Phenomenon of «large settlements»in North-Eastern Rus in the 10th and 11th centuries

The aim of this publication is to substantiate singling out of the 10th- and 11th-century «large settlements» of North-Eastern Rus as a special type of sites. Their specificcharacter is clarified with a wide range of new data obtained from the large settlementsin the Suzdal Opolie Region. The sites are sizeable settlements covering many hectaresof area, but having no defensive constructions. Their cultural deposits contain a gooddeal of evidence indicating that life at these sites was of a highly active nature. The siteshave yielded remains of production, objects related with long-distance trade and a cultureconsisting of many different components including those indicating a variety of ethnictraditions. Collections of artefacts comprise «prestige items», which reflect specific socialaspirations of certain part of the population. Within the territory of the Suzdal FieldRegion eight such sites have been reliably recorded. Further investigations are necessaryto include a series of sites of North-Eastern Rus in this group. The fact that there is a clusterof such sites means that additional investigations are required in order to shed further lighton the economic basis for these settlements, the sources of their prosperity and the specificforms of their economic activity and social organization