The book by Russian historian Pyotr Vasilyevich Golubovsky (1857–1907) “The History of the Seversk Land,” written on the basis of a thorough analysis of chronicle texts and archaeological materials, is one of the most thorough studies on the history of this region. The work is dedicated to the history of the northerners, an East Slavic tribe that has long lived along the banks of the Desna, Seim and Sula rivers. The author talks about northern colonization, drawing on evidence from chronicles, Arab and Greek sources, and archaeological data. At the same time, he clarifies that the reliable history of the northerners begins from the time of their subjugation to the Khazars long before the birth of statehood in Kyiv and continues until 1356, when the Seversk land lost its independence. A separate chapter is devoted to the spread and development of Christianity, which the northerners became acquainted with before its adoption in Kiev. The innovative feature of P. V. Golubovsky’s research lies in the use of archaeological material and its comparison with written sources, which before the beginning of the 20th century. remained a rare exception.