Использование пирофиллитового сланца и кварцита в строительном деле Южной Руси
- 1. Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Description
Ivakin Gleb, Tomashevsky Andrey, Pavlenko Sergey
Use of pyropiiyllite and quartzite in the building works in Southern Rus
The results of long-term investigations on the territory of Ovruch Volost (district) realized by the Ovruch expedition and latest excavations in Kiev on the sites of the Archangel Michael Monastery, the Dormition Church of the Kiev Cave Monastery and the Tithe Church let the researchers raise a question about the use of pyrophyllites and quartzites from Ovruch in the building works in Southern Rus. 
On the territory of the Ovruch-Slovechno mountain ridge entire regions, sites, settlements and workshops that once specialized in slate industry have been discovered. Also, the medieval open-cast mines have been found and investigated. The exploitation of the main varieties of pyrophyllitic slate used to be practiced in those places. 
The unique complex of natural resources, on the one hand, and favourable social, political, religious and economic conditions, on the other hand, made the start of the Ovruch slate industry possible. The very mineral, i.e. pyrophyllitic slate, has many useful natural qualities. The slate industry is distinguished by the high degree of the development of the manufacture process, the high level of standartization and good quality of the manufactured products. The volume of the manufactured products and used material was outstandingly enormous. At the same time, the products manufactured from pyrophyllitic slate were associated with a high status and high price. 
One of the main fields in the structure of the Ovruch pyrophyllitic industry was supply for the construction of monumental churches and palaces. Pyrophyllite was used in their foundations, walls, stairs, cornices of arches, bases and capitals of the columns, templons, lintels, gallery thresholds, decorated carved slabs, flat floor slabs and slabs for opus sectile and others. This material was also used for sarcophagi and tombstones. 
This paper is an attempt at remodelling the quantity, volume and weight characteristics of various slate types (varying in colour, morphology etc.) which were in use as decorative elements (wall belts, reliefs, floors etc.) and sarcophagi in Kiev churches. These data is discussed together with the specific qualities of the pyrophyllite slate deposition in the places of its mining and with the possibility of its open-mine extraction in Old Rus time. 
The questions of the use of the Ovruch red quartzite in monumental buildings of Old Rus are also considered.
Notes
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