LAUSR

Rural landscapes, especially those affected by plowing, mostly reveal no outward signs of archaeological sites. Best-preserved parts of buildings are cellars, utility pits, and other underground objects not visually observable on the surface. A new strategy is proposed for gaining preliminary information about the outlines and inner structures of medieval settlements of that type. It is based on a comparison of geophysical fi ndings with those of drilling, pilot excavations, and tendencies in the distribution of surface fi nds. The application of this strategy to the study of various types of medieval unfortifi ed sites in the Suzdal Opolye, central Russia, including large settlements (Kibol-5, Shekshovo-2, and Bolshoye Davydovskoye-2), a stratifi ed site (Ves-5), and small unstratifi ed sites (Vishenki-3 and Kistysh-3), demonstrates its effi ciency. Specifi cally, magnetic survey has allowed us to delineate the borders of the settlements, locate densely inhabited areas, production complexes, and sometimes pits. Electr ical survey proves more effi cient for assessing spatial characteristics (size and shape) of sites. The excavation area, however, is selected according to the magnetic prospecting data.