THE FORTIFICATION OF THE ANCIENT HALYCH. ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION

Abstract

The material, based on the results of archaeological research, presents key conceptual solutions for the probable archaeological reconstruction of the fortifications of the main settlement structures of ancient Halych from the 12th–13th centuries. Specifically, it focuses on the city’s citadel at the Krylos hillfort and the separate princely courts at the Spas and Panteleimon hillforts, which served as the foundation for its urban development. The study also examines earlier periods of the city’s formation, beginning in the second half of the 10th century, when it served as a significant political and religious center of Great Croatia. It further explores the late medieval period (17th century), which marked the city’s brief and final revival as the relocated Halych (Halych – Lviv – Kamianets) episcopal seat during the era of the Unionist struggles. Years of archaeological research into Halych’s defensive system have enabled scholars to outline the key chronological stages of its construction and use. These fortifications were primarily based on multi-line earthen ramparts with moats, commonly referred to as rampart fortifications. Wood and clay were the primary building materials for the fortifications of Halych, with stone occasionally used. The construction of the ramparts featured a sophisticated system that carefully adapted to the landscape characteristics of the Halych citadel and the expansive settlement structure of the medieval city. The earliest traces of fortifications at the Krylos hillfort date back to the Early Iron Age (Thracian Hallstatt culture) of the 10th–5th centuries BCE., while the most recent defensive modifications of the citadel date to the 17th–18th centuries. The 12th–13th centuries represent the peak of Halych’s defensive activity, marked by numerous military and political challenges.