Dudichi. The settlement of the early Iron Age.

   In the village of Dudichi, Pukhovichi district, on the very outskirts, there is an archaeological monument, an ancient Settlement. The monument dates back to the 5th century BC - 5th century AD. The settlement is located 200 meters south of the village of Dudichi on the right bank of the Ptich river.

        The monument is located in a tract called Koban in the middle of a field. The height of the Settlement above the river level is 3-4 meters. The monument has an oval shape and a size of 39 by 25 meters. The settlement used to be surrounded by a defensive moat, which is now almost invisible.

       The archaeological site was discovered by historian and archaeologist, Candidate of Historical Sciences Yuri Dragun (1926-2001). According to Dragun, the Settlement was previously surrounded by two ramparts and a defensive moat.

      A little later, the monument was explored in 1985 by Tatiana Bubenko, an archaeologist, Candidate of Historical Sciences. The cultural layer is 0.3 meters. A millstone was found in the center of the Settlement. 

      In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Settlement became the site of a local cemetery. Not only were there burials from the village, but the owners of the local Yelsky estate buried their representatives here. Currently, the cemetery is in a neglected state, except for the graves of the Yelsky family.

   In recent years, the graves of the Yelskys have been landscaped. Several Yelsky monuments have been preserved here, including Karol and Stanislava Yelsky.

The Settlement has the status of historical and cultural value.