Journey to Gnezdovo: The Industrial Giant of Viking Rus'

#history #Gnezdovo #Viking Rus #Kasplia #Dniepr
The most prominent portage on the eastern trade route is the one between the river Kasplia in the north, and the great Dniepr in the south. The Kasplia is a tributary of the great Daugava, directly connected to the Baltic sea. The Dniepr could be reached from the north via portage from the Lovat, directly connected to Lake Ilmen and Ladoga. It is no surprise then, that a settlement would appear on the portage between the Kasplia and the Dniepr, running along the banks of the latter. It is in fact, the largest archaeological site discovered in the region and has proven a virtual treasure trove - it is comparable to more well-known locations like Novgorod or Kiev, and some have even argued, that it was the most important settlement on the route to Byzantium. Nowadays it is called: Gnezdovo.