was on this day 59 years ago, during an archaeological robot on the Nerevsky excavation, near Velikaya Street, a sensational find was found at that time, which stirred up a wave of not only historical, scientific, but popular interest. A resident of Novgorod, Nina Akulova, who took an active part in archaeological searches and excavations, held the first birch bark letter in her hands. This place and event was decided to perpetuate. Therefore, subsequently, a memorial sign was erected here, telling that it was on this place for the first time in the history of Russia that a birch bark letter was found.

Last year, at the grave of Nina Akulova, located in the Western cemetery of Veliky Novgorod, a monument dedicated to her work and a unique find was erected and solemnly opened. The initiators of the creation of this monument were the relatives of Akulova. With the support of the Administration of Veliky Novgorod and the Novgorod archaeological expedition, this idea was put into practice. On this monument, according to the plan of its creator, that very first letter and a short inscription depicting the following is depicted: "With her hands on July 26, 1951 the first birch bark letter was found."

According to the culture committee of the Novgorod region, the traditional Birch bark festival will take place this year on July 25 at 4 p.m. and will be held at the Trinity excavation site in Veliky Novgorod.