The Cat Museum

One of the most noteworthy finds from Staraia Ladoga is a complete set of tools from a blacksmith's forge. Gorodishche - Holmg?rd Viking Age Vikings coming back from the east told of a place they called Holmg?rd This was Gorodishche (gorod = fortified settlement). a trading post dating from 800 AD at the confluence of Lake Ilmen and the river Volkhov. Many finds from Scandinavian mens and womans clothes would seem to suggest that they also settled here. Novgorod Late Viking Age and early Middle Ages In the 10th century Novgorod was founded some kilometers downstream on the river Volkhov and in the 11th century the Russian Prince Iaroslav the Wise moved there from Gorodishche. He was married to Ingeg?rd, Olof Sk?tkonung's daughter. Swedish Vikings among the prince's followers (druzina) played important roles as traders and warriors. It is Iaroslav's father, Prince Vladimir, who is considered to have converted Russia to Christianity in 988 AD.