Mysteries of Vasilkov on the Dniester: history, geography, toponymy, architecture

The article provides a comprehensive historic-geographical, toponymic and architectural analysis of unique monument medieval religious defensive architecture—the Church the Assumption Virgin in Vasilkov on Dniester its surroundings, located modern state border Moldavia with Ukraine, Middle Ages it served as point Principality Grand Duchy Lithuania Eastern outpost capital tsinut (county) Soroky main fortification—the Soroka castle. architecture rural temple bell tower, erected elevated cape steep slopes, is rare example preserved structure that combines traditions wooden based proportions used antiquity for construction stone churches. fortified cult-defensive together courtyard, trading square, well an ancient trade road river crossing represent united natural historic-cultural complex. solution historic-geographical puzzles enveloping heritage multiscale historic-cartographical use geographic information methods, including comparison topographic maps aerial satellite images terrain, high-precision digital elevation models, hydrography other cartographic products. A method comparing area chronological slices (in different historical periods) supposed to be highly effective. It allows you observe evolution area. research complex problems associated territory under study reveals processes massive transfer geographical names antiquity, covering not only North-Western Black Sea Region adjacent territories, but also much wider spaces East European Plain, where landscapes were formed.