The territory in which modern Russians live began to be settled by people many centuries ago. After the appearance of human settlements on it, their number began to increase every year. People founded villages, villages and cities, which later turned into great Russia. Today, many are interested in which Russian city can be considered the most ancient?
Ancient cities of Russia
One of the oldest Russian cities is Veliky Novgorod, which was founded around 859 - although many scholars believe that it appeared much earlier. Due to the fact that Veliky Novgorod escaped the Tatar-Mongol invasion, the city managed to preserve a large number of ancient architectural monuments. Staraya Ladoga is considered the less senior city in Russia, which today is a village in the Leningrad region. The first official mention of Staraya Ladoga is dated 862.
According to unverified data, this city in ancient times could have been the first Russian capital, in which Rurik reigned, who was the founder of the Rurik dynasty.
Archaeologists have found in Staraya Ladoga log manufacturing and ship repair workshops, which were built in 793 by northern Europeans who arrived in Russia from other countries. There is an opinion that Ladoga was founded by the Scandinavians, who were later attacked by the tribes of the Eastern Slavs and destroyed the buildings, erecting in their place the usual log cabins from wooden logs.
The most ancient city in Russia
Most historians consider the city of Murom to be the most ancient city in Russia. The only mention of the date of its foundation is in the first Russian chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years", but according to the results of archaeological research, even before 862 the Finno-Ugric peoples lived there, who gave the city its current name. The Finno-Ugric people themselves first appeared on the territory of Murom in the 5th century AD. This city is the oldest in the Vladimir land and the birthplace of the epic Russian hero Ilya Muromets.
Given these data, today Murom may already be about 1,500 years old, so this city may well claim the status of the most ancient city in Russia.
However, some modern historians do not agree with the recognition of Murom as the most ancient Russian city and argue that the right to wear this proud title should be assigned to Derbent, a Dagestan city located between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasian foothills. The first mention of Derbent as the Caspian gate dates back to the 6th century BC, and its first settlements were formed at the end of the 4th millennium and also BC. Derbent is known for its hot summers, long autumn and warm winters. The population of the city today is about 120 thousand people.
