2026 #3 Koniv D.

« 2026. # 3 (189)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 3 (189), 815—822

UDK902.03:711.5](477.83­25)”11/13″:528.4:001­051](477)”18/20″(091)

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

PRINCELY LVIV: TOPOGRAPHY, SITES, RESEARCHERS

KONIV Dariia

• ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009­0005­5542­3232
• postgraduate student of the Department of Archaeology
• and History of Ancient Civilizations,
• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
• 1, Universytetska str., 79000, Lviv, Ukraine,
• Contacts: e-­mail: dariiakoniv@gmail.com

Abstract. This article summarizes the findings of archaeological investigations, highlights the contributions of key researchers to the study of the early medieval city, and analyses the main stages in the development of scholarly understanding of the structure of pricely Lviv. It examines the results of excavations in key areas of the city, which have revealed the existence of sacred, defensive, and craft­and­residential sites from the 12th—14th centuries. The relevance of the article stems from the need to systematize the accumulated archaeological materials and incorporate them into scientific discourse for a comprehensive reconstruction of the structure of the early urban centre.

The object of the study is the archaeological sites of the princely era in Lviv, and the subject is the results of their archaeological investigation, the interpretation of the discovered materials, and the challenges of their scholarly analysis. The methodological basis of the study consists of historical­comparative, chronological, typological and comprehensive methods of analyzing archaeological sources, as well as the principles of systematising and generalising scientific data.

The subject of archaeological research in Lviv has been covered in a number of scientific publications. However, most of these have focused on the history of archaeological research within the city as a whole. Nevertheless, the history of the study of monuments from the princely era in Lviv can be traced through academic reports, short articles in specialist journals («Archaeological Discoveries», «Materials and studies on archaeology of Sub­Carpathian and Volhynian area», «Studia archaeologica»), monographs [1; 2; 3], articles [4; 5] and so on, which form the source base of the study. The aim of this study, however, is to summarize the available published and archival information regarding the results of research into the princely period in the history of Lviv and to determine the historical topography of the city.

Results: Archaeological research into princely­era sites in Lviv evolved from 19th­century local surveys to systematic studies by specialist institutions. The limited scope of large­scale excavations, due to dense urban development, made archaeological work dependent on urban planning. The research identified key sites associated with chronicle­era Lviv, particularly the High Castle, medieval churches, and the city centre. Archaeological evidence confirmed the existence of defensive, sacred, and residential­craft structures dating from the 12th–14th centuries. These discoveries significantly expanded our understanding of the city’s historical topography, material culture, and inter­regional contacts..

Keywords: archaeology, history of archaeology, Lviv, rescue excavations, the princely period.

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