The Mongol invasion of Eastern Europe in the mid-13th century is a well-known historical event. The capture of Old Rusian towns by the Mongols, the mass extermination of their populations, and the devastation of rural areas are vividly described in both local chronicles and foreign written sources. Archaeological research conducted from the mid-20th century through the early 21st century has yielded a substantial body of evidence that largely confirms the information provided by written sources.
Excavations at a number of towns – both major capital centres and so-called “small towns” of Rus' – have revealed traces of assaults and fires, abundant finds of Mongol-type arrowheads, and mass graves of massacre victims. Such features are characteristic of Mongol warfare.
However, this evidence primarily pertains to the lands of southern and eastern Rus' (present-day territory of Ukraine and Russia), while the lands of Western Rus', corresponding to the territory of present-day Belarus, have remained a kind of “blank spot” on the map of Mongol raids in Eastern Europe. This paper presents an analysis of excavation materials from Belarusian towns and the identification of traces of Mongol military activity dating to the mid-to-late 13th century.

First Author: Mikalai Plavinski

Keywords:
Mongol Raids
Old Rus'
Belarus
mid-to-late 13th century
towns
traces of assaults