Experts are discovering an affluent 16th-century military fortress from the excavations in the Siberian town of Tara

A large clay pot that contained a roasted turnip was found in Siberia, in the remains of a big log house, which had burnt down in the past. Researchers have found the clay pot, which is a food storage vessel called a “korchaga,” near a stove.  Initially, the burned and damaged turnip kept its shape, but it collapsed later on when it was removed from the pot.  The investigators were also able to discover that this was an autumn turnip, so most likely, it was from the residents’ winter stores. The house probably burnt down in winter or spring.

Location of Tara town in Russia

Tara, the city in Siberia where the log house was situated, is an old town that exceeds all the modern cities in the surrounding area.  The key fortress town was founded in 1594 by Prince Andrey Eletsky and was one of the earliest Russian settlements in Siberia.  At the site, there was also a finding of a knitted woman’s stocking, presumably made in the Czech Republic or Germany, as well as footwear.  Tara was the home to Tsarist forces and also to criminal and political exiles, as many people were sent to Siberia for punishment. This town was known to be a military area rather than a remote province; Accordingly, the bulk of the population was military. However, other people dealt with agriculture, hunting, and trading.

 

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Fragments of high-quality glassware, believed to originate from Germany or the Czech Republic, were also excavated from the site Photo Credit

The finds clearly show that the houses were well-built and the people were importing items. The economy in the city was significantly better than in other Siberian towns. Last summer, researchers also found what they believe are parts of the old town fortifications– a wall and a tower. The excavations are quite big as the cultural layer is 3-4 meters deep and very rich in finds from the 16th to 18th century.

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It is thought that the number of criminals in the town was quite low and consisted mostly of political and educational exiles. The city was made to last and still exists as a modern town today, Mail Online reported. The archaeological dig continues, and archeologists are hoping to be able to map out the former location of the old town of Tara and identify its streets and any significant buildings.