Царевское городище является остатками одного из крупнейших городов Золотой Орды XIV в. Оно расположено на восточном берегу р.Ахтубы в 70 км от ее начала у г.Царев. Территория сплошной застройки, хорошо прослеживавшаяся еще в сер.Х1Х в., простиралась на 16 км от с.Пришиб (сейчас Ленинск) до Колобовщины а по оценке В.В.Григорьева на 21 км. Ф.В.Баллод в начале XX в. площадь сплошной застройки оценивал в 48 кв. верст, то есть 54 км2. Серьезные археологические исследования городища стали проводиться с сер.Х1Х в.
This paper reanalyzes in detail ail published numismatic finds from excavations and collections at Tsarev hillfort from the mid 19th to the late 20th century, and also examines the huge numismatic complex consisting of 5858 definable coins and several sphragistic artefacts collected in 2001-2005. The differentiation of monetary finds (both from excavations along the Volga region, and archaeological expeditions at the complex) within different areas of the hillfort has enabled the author to determine that the town was erected in the beginning of the 1340s and completely destroyed in 1368 due to civil strife in the Golden Horde. It was never revived as a town. A new small settlement appeared in 10-20 years on the territory of the former southern suburb of the destroyed town which was later demolished during the invasion of the Timur’s troops in 1395.
