Grave monuments with traces of painting from the cemetery at the church in the name of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Roshcha

Abstract

This article presents the research results of the ground part of the Post medieval necropolis. For setting boundaries of the archaeological site and the topography of the cemetery classical as well as new research methods were implemented, for example, the GIS technologies. Grave monuments of various types became the object of study: imitation of sarcophagi, tomb chapels, slabs. Particular attention is paid to the monuments, which carry traces of painting. Such traces were found on nine grave monuments, eight of them are an imitation of a sarcophagus, one is a stand-monument with a lost dominant (probably in form of a cross). In this cemetery, red, green, blue / light blue colors are met for the background design and black for the inscriptions. Such finds are rare, because the paint layer is short-lived. Despite the fact that it is scientifically proven that the original tombstones were polychrome, the author raises the question of the initial or subsequent color of separate tombstones. It is proven that some monuments were colored at a later date. An analysis of visibility of this group of monuments from the side of the church and paths was also carried out.