Muezersky Trinity Monastery in the Western White Sea region: the archaeological aspect

This article is the first work on the archeology of the Muezersky Trinity Monastery in the western White Sea region. The monastery was founded by monk Cassian from the Solovetsky Monastery in the second half of the XVI century on an island in Lake Mui. This is the only place in the White Sea Karelia that preserved a fine jewel of church architecture of the XVII century - the Church of Saint Nicholas. In 2019, the first archaeological works were carried out on the territory of the monastery. The main task was to identify elements of the ancient cultural and economic landscape of the monastery. The archaeological studies were expected to clarify the boundaries of the monument, locate the main monastery’s buildings and facilities, evaluate their condition, and outline a strategy for future work. Most of the monastery’s objects described in historical documents were identified, including the burned-down Holy Trinity Church of the XVI century, a stone wall, an ice storage, the remnants of monastery cells, a stone cross and a cemetery. The obtained new information expands our knowledge of the late medieval monasteries in Karelia.