The Thesis deals with the profound historical research of the development of cities on the territory of Lutsk county (powiat) of Volyn province (voivodeship) in the second part of XIV – first part of XVII cent.
In the second part of the XIV–XV cent. fortified parts of city territories, a stronghold (castle) and surrounding territories functioned as the city center. According to archaeological materials their sizes were approximately 6–15 hectares. The total area of such medieval cities as Dubno and Ostroh in the second part of the XIV–XV cent. was about 10–11 hectares, except Lutsk, which in those times was the center of Volyn and its area within the fortifications amounted to about 22 hectares.
At the end of the XV – first part of the XVII cent. started a period connected with the granting of Magdeburg rights to cities and respective changes in their planning occur. Compared to the Kievan Rus period, when unfortified suburbs grew but did not function as city centers, the situation changes in the XIV–XVI cent. Administrative centers of the cities gradually shifted to one of the main suburbs (posad). Thus, from the end of the XV cent. new city plans emerged, with the castle as the administrative center and the posad (with the city hall) as the city center. The example of this are settlements of Lutsk, Rivne and Ostroh, which were characterized by irregular planning combining Kyivan Rus' elements and features of cities, which were built according to Magdeburg rights requirements. At this time thanks to the suburbs their city territory grew. According to the archaeological materials for Lutsk it was about 72 hectares. As for Rivne and Ostroh, we know about the existence of suburbs in these cities from the documents dating to XVІ–XVІI cent., but unfortunately we still do not have any archaeological materials concerning the territory of these structural parts of the cities.
However, Dubno was built at the same time as the fortified castle and is characterized by regular planning, according to Magdeburg rights requirements. Its city territory at this time within the fortifications (without suburbs) was about 40 hectares. The results of excavations showed that city structures of Dubno, Lutsk, Rivne and Ostroh in the second part of the XIV – first part of the XVII cent. changed dramatically. Traditional Kievan Rus' city plans: a stronghold (castle) – surrounding territories – suburbs (posad) were replaced by new ones: castle – city – suburbs, which put the basis for the formation of new cities during said period.
In the last decades on the territories of Dorohobuzh, Dubno, Korets, Lutsk, Ostroh and Rivne 55 deepend building pits of the Lithuanian-Polish period were found and researched.
The results of the research of burial grounds of the XVI–XVIII cent. in Rivne and Ostroh were analyzed. 283 tombs in the shape of rectangular graves were discovered. The bodies are positioned according to the Christian tradition: the bodies are lying flat with arms straight or folded upon the chest and head turned west.
Pottery artifacts, things made from black and precious metals, glass, leather, wood, stone and bone which were found in cultural layers and habitation sites on the territory of Dorohobuzh, Dubno, Korets, Kremenets, Lutsk, Ostroh, Rivne and Stepan have been classified.
Jewelery and clothes elements, classified separately and imported goods, which show the development of trade.
