Berdishes of the 17th century from the excavations in the Solovetsky monastery

The excavations carried out within the compound of the Solovetsky monastery revealed five berdishes. These rare artifacts clarify our knowledge of cold steel weapons used by the defenders of the Solovetskaya fortress. The first mentioning of berdishes in the list of monastery weapons compiled in 1632 does not allow us to date them the period earlier than the second quarter of the 17th century. The selection of historical evidence regarding the Solovetsky berdishes gives an insight into their life history stretching over three centuries.