KOVALENKO Yu. O. Participation of students of history department of Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv national pedagogical university in the archaeological research of Baturyn

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      The article contains a brief description of archaeological research of Baturin - the residence of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, held joint efforts of members of the Ukrainian-Canadian expedition which included students of Hlukhiv National Pedagogical University named after O. Dovzhenko

      The problem of the national liberation struggle in Ukraine long time was suppressed by official Russian and later Russified Soviet historiography. Especially the period, when there were events of the Northern War, which took place on the territory of Ukraine. If they were covered by official sources, it is rather tendentious and veiled. Researches of the last years shed light on this short period of time of attempts to create a qualitatively new state formation on the territory of the Hetmanate – the national Cossack state. The largest part of these works is devoted to the study of the personality of Mazepa and his residence in Baturyn. The struggle for Baltic sea which has begun since Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century has been finished by Petro I in the first quarter of the 18th century  in favor of Russia.

    At the beginning of 1708 the army of Charles XII, after victories in Poland and Saxony, beginning campaign to Russia's borders. Russian troops are gradually moving away to the east, used the tactic of "scorched earth". At this time on connection with the Swedish troops were Ukrainian Cossacks, operated by I. Mazepa. He hesitated until the last, because the Swedes were carrying destruction, but there was still a big threat from the Russians to  the aid of  whom by order of Petro I he had to get out of Baturyn. Mazepa knew that the Russians victory can completely destroy the autonomy of the Hetmanate, but the Swedish crown could become a profitable ally of Ukraine against Russia: in case of victory the king would not controlled the Hetman so persistently and consistently as the Russian Tsar.

     By order of the Tsar Petro I the Russian General Oleksandr Menshykov  went to Baturyn and surrounded it. Fortress was not given. The Cossacks were hoping that the army of Charles XII, which was already on its way, will be in  time to help them. Menshykov already intended to lift the siege, but there was a traitor, who volunteered to spend the Russians secretly inside of the city walls. Baturyn has fallen, sunk in blood. All population of the city, except for about three hundred people, who managed to escape, were killed.

     In 1995 the  archaeological expedition of Chernihiv Pedagogical Institute for the first time began excavating of Baturyn. Since 2001 Canadian and Ukrainian archaeologists and historians together continued the archaeological research as part of the international Ukrainian-Canadian expedition in the framework of the Eastern Ukraine research program named after Myhailo and Daria Kovalskyh (leader Dr. S. Kohut). Extensive archaeological researches, the publications of their achievements by members of the expedition and restoration of architectural monuments of the XVII-XVIII, analysis of written sources and materials of excavations of Baturyn have allowed archaeologists to clarify its history and to  prepare reconstructive plans and drawings of the city in Cossacks period. It has allowed to restore numerous architectural constructions and to recreate an image of the former hetman capital.

     In excavation of Baturyn since 2012, together with students  and scientists of Taras Shevchenko Chernihiv national pedagogical university, National university "Kyievo-Mohylianska Academy", volunteers from Kyiv, Chernihiv and Donetsk, five years in a row also students of faculty of philology and history of Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv national pedagogical university take part. Under the leadership of the author of the publication they did practical training on various archaeological objects of Baturyn.

      Annually results of the Ukrainian-Canadian expedition give new knowledge about an outstanding historical  and cultural monument - the residence of hetmen D. Mnohohrishnyi, I. Samoylovych and I. Mazepa which played a huge role in the history of Ukraine ,the formation of its statehood and sovereignty. A significant contribution to the research done and continue to do the staff and students of Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhiv national pedagogical university, who throughout  five field seasons are permanent members of Baturyn project.

Key words: Baturyn, Hetman, fortress, Hetman’s guard, students, historians, Oleksandr Dovzhenko Hlukhіv natіonal pedagogіcal unіversіty, Department of History, law and teaching methods