Bricks from the Twelfth-Century Churches in Pskov

A unique analysis of twelfth-century brickwork from Pskov's pre-Mongol churches reveals distinct architectural traditions and local adaptations. The study identifies key features of ceramic fabric, molding techniques, and brick formats, demonstrating strong ties to the Novgorod School while highlighting deviations such as advanced brick marking, absence of dentils in cornices, and unplastered facades. Notably, rare brick stamps—including princely emblems like bidents—were found on plinths from St. Demetrius of Solun Church, offering unprecedented insights into medieval craftsmanship and symbolism. The research synthesizes existing data to reconstruct the design and construction methods of these landmarks, providing a foundation for future studies on Pskov's architectural heritage.

Jolshin, D., Yakovlev, D.,. (2025). Bricks from the Twelfth-Century Churches in Pskov. Stratum plus. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology, (5), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.55086/sp2554560