17th-century stone cross uncovered in Vitebsk District

A 17th-century stone cross was discovered during excavation work in Vitebsk District, BelTA learned from the regional history museum.

The cross was discovered during excavation work near a road at a depth of 1.5 meters by employees of the Vitebskvodokanal company. It is so well preserved that the inscriptions are still visible on it, revealing that the cross once marked the grave of Gerasim Ignatovich Ushakovich-Korovchinsky.

researchers from Vitebsk reached out a specialist in Minsk who determined the year from the alphabetic numerical symbols – 1639. He also reported that the Ushakovich-Korovchinsky family (or Ushakovich-Korovki) came from a lineage of armored gentry, and their names were recorded in written sources from the 16th–17th centuries.

"The present-day Zadubrovye in Vitebsk District was the home nest of the Ushakovich-Korovchinsky family in the 17th century. The cemetery where this cross may have been located is 500 meters from the find site. It was most likely washed away by meltwater and carried to the road. The cross is 125.5cm high and 81cm wide. We cannot yet determine the material from which it was made. That would require a geologist. What can be said about this find? Armored gentry were a privileged class obligated to perform military service. Such crosses most often stood on the graves of wealthy nobles, because not everyone could afford such a tombstone. Both the craftsmanship and the material itself cost money, whereas common people usually used simple wooden crosses,” said Valery Shishanov, the academic secretary of the regional museum.

He noted that the interesting archaeological find will soon be put on display in the basement where the museum holds other stone artifacts discovered during excavations in Vitebsk Oblast.