The
Krivichi (
Belarusian ???????, Kryvicý;
Russian ???????,
pronounced&_160;[kr?iv?i't?i]) was one of the
tribal unions of
Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 12th centuries. They inhabited the upper reaches of the
Volga,
Dnieper,
Western Dvina, areas south of the lower reaches of river
Velikaya and parts of the
Neman basin.
According to Jan Stankievic, the name of the tribe probably stems from that of their forefather Kriv, whose sobriquet derives from the adjective "krou", "kryvi". "Kryvic" which mean ("blood, blood relationship")
At some point in the 6th century the Krivichs left the Carpathian Mountains and spread northeast, absorbing scanty Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes. The Krivichs played a prominent role in colonization of the area between the rivers Volga and Klyazma. Together with the Dregovichs, Radimichs, Polochans and some Baltic tribes they were the forefathers of the modern Belarusian nation.
The Krivichs left many archaeological monuments, such as the remnants of agricultural settlements with traces of ironworks, jeweler's art, blacksmith's work and other handicrafts; long burial mounds of 6-9 centuries with cremated bodies; burial mounds of rich warriors with weapons; sets of distinctive jewelry (bracelet-like temporal rings and glass beads made out of stretched wire). By the end of the first millennium, the Krivichs had already had well-developed farming and cattle-breeding. Having settled around the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, the Krivichs traded with the Varangians. Their chief tribal centres were Gnezdovo, Izborsk, and Polotsk.
