Lecture by archaeologist Pavel Kolosnitsin “Novgorod Birchbark Letters: Messages from the Middle Ages”

The Novgorod birchbark letters are a unique historical source from the 11th to 15th centuries that reveal the daily lives of medieval Novgorod residents. Among more than 1,200 surviving documents are personal letters, love notes, legal complaints, debtor lists, draft documents, writing exercises, and much more.

In this lecture, we will learn how writing on birch bark originated, the role these letters played in Great Novgorod, and explore some of the most fascinating examples!