«High» Taras Walls with a Tyn in the Russian State in the Second Half of the 16th–Early 18th Centuries

This article examines the construction of taras walls in the defensive structures of the Russian state in the second half of the 16th - early 18th centuries. Analyzing written sources, the author proves the existence of two types of taras walls, combining in their design «high» taras and a wattle tyn. The first type assumed the presence of individual taras logs, located at some distance from each other, with tyn sections between them, which were connected to the taras logs by cutting the ends of the pales into them. The second type was a continuous wattle tyn, installed in a ditch, with taras logs attached to it from the inside of the fortress. The article contains a reconstruction of the construction of walls of both types, considering their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the influence of various factors on the choice of construction. The results of the study are important for the study of the history of Russian fortification, expanding existing ideas about the construction of taras walls and allowing a more accurate interpretation of archaeological data.