"Most of these were initially small sites, probably not much more than stations for re-fitting and resupply, providing an opportunity for exchange and the redistribution of items passing along the river and caravan routes".<ref>''A Comparative Study of Thirty City-state Cultures'' (ed. by [[Mogens Herman Hansen]]). Kgl. Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 2000. Page 266.</ref> It seems on the whole likely that such pre-urban settlements gave the country its Norse name of ''[[Gardariki]]''.
During [[Eastern Front (World War II)|World War II]], the stretch of the Volkhov north of Veliky Novgorod for more than two years, between 1941 and 1944, separated Soviet (right bank) and German (left bank) troops between 1941 and 1944. "German soldiers have constructedbuilt extensive "underground cities" in the swampy Russian plains close toalong the battlefront along the [[Volkhov River]] which runs from [[Lake Ilmen]] to [[Lake Ladoga]] south and east of [[Leningrad]]. [[Birch]]Local treesbirch aboundwas here and provide materials not onlyused for theconstructing buildingsshelters but also forand hundreds of miles of corduroy motor roads across the swamp. Owing to the nature of the ground, the huts must be constructed on slopes where good drainage is possible. [[Corduroycorduroy road]]sand walks connectingin the buildings are necessary because of the soft, slippery clay soilswampland. ItBuildings iswere evidenton that considerable care has been takenslopes to makeallow thesefor dwellings as attractive as possible both inside and outdrainage. "Six or eight men occupy each hut and there are also underground stables and storage places for coal and supplies."<ref>"Underground Cities in Russia." Command and General Staff School Military Review: Monthly Review of Military Literature. May 1943. Volume XXIII (2). Page 44.</ref>
