Krzemity

Krzemity are a group of extinct East Slavic tribes who inhabited the territory between the upper Vistula River and the Bug River, primarily in what is now south-eastern Poland and western Ukraine, during the early Middle Ages (roughly from the 6th to the 10th centuries).

The Krzemity are primarily known from archaeological findings. Information about their specific socio-political structure, religious beliefs, and language is limited due to a scarcity of written sources. They are believed to have been agriculturists and engaged in trade.

The territory inhabited by the Krzemity was eventually incorporated into the emerging Polish and Rus' states. Their assimilation into these larger political entities contributed to the formation of Polish and Ukrainian identities.

The name "Krzemity" is derived from the Polish word "krzemień," meaning flint, possibly referencing the availability of flint resources in their territory or their expertise in working with flint. The name is primarily used in Polish historiography. In Ukrainian historiography, the term may be less frequently used or the tribe may be discussed within the broader context of early Slavic tribes in the region.