Where Rus Began
The exhibition “Izborsk — The Iron City” is dedicated to one of the oldest cities of Rus, a guardian of the origins of Russian statehood and a frontier fortress standing at the western gates of the country.
Izborsk was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 862, when Truvor, the brother of Rurik, ruled here on the border of Slavic and Varangian lands. It was from these places, as chroniclers said, that “the Russian land began.” Today, Izborsk is an archaeological and spiritual symbol of ancient Rus.
Archaeology of the Ancient City
From 1971 to 1992, the outstanding archaeologist and Slavist, Academician of the RAS Valentin Vasilyevich Sedov, led extensive excavations at Truvor's settlement — the ancient site of the first Izborsk. Thanks to his research, archaeology first revealed the appearance of the 9th-century city: Slavic and Scandinavian settlements, ancient fortifications, craft workshops, and trade items.
As a result of the expedition, a comprehensive scientific reconstruction of early Izborsk was created — a fortress city that became a symbol of the birth of Russian statehood. The museum-reserve “Izborsk” today houses more than 55,000 archaeological finds discovered by Academician Sedov and his students. This collection is a true passport of Russian history, reflecting the formation of the people and their material culture.
The exhibition in Plyos features:
- historical reconstructions of the full armament of ancient Russian warriors — helmets, chainmail, swords, and battle axes;
- original archaeological finds — ceramics, household items made of metal, bone, and glass;
- arrowheads and spearheads, coins, jewelry, and crosses, reflecting not only the craftsmanship but also the spiritual life of Izborsk.
In addition to archaeological artifacts, the exhibition includes paintings and reconstructions that convey the atmosphere of ancient Izborsk. On the canvases, the towers and walls of the fortress, standing above the Izborsk-Malskaya Valley and the Holy Springs — a place where history and nature unite — come to life.
