Tourist Routes Exploring Ancient Hillforts

Zhornivsʹke horodyshche (Zhorniv Hillfort)

Zhorniv Hillfort is a fortress that used to be very powerful and used to host warriors, however today it is gradually being destroyed by the existing quarry.

Status:

Archaeological Monument of Local Importance

Location:

Rivne Oblast, Varkovychi Territorial Community (Hromada), Zhorniv Village.

Coordinates:

50.51429, 25.94569

Travel Distance to the city centre of the city of Rivne:

30,1 km

Description:

Zhorniv Hillfort is located near the Rivne-Lviv highway in the middle reaches of the Stubla River, across from the Varkovychi Hillfort.

Zhorniv Hillfort is the remains of a great medieval fortress with a complex defence system. However, about 50% of the total area has already been destroyed, because there is sandy limestone mining on its territory.

 In 1986–1987, an archaeological expedition of the Rivne Regional Local History Museum carried out rescue excavations here, and in the following years the archaeologists inspected the monument. The scientists found three half-dug dwellings on the site: an earlier one with a stone stove dates back to the 10th century, and the other two, with masonry ovens made of stone on clay mortar, contained materials of the 11th century. Later, in 2003, 2006, 2009, the employees of the Rivne branch of the Rescue Archaeological Service inspected the monument.

 In 2011, during the inspection of the quarry walls on the territory of the hillfort, the researchers found a place of flint processing, which has been preserved only partially. The area where the scientists found the flint workshop is located 50 m to the west of the inner section of the defensive rampart. The main part collapsed, only a 0.3×0.25 m cluster were preserved “in situ”. The researchers found several fragments of moulded vessels of the Early Iron Age nearby. There is a high possibility that the flint workshop dates back to the same period.

The collection of archaeological finds from the excavations at the Zhorniv Hillfort includes the fragments of pottery, tools and household items, weapons and military equipment: arrowheads, a fragment of a sword hilt, a spur, fragments of copper cauldrons, a pendant amulet in the shape of a battle axe, as well as a number of silver jewellery.

 Historic reference: Oleksii Voitiuk, photograph and video: Yurii Oitsius

Video

Routes that pass through this location