Donets Gorodishche, Archaeological hillfort in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Donets Gorodishche is an archaeological hillfort on a cape overlooking the Vovcha River in Kharkiv, with earthen ramparts, ditches, and steep defensive scarps forming a structured layout. Multiple defensive lines create distinct sections where ancient households were once organized and built.
The site developed from the 8th to 10th century as part of the Saltiv culture, a period connected to the Khazar Khaganate in the region. This era shaped the settlement's defensive structure and layout that remains visible today.
The site reveals how people lived during the early medieval period, with clay houses built close together in organized sections. Walking through the area, one sees traces of everyday domestic activities that shaped community life.
The site is accessible to explore on foot, but visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and sloping terrain along the ramparts. Sturdy shoes and time to walk around help you appreciate how the defenses protected the different settlement levels.
The hillfort used three separate defensive rings arranged at different levels rather than in simple concentric circles, creating a complex maze that would slow down attackers. This layered design was an unusual engineering choice for settlements of that era.
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