The first traces of settlement in the area
of modern Chełm date back to at least 9th century. The following century a
Slavic fortified town was created there and initially served as a centre of
pagan worship. The etymology of the name is unclear, though most scholars
derive it from the Slavic noun xъlmъ denoting a flat hill. In fact the town's
centre is located atop of such a hill called góra chełmska in modern times.
However, there are also theories deriving the name from some Celtic root. In
981 the town, then inhabited by the Eastern Slavic tribe of Buzhans, was made a
part of Kievan Rus',
