Итоги изучения керамики группы «джукетау» из булгарского городища Джукетау (Республика Татарстан, г. Чистополь)

Abstract

Goals. The article aims to summarize some results of the research into Juketau-group ceramics from the medieval hillfort of Juketau (10th – 13th centuries CE). Results. Archaeological remains of the historically famous Bulgar-Tatar city of Juketau (‘Zhukotin’ according to Russian 10th – 14th century chronicles) are located on the left bank of the Kama River, on the western border of present-day Chistopol (Tatarstan). In the ceramic complex of the settlement, the share of dishes clustering with Juketau-group ceramics constitutes 65–70%. Morphological and technological analyses of this ceramic group have identified a number of distinct pottery production features, namely: the bulk of items examined are samples of handicraft pottery, though with certain archaic elements (round bottoms and individual forms of the ‘lip’ as a functional part of vessels, patching techniques, high concentration of tempers, use of ovens or bonfire devices for pottery firing). The skills of working with a potter’s wheel and a pottery kiln are characteristic of Juketau-group ceramic handicraft production. Conclusions. The study suggests the city of Juketau was a center of highly developed pottery production in the medieval state of Volga Bulgaria.