A unique underground chamber has been discovered near the walls of the Saint Transfiguration Church in Polotsk, as reported to BelTA by archaeologist and senior lecturer at the Department of History and Tourism of Polotsk State University, Aliaksei Kots.
A unique underground chamber has been discovered near the walls of the Saint Transfiguration Church in Polotsk, as reported to BelTA by archaeologist and senior lecturer at the Department of History and Tourism of Polotsk State University, Aliaksei Kots.
During extensive excavations, specialists uncovered an underground chamber that was filled in when part of the church's walls and structures collapsed. There are no known examples of such an underground structure in East European ancient Rus' architecture of the 10th-13th centuries, which confirms the unique approach to the construction of the church commissioned by Euphrosyne of Polotsk. At that time, almost all stone monuments were built above ground level.
"Here we are dealing with a unique chamber that has a preserved staircase leading down, beneath the church. It was covered by a vaulted ceiling; the structure is not in the best condition, the vault is damaged. Yesterday, we managed to uncover the wooden floor of the underground chamber, and found a massive beam and planks there. Additionally, among the excavated earth, we found many fragments of frescoes depicting faces of saints, visible letters, and parts of clothing. Specialists say that the style of the frescoes is similar to those found in the church," explained Aliaksei Kots.
He added that among the interesting finds in the underground chamber was a part of a 12th-century horos (candelabrum) and a large fragment of a lead roofing sheet.
According to historians, the underground chamber might have been used for storing the bones of the deceased, or perhaps it housed the tomb of a revered individual, but no remains have been found yet. Representatives of the monastery speculate it could have been a prayer room. The exact purpose of this underground chamber is yet to be determined.
Currently, it is planned to fill it in for future work; there are no possibilities to exhibit the chamber at the moment, but there is an idea to create a 3D model of the structure for tourists.
Excavations near the Church of the Transfiguration began in 2015. Last year, a large excavation was carried out along the southern facade, and this year, the southwestern section near the church has been opened. The findings indicated that the church looked different; it was larger. The archaeological research is driven by the reconstruction of the church. The lower parts of the walls are covered by a cultural layer, which leads to their dampness, and moisture damages the frescoes. Upon completion of the foundation work, waterproofing will be installed, followed by the application of special plaster.
Archaeological work near the church is being conducted by representatives of Polotsk State University, the State Hermitage Museum (Russia), and the local monastery. The excavations are planned to continue throughout September.