Archaeologists in Veliky Novgorod, one of Russia’s oldest cities, have uncovered a large wooden riverside structure that may date back to the 16th century, possibly forming part of a river pier. Found along the banks of the Volkhov River, the discovery is being described as unprecedented for the region and could offer new insights into the city’s early river infrastructure and trade networks.
Excavations took place on the Sofia Side of Veliky Novgorod, near the Victory Monument and close to the Novgorod Kremlin. Across the river lies Yaroslav’s Court, historically called the Torq, which served as the city’s main commercial hub in medieval times. While Novgorod has a rich archaeological record, its riverbank zones have been little explored, making this find particularly significant.
A Unique Wooden Construction
The structure is composed of massive pine logs, some up to 50 centimeters in diameter, extending about 24 meters toward the river.
“This is an exceptionally sturdy construction built from large logs,” said Pyotr Gaidukov, advisor to the director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a lead researcher at Novgorod State University. “We believe this forms the lower foundation of a major riverside structure, possibly a navigable pier. Nothing like this has been found in Novgorod before.”
Archaeologists initially thought the remains were part of a defensive wall running parallel to the river, but the downward slope toward the Volkhov River indicates the structure was likely linked to water transport rather than fortification.
Dating the Pier to the Early 1500s
The age of the wooden structure was established through dendrochronology, which analyzes tree-ring patterns to determine when the wood was cut. Results indicated that one log was felled in 1509 and another in 1510. Coins and seals found in the same archaeological layer further corroborate this dating.
Historians suggest the pier may have been constructed in the aftermath of the catastrophic 1508 fire, which destroyed much of Novgorod’s Trade Side and reportedly killed around 2,000 people. The disaster also destroyed the Great Bridge across the Volkhov River.
“According to one of the Novgorod chronicles, the bridge was rebuilt in 1509, just before Grand Prince Vasily III of Moscow visited,” explained Pyotr Gaidukov. “It is likely that major construction projects were underway across the city at the time, including the structure we uncovered.”
Evidence from a 17th-Century City Plan
Further support comes from a 1611 city plan showing a bulwark extending into the river exactly where the pier was discovered. Archaeologists suggest that later fortifications may have incorporated or reused parts of the earlier wooden structure.
Experts also believe the pier fell out of use before 1582, when work began on the Small Earthen Town—a defensive system surrounding the city’s inner fortress (detinets). During the construction of moats, earth was piled over the pier’s foundation, burying it for centuries.
Preservation and Public Display
Following careful documentation and excavation, all the wooden components of the pier were removed and transferred to the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture near Veliky Novgorod.
“The logs are currently undergoing conservation under expert supervision,” said Pyotr Gaidukov. “Once the process is complete, the Novgorod Museum intends to showcase this unique early 16th-century riverside structure to the public.”
The discovery was officially presented at the 40th Scientific Conference Novgorod and the Novgorod Land: History and Archaeology, with contributions from researchers of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, including Oleg Oleinikov, Sergey Chernykh, Andrey Berezkin, and Vyacheslav Kolobrodov.
Archaeologists emphasize that the find not only provides fresh insights into river transport and trade in medieval Novgorod, but also underscores the untapped potential of the city’s riverbank areas. As research continues, this structure could become one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the region in recent years.
