Starochervovo: Medieval Traces and Museum History

• The medieval settlement of Starochervovo I lies on the western edge of the village.
• The medieval Starochervovo IV hillfort is located in the village, by the school.
• The “Tyulberskiy Gorodok” Eco-Museum Reserve was founded in 2002 and opened on June 5, 2003.
• Medieval kurgans were reconstructed southwest of the hillfort, on a terrace along the Tom River.

The Starochervovo I settlement lies on the western edge of the village. The Starochervovo IV hillfort, by contrast, is located in the village, by the school. A hillfort is a fortified settlement; here, the term identifies the medieval site as a distinct archaeological location.

Medieval kurgans were reconstructed southwest of the hillfort, on a terrace along the Tom River. Kurgans are burial mounds. Information about the find sites helps distinguish these different features rather than treating them as one location. If you are planning to visit the archaeological sites, check current visitor access in advance.

The “Tyulberskiy Gorodok” Eco-Museum Reserve was founded in 2002 and opened on June 5, 2003. Its founding and opening were two separate milestones: the opening followed the founding in June of the following year.

Starochervovo is also home to the Museum of the History of the Tom Region, housed in an exhibition pavilion. Exhibits described there include archaeological finds in display cases and a diorama showing the interiors of a Russian izba and a Tyulber yurt. The display cases and diorama offer different perspectives: archaeological finds in one, depictions of living spaces in the other. If you are planning to visit the sites or exhibitions, check visitor access in advance.

Beyond the sites in Starochervovo, Kemerovo Oblast offers its own regional perspective on nature and active holidays. In Shorsky National Park, visitors can raft on mountain rivers, take motorboat excursions, and hike along ecological trails.

The “Srednyaya Mrassu” rafting route runs from Ust-Kabyrza to Ust-Anzas. It is rated Category I, is accessible to all age groups, and takes at least three days, depending on the weather. Both the weather-dependent duration and the route conditions matter when planning; check current park rules and conditions along the route before your trip.

The “Verkhnyaya Mrassu” route includes small rapids and riffles rated Categories I and II. Water conditions and duration depend on participants’ preparation and water levels. The routes therefore have different features: “Srednyaya Mrassu” is characterized by its endpoints, category, and weather-dependent minimum duration, while “Verkhnyaya Mrassu” is characterized by its rapids and its dependence on preparation and water levels.

The “Tomskaya Pisanitsa” Museum Reserve is a distinct regional cultural attraction. It is a cultural heritage site of federal significance and one of the best-known and most important rock art sites in Western Siberia. The grounds cover 156 hectares of pine forest on the banks of the Tom River.

Since its early years, “Tomskaya Pisanitsa” has also hosted historical, ethnographic, and folklore events and festivals. The site offers a broad cultural perspective on Kemerovo Oblast, while the medieval settlements and the Museum of the History of the Tom Region represent the specific cultural attractions of Starochervovo.

Which medieval sites are there in Starochervovo?

Starochervovo I lies on the western edge of the village. The Starochervovo IV hillfort is by the school; kurgans were reconstructed southwest of it, on a terrace along the Tom River.

When did the Eco-Museum Reserve open?

“Tyulberskiy Gorodok” was founded in 2002 and opened on June 5, 2003.

What does the Museum of the History of the Tom Region display?

The exhibition pavilion displays archaeological finds in cases, as well as a diorama showing the interiors of a Russian izba and a Tyulber yurt.

For the broader travel overview: Kemerovskiy rayon.