Judging by the "Tale of Bygone Years" and archaeological data, by the time Rurik arrived in 862, Novgorod was already a large settlement (probably as a chain of settlements from the sources of Volkhov and Rurik Gorodishche[3][4] up to Kholopie Town,[5] opposite of Krechevitsy), as well as Ladoga,[6] Izborsk and possibly Beloozero. The Scandinavians probably called this territory Gardariki.