Ilmen Slavs

The Ilmenslawen (Russian ильменские славяне ) or Slovenia ( словене ) were the most north-western tribe of the Early East Slavs, who lived in the 6th to the 10th century at the Ilmensee in the catchment area of the rivers Volkhov, Lovat and MSTA and the upper reaches of Mologa.

Some archaeological finds from the 6th to the 8th century are assigned to the Ilmenslawen. This includes farmsteads and kurgans. The oldest documented settlement dates from the 7th or 8th century. Numerous archaeological finds indicate a well-developed agriculture.

The main cities of Ilmenslawen were Staraya Russa and Novgorod, which were founded in the 9th or 10th century. The land of Ilmenslawen later became the central area of the Republic of Novgorod.

• Slavic ethnic group