Mysteries of Vasilkov on the Dniester: history, geography, toponymy, architecture

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2021-4-27-495-519

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Andrey A. Herzen

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences,
29, Staromonetny per., 1190117, Moscow, Russia;
E-mail: gerzen@igras.ru

Silviya K. Kostovska

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences,
29, Staromonetny per., 1190117, Moscow, Russia;
E-mail: silvakos@igras.ru

Tamara P. Nesterova

Institute of Cultural Heritage,
1, Stefan cel Mare bd., 2001, Kishinev, Moldavia;
E-mail: neste2003@list.ru

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive historic-geographical, toponymic and architectural analysis of a unique monument of medieval religious and defensive architecture—the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in Vasilkov on the Dniester and its surroundings, located on the modern state border of Moldavia with the Ukraine, and in the Middle Ages it served as the border point of the Principality of Moldavia with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Eastern outpost of the capital of the tsinut (county) of Soroky and its main fortification—the Soroka castle. The architecture of the rural temple with a bell tower, erected on the elevated cape with steep slopes, is a rare example of a preserved structure that combines the traditions of wooden architecture based on the proportions used in antiquity for the construction of stone churches. The medieval fortified point with a unique monument of the cult-defensive architecture together with a courtyard, a trading square, as well as an ancient trade road and a river crossing represent a united natural and historic-cultural complex.

The solution of historic-geographical puzzles enveloping the monument of heritage is based on a comprehensive multiscale historic-cartographical analysis and the use of modern geographic information methods, including comparison of topographic maps with aerial and satellite images of the terrain, as well as high-precision digital elevation models, hydrography and other cartographic products. A method of comparing cartographic images of an area in chronological slices (in different historical periods) is supposed to be highly effective. It allows you to observe the historic-geographical evolution of the area.

A research of the complex of toponymic problems associated with the territory under study reveals the processes of massive transfer of geographical names in antiquity, covering not only the North-Western Black Sea Region and adjacent territories, but also much wider spaces of the East European Plain, where modern toponymic landscapes were formed.

Keywords

maps, toponyms, landscape, temple, interdisciplinary research

References

  1. Bawr F.G. de. Carte de la Moldavie pour servir à l’Histoire militaire de la guerre entre les Russes et les Turcs. Amstelodami, 1772 (in French).
  2. Beauplan G. le V. Ukrainae pars qvae Barclavia palatinatus vulgo dicitur per Guilhelmum le Vasseur de Beauplan S.R.M.tis Poloniae architectum militarem etc. (1652). Amstelodami, 1721 (in Latin).
  3. Beauplan G. le V., Hondius G. Delineatio generalis Camporum Desertorum vulgo Ukraina. Cum adjacentibus provinciis… Gedani, 1648 (in Latin).
  4. Beauplan G. le V., Hondius G. Delineatio specialis et accurata Ukrainae cum suis palatinatibus ac districtib9. Provincysq. Adiacentibus… Gedani An.o M.D.C L. 1650 (in Latin).
  5. Berg L.S. Subject and tasks of geography. Izv. RGO, 1915. T. 15. V. 9. P. 463–475 (in Russian).
  6. Bondar’ V.V., Markova O.N. Cultural Landscapes of Historical Settlements as a Special Category of Heritage (based on Materials from the North-West Caucasus). Moscow, 2020. 334 p. (in Russian).
  7. Bukowina (1773–1775) — Josephinische Landesaufnahme. Web resource: https://mapire.eu/de/map/firstsurvey-bukovina/ (accessed: 20.03.2021) (in German).
  8. Cantemir D., Changuion F. Principatus Moldaviae nova & accurata Descriptio. Amsterdam, 1737 (In Latin).
  9. Dikcionar enchiklopedik moldovenesk. Kishinev, 1989. 720 p. (in Moldavian).
  10. Distrikt Bukowina (1773–1776) — Josephinische Landesaufnahme. Web resource: https://mapire.eu/de/map/firstsurvey-bukovina-2/ (accessed: 20.03.2021) (in German).
  11. Dmitriev P.G. Rechensjemintele populaciej Moldovej din anij 1772–1773 shi 1774. Moldova yn epoka feudalizmuluj. V. VII. P. I. Kishinev: Shtiinca, 1975. 608 p. (in Moldavian).
  12. Documenta Romaniae Historica. A. Moldova. V. I (1384–1448). București, 1975 (in Romanian).
  13. Eremija A.I. Geographic names tell. Kishinev, 1982. 104 p. (in Russian).
  14. Eremija A.I. Nume de lokalitjec’. Kishinev, 1970 (in Moldavian).
  15. Fondul naţional de date geospaţiale. Kishinev, 2021. Web resource: http://geoportal.md/ (accessed: 20.03.2021) (in Moldavian).
  16. Galizien und Bukowina (1861–1864) — franziszeische landesaufnahme. Web resource: https://mapire.eu/de/map/secondsurvey-galicia/ (accessed: 20.03.2021) (in German).
  17. Halippa I.N. Information about the State of Churches in Bessarabia in 1812–1813. Proceedings of the Bessarabian Gubernian Scientific Archive Commission. V. III. Kishinev, 1907. P. 231–295 (in Russian).
  18. Halippa I.N. List of Land Ownership and Estate Structure of the Population of Bessarabia according to the Census of 1817. Proceedings of the Bessarabian Gubernian Scientific Archive Commission. V. II. Kishinev, 1907. P. 1–230 (in Russian).
  19. Harta topographică a Republicii Moldova, 2013. Scara 1:50 000. Fondul naţional de date geospaţiale. Kishinev, 2020. Web resource: http://geoportal.md/ (accessed: 20.03.2021) (in Moldavian).
  20. Herzen A.A. Cartographic Methods for Solving Historical and Geographical Problems (on the Example of Multiscale Research of Europe, Mediterranean and North-Western Black Sea Regions). InterCarto. InterGIS, 2020. V. 26. Part 4. P. 266–281 (in Russian). DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2020-4-26-266-281.
  21. Herzen A.A. Geopolitical and Historic-Geographical Problems of the Black Sea Region (Review of Results of International Conference 2019). Izv. RAN. Ser. geogr., 2021. V. 85. No. 1. P. 146–155 (in Russian). DOI: 10.31857/S2587556621010040.
  22. Herzen A.A. Historic-Geographical Context of Transferred Toponyms. Problems of Geography, 2018. No. 146. P. 27–73 (in Russian).
  23. Herzen A.A. Historic-Geographical Landscapes of the North-Western Black Sea Region. Problems of Geography, 2013. No. 136. P. 228–242 (in Russian).
  24. Herzen A.A., Nesterova T.P., Paskary E.G., Tel’nov N.P. At the Crossroads of civilizations: Space, Time, Heritage. Newest Historic-Geographical Researches of Some Monuments of the North-Western Black Sea Region. Moscow–Saint Petersburg: Nestor-Istoria, 2019. 416 p. (in Russian).
  25. Herzen A.A.. Paskar’ E.G., Hropov A.G. Topographic Maps of the North-Western Black Sea Region of the 17th to mid-18th centuries. Geodesy and Cartography = Geodezia i Kartografia, 2021. No. 82 (6). P. 26–36 (in Russian). DOI: 10.22389/0016-7126-2021-972-6-26-36.
  26. Hropov A.G. History of Topographic Study of the Territory of Moldavia (Early Stages). Geopolitical and Historic-Geographical Problems of the Black Sea Region. Kishinev, 2019. P. 89–96 (in Russian).
  27. Isachenko A.G. On Two Interpretations of the Concept of “Cultural Landscape”. Izv. RGO, 2003. No. 1. P. 5–16 (in Russian).
  28. Isachenko A.G. Theory and Methodology of Geographical Science. Moscow. 2004. 395 p. (in Russian).
  29. Kaganskij V.L. Cultural Landscape and Soviet Habitable Space. Moscow, 2001. 576 p. (in Russian).
  30. Kaganskij V.L. Cultural Landscape: Basic Concepts in Russian Geography. Observatory of Culture, 2009. No. 1. P. 62–70 (in Russian).
  31. Kaluckov V.N. Ethnocultural Landscape Studies. Vestn. Mosk. un-ta. Ser. 5. Geogr., 2006. No. 2. P. 6–12 (in Russian).
  32. Kaluckov V.N. Fundamentals of Ethnocultural Landscape Studies. Moscow, 2000. 94 p. (in Russian).
  33. Kaluckov V.N. Landscape in Cultural Geography. Moscow, 2008. 317 p. (in Russian).
  34. Kamkin, Kop’ev, Ivanov, Skorobogatov, Kirilov. Map of the Podolian and Bessarabian Gub. Row XXVII. Sheet 7. Shubert F.F., Tuchkov P.A. Military-Topographic Map of the Russian Empire, 1845–1863. Ed. 1868, 1870–77, 1893, 1899. Saint Petersburg, 1899 (in Russian).
  35. Kamkin, Kop’ev, Ivanov, Skorobogatov, Kirilov. Map of the Podolian Gub. and Bessarabian Obl. Row XXVII. Sheet 7. Shubert F.F., Tuchkov P.A. Military-Topographic Map of the Russian Empire, 1845–1863. Ed. 1868, 1877. Saint Petersburg, 1877 (in Russian).
  36. Karpenko Ju.O. Toponymy of Bukovina. Kiev, 1973. 240 p. (in Ukrainian).
  37. Karpenko Ju.O. Toponymy of the Central Regions in the Chernovtsy Oblast. Lecture Notes. Chernovctsy, 1965. 76 p. (in Ukrainian).
  38. Kochurov B.I. Development of Geoecological Terms and Concepts. Problemy Regional’noj Jekologii, 2000. No. 3. P. 5–8. (in Russian).
  39. Kornilovich A.O., Goven f. D.H.H. General Map of Bessarabian Oblast. Tulchin, 1822 (in Russian).
  40. Krasovskaja T.M., Kaluckov V.N. Ideas about the Cultural Landscape: from Professional to World Outlook. Vestn. Mosk. un-ta. Ser. 5. Geogr., 2000. No. 4, P. 3–6 (in Russian).
  41. Kurdinovskij V. List of the Oldest Churches of the Bessarabian Gubernia. Proceedings of the Bessarabian Church Historic-Archaeological Society. 1 V. Kishinev, 1910. P. 70–163 (in Russian).
  42. Kut’kova, Guseva E., Cimkovich, Serocinskaja, Stukanov N., Kuznecov I., Osipov F., Sajkin F. Map of the Bessarabian and Podolian Gub. List XXXIX–25. Jampol and Soroky Count. Ed. 1872–73, 1911, 1916. Moscow: Izd. Voenno-Kartograf. Otd. R.-K. K. A., 1924 (in Russian).
  43. Lavrenova O.A. Semantics of the Cultural Landscape: abstract of dis. Hab. Doctor of Philosophy. Moscow, 2010. 38 p. (in Russian).
  44. Lavrenova O.A. Cultural Landscape: from Earth to Space. Cosmic Worldview—New Thinking of the XXI Century: Materials of the Intern. Scientific Societies. Conf. 2003. In 3 V. Moscow, 2004. V. 2. P. 140–151 (in Russian).
  45. Lavrenova O.A. Cultural Landscape: Semantics of Cultural and Geographical Interactions. Izv. RAN. Ser. geogr., 2003. No. 2. P. 114–120 (in Russian).
  46. Livinskaja O.A. Concept of a Cultural Landscape of Our Country Geography. Pskovskij regionologicheskij zhurnal, 2012. No. 14. P. 120–128 (in Russian).
  47. Map of the Ukrainian SSR and Bessarabia. Sheet XXXIX–25 (Soroki). Ed. 1872–73, 1911. Moscow: Upravlenie voennyh topografov, 1932 (in Russian).
  48. Makar’ D.G. Vasil’kovo. Church of the Assumption. The Collection of Monuments of History and Culture of the MSSR. Northern Zone. Kishinev, 1987 (in Russian).
  49. Mil’kov F.N. Man and Landscapes. Essays on Anthropogenic Landscape Science. Moscow, 1973. 224 p. (in Russian).
  50. Miron V. Raionul Soroca. Ghid touristic. Kishinev, 2017. 150 p. (in Moldavian).
  51. Nesterova T. Cu privire la modulul structuri spaţiale a clădirilor ecleziastice bizantine, ruse şi din Ţara Moldovei (Cu studiu de caz biserica Sf. Treime din oraşul Siret). Arta. Seria Arta vizuală, 2007. P. 14–31 (in Moldavian).
  52. Nesterova T. Despre datarea cetăţii de piatră din or. Soroca. Revista Arheologică, 2015. Nr. 1–2 (11). P. 209–219 (in Moldavian).
  53. Nesterova T. Proporțiile arhitecturii din Moldova istorică. Chișinău: Epigraf, 2019, 312 p. (in Moldavian).
  54. Nesterova T.P., Herzen A.A. Architectural and Historic-Geographical Mystery of the Church of Vasilcau Village. Revista Arta, 2021. V. XXX. No. 1. P. 139–147 (in Russian). DOI: 10.52603/arta.2021.30-1.20. (in Russian).
  55. Nikolaev V.A. Cultural Landscape—Geoecological System. Vestn. Mosk. un-ta. Ser. 5. Geogr., 2000. No. 6. P. 3–8 (in Russian).
  56. Paskary E.G. Unstudied Written and Cartographic Sources on the History of the North-Western Black Sea Region. Geopolitical and Historic-Geographical Problems of the Black Sea Region. Kishinev, 2019. P. 80–88 (in Russian).
  57. Paskary E.G., Herzen A.A. Toponym Moldavia: Ancient Recollections and New etymologies. Rusin, 2016. No. 1 (43). P. 9–35 (in Russian). DOI: 10.17223/18572685/43/2.
  58. Polonia. Atlas map z XVI–XVIII wieku. Warszawa: Główny Urząd Geodeziji i Kartografii, 2005. P. 52 (in Polish).
  59. Raan f. The List from My Own Magazine in the Continuation of the Last War during the Conquest of Moldavia and Bessarabia from 1787 to 1790, with the Supplement of One Drawing. Saint Petersburg, 1792 (in Russian).
  60. Raan f. Theatre of the War from 1788 till 1790. A Plan of Military Actions of the Imperial Russian and Austrian United during the Occupation of Moldavia and Bessarabia. Saint Petersburg, 1792 (in Russian).
  61. Rizzi Zannoni J.A.B. Carte des frontieres de Pologne depuis la fin des Karpaks en Transylvanie jusques au territoire des Tatares-Bessarabes contenant la Moldavie Septentrionale le Desert des Tatares lipkes et le cours du Dniester depuis Koczym jusques a Bender. Carte de la Pologne divisée par provinces et palatinats et subdivesée par districts. Paris, 1772 (in French).
  62. Russland (Bessarabien) 1:25 000. Soroca. Blatt Nr.5385. Grundkartenwerk: Planul Director de Tragere 1:20 000 des ruman. Militargeogr. Instituts (1919). Sonderausgabe II. 1941 (in German).
  63. Saushkin Ju.G. Cultural Landscape. Problems of Geography, 1946. No. 1. P. 97–106 (in Russian).
  64. Shubert F.F., Nejdgart A.I. Special Map of the Western Part of the Russian Empire. Saint Petersburg, 1832 (in Russian).
  65. Lists of Populated Places of the Russian Empire… III. Bessarabian Oblast. Saint Petersburg, 1861 (in Russian).
  66. Streleckij V.N. Geographic Space and Culture: Ideological Attitudes and Research Paradigms in Cultural Geography. Izv. RAN. Ser. geogr. 2002, No. 4. P. 18–28 (in Russian).
  67. Streleckij V.N. Landscape through the Prism of Cultural Geography. Izv. RAN. Ser. geogr., 2011. No. 2. P. 133–135 (in Russian).
  68. Streleckij V.N. The Cultural Landscape of Modern Russia. Izv. RAN. Ser. geogr., 2003. No. 2. P. 126–127 (in Russian).
  69. Streleckij V.N., Chernov S.Z. Cultural Landscape. Great Russian Encyclopedia. V. 16. Moscow, 2010. P. 321 (in Russian).
  70. Topographic map. Moldavian SSR. 1:50 000. Moscow, 1982. Fondul naţional de date geospaţiale. Kishinev, 2021. Web resource: http://geoportal.md/ (accessed: 20.03.2021) (in Russian).
  71. Topographic map. USSR. Ukr. SSR Vinnickaja, Odesskaja oblasti and Moldavian SSR. M–35–XXIX. Vapnjarka. 1:200 000. Moscow: General’nyj shtab, 1979 (in Russian).
  72. Topographic map. USSR. Ukr. SSR. Mold. SSR. Rumania. M–35–V. L’vov. 1:500 000. Moscow: General’nyj shtab, 1989 (in Russian).
  73. Vedenin Ju.A. Essays on the Geography of Art. Saint Petersburg, 1997. 224 p. (in Russian).
  74. Vedenin Ju.A. Problems of the formation of a cultural landscape and its study. Izv. AN SSSR. Ser. geogr., 1990. No. 1. P. 5–17 (in Russian).
  75. Vedenin Ju.A., Kuleshova M.E. Cultural Landscape as an Object of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Izv. RAN. Ser. geogr., 2001. No. 1. P. 7–14 (in Russian).
  76. Zamjatina N.Ju., Zamjatin D.N., Mitin I.I. Modeling Images of Historical and Cultural Territory: Methodological and Theoretical Approaches. Moscow, 2008. 760 p. (in Russian).

For citation: Herzen A.A., Kostovska S.K., Nesterova T.P. Mysteries of Vasilkov on the Dniester: history, geography, toponymy, architecture. InterCarto. InterGIS. GI support of sustainable development of territories: Proceedings of the International conference. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2021. V. 27. Part 4. P. 495–519. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2021-4-27-495-519 (in Russian)