Archaeological project in Ulyanovsk

On Wednesday Ulyanovsk archaeologists started excavations of the Simbirsk kremlin, a frontier fortress, founded in 1648 on Russia's southern border. The Nagai, Bashkir and Crimean Tatar tribes lived to the south of the fortress.

According to historians, there were two unsuccessful attacks on the Simbirsk fortress: by rebels Stepan Razin and Fyodor Sheludyaka in 1670 and 1671. By the middle of the 18th century the ramshackle fortress was destroyed as discard. Later two cathedrals, ruined by Bolsheviks, were built in its place.

Nowadays, the regional administration, the Lenin Square and monument are situated in the place of the Simbirsk kremlin.

According to historian and archaeologist Yuri Semykin, who is involved in the search, the aim of the excavations is to find the remains of the moat, which could be 6 metres wide, and the northern rampart of the quadrangular fortress in order to determine the borders of the Simbirsk kremlin.

The Simbirskaya Starina public organisation, Ulyanovsk schoolchildren and pupils will help the archaeologists.