|
|
The Ryahovetz fortress is situated
on the northern slopes of the Arbanassi mountain .
These slopes are cut by small gorges : Eastern gorge , where nowadays passes
the road from G.Oryahovitza to the town Russe ; Middle gorge- it is about 1 km west of the
Eastern gorge ; Northern gorge , where the small river Gaber
runs . The fortress is built on a hill , which is
between the Middle and Northern gorges . The east ,south
and west sides of the hill are naturally protected by sheer precipices which
are from 15 to 30 metres deep . The northern slope is so steep that it
nearly “falls down” straight into the valley of the river Yantra. |
|
Plan of the main gate of tha fortress "Ryahovetz" |
|
The first well-organized
archaeological excavations
are started in 1985 in two
sectors-I sector- fortress walls( a main gate,
eastern and western fortress walls, a northern
and a western
gate, a northern battle tower) and II sector – a southern foot of the fortress. The localisation of the main gate
is facilitated by Shkorpil’s description
of the architecture of the Ryahovetz and his plan
of the main gate. The main gate is in the south-eastern side of the hill.It is on the narrow terrace(12-15m/60m),which is surrounded by the cliffs.The main gate is connected with a ford.The ford is 2.5 m wide and 15.80 m long.It is closed by three gates. The first gate
is in front
of the ford.It is shaped
by two pilasters. Between them the ford is
2.40 m wide. The distance between
the mentioned pilasters and the pilasters,shaping the second
gate is 3.60m. At the third gate the ford is wide 2.05m.The eastern pilaster is 0,82x0,27m and the western one-1.03x0.29m.After the third gate the ford turns to the inner side of the eastern fortress wall. To the east
of the ford there is
a square (8.40x8.20m)To the east
of this square there is another one(5.40mx3.60m) The ford is
covered with coarse crushed gravel.The main street of the
fortress has the same pavement.The
street is wide about 2.70-2.80m.10 km after the
gate, the street changes its direction from north to
north-west.A different kind of pavement
is discovered in a sector
after the third gate.This sector is covered
with flag stones(0.40x0.30m) and there are tracks
from mortar on them.It shows
that these flag stones were used
for the second time. This kind of
pavement and the buildings of the third
gate show that they were
built a bit careless. The level of
the stone pavement is in
line with the level of
the bricklays,building on the
destruction These bricklays are built in the western side of the medieval street and in this way they protect this street from the landslide. |
|