Shershni

• At the western edge of the village, on the right bank of the Ovsyanka, lies a settlement site dating from the second half of the 1st millennium AD. It covers 2 hectares.
• At the southwestern edge of the village is a prehistoric settlement site dating from the 10th millennium BC, covering an area of 0.7 hectares.
• Shershni has a mass grave for Soviet Army soldiers who died during the liberation of Usvyaty District. An obelisk topped with a five-pointed star stands on the grave.
• Another prehistoric settlement site lies in the swamps, 2.5 kilometers south of Shershni. It covers 1.5 hectares.

The two settlement sites in the village represent periods that are far apart in time. At the southwestern edge of the village is a prehistoric settlement site dating from the 10th millennium BC. The second is at the western edge of the village, on the right bank of the Ovsyanka. This settlement site dates from the second half of the 1st millennium AD and, at 2 hectares, is the largest of the three sites described here.

Their precise locations also help distinguish the sites: the 0.7-hectare site lies at the southwestern edge of the village, while the 2-hectare settlement site is west of the village, on the riverbank. The third site is not at the edge of Shershni but south of it, in the swamps. Dating alone therefore does not fully describe the sites; their direction, location, and area are additional distinguishing features.

Another prehistoric settlement site in the swamps, 2.5 kilometers south of the village, forms part of the surrounding area. It also dates from the 10th millennium BC, but covers 1.5 hectares. It therefore shares the stated period with the smaller settlement site at the southwestern edge of the village, but differs in location and area.

A comparison of the three areas shows a clear progression: 0.7 hectares at the southwestern edge of the village, 1.5 hectares south of it in the swamps, and 2 hectares at the western edge of the village. Together with the dates given for each, this makes it possible to distinguish the sites without confusing their locations in or around the village.

The mass grave in Shershni is dedicated to Soviet Army soldiers who died during the liberation of Usvyaty District. An obelisk topped with a five-pointed star stands on the grave. This gives the memorial a different historical significance from that of the prehistoric settlement sites.

Two distinct themes are important to the cultural character of the place: early settlement periods and remembrance of fallen soldiers. The obelisk is specifically described by its shape and star, while the mass grave recalls the events surrounding the liberation of the district. Both can be understood as distinct parts of the local history.

For a broader regional perspective, Pskov Oblast is a point of reference in its own right. The Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture comprise ten religious architectural monuments in the historic city of Pskov and on the banks of the Velikaya River. They represent architectural styles and decorative elements dating from the 12th century to the beginning of the 17th century.

This regional architectural history differs in period and subject from the settlement sites in Shershni. While the cultural themes mentioned there are prehistoric settlements and a memorial, the churches belong to the broader regional context of Pskov Oblast. This makes it possible to distinguish the specific local context from the region’s broader cultural history.

Discover more destinations: Sebezh, Altun, Pskov, Ostrov, Buraya, Stanki, Dno, Perelaz.

Where are the two settlement sites in Shershni?

One is at the southwestern edge of the village, and the other is at the western edge, on the right bank of the Ovsyanka.

What lies south of the village?

A prehistoric settlement site dating from the 10th millennium BC, covering 1.5 hectares, lies in the swamps 2.5 kilometers south of Shershni.

Which architectural monuments are part of the regional cultural context?

The Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture comprise ten religious architectural monuments in the historic city of Pskov and on the banks of the Velikaya.

For the broader travel overview: Pskov Oblast.