Керамічний комплекс поховань зрубної культури Північного Приазов’я

Abstract

The article presents the characteristics of the most frequent category of the funerary inventory of the Zrubna culture (Srubnaya culture, Timber-grave culture) of the Northern Azov Sea region (Late Bronze Age) that is of pottery. The basis of the ceramic complex characterization was morphological indices or functional characteristics of the items. It was determined that crockery underwent certain qualitative transformations in space and time that revealed themselves in the form and proportion of the items, clay recipe, surface processing and ornamentation. Questions of the internal periodization and some special features of ritual – inventory complex are examined. The main source for the study of culture, life and economy of the tribes of the Bronze Age are the material remains, obtained during archaeological investigations of domestic settlements and funerary monuments. Corpus of artifacts include pottery, stone, bone, flint, wood and nonferrous metals. Ceramic vessels within specific cultural and historical formations are differ conservatism. Pottery stands as the most expressive of their external features. The study of ornamentation and forms of a significant number of vessels of Timber-Grave culture allows revealing typological series, features and certain patterns of manufacturing funerary ware. The predominance of plant memorial food in the burials suggests that agriculture played a significant role in the economic balance of the tribes of Timber-Grave culture of Northern Azov. Indirectly, being in one of the female burials of Timber-Grave culture of Northern Azov of some seeds can also testify about it. Some positions the location of ceramic vessels relative to the body of the deceased can be considered «extraordinary» for the burial practices of tribes of Timber-Grave culture of Northern Azov. It should also to consider the presence of ceramic vessels in these positions as a feature, indirectly indicating the belonging of the complex to the earlier chronological horizons. In general, ceramic pottery has undergone some qualitative changes in space and time. These changes are manifested in the form and proportions of vessels, consisting of clay, surface treatment and ornamentation. Ornamental compositions, which are found on ceramic vessels from Timber-Grave culture burials, demonstrate the extraordinary variability, although their diversity is achieved by combining a small number of relatively simple characters.