Dnipro University of Technology, 19, Dmytro Yavornytskyi Avenue, Dnipro, 49005, Ukraine

Ihor S Nikitenko,Vladimir I Ganotskiy,Oleksandr V Starik

doi:10.24916/iansa.2022.1.4

Abstract

Petrographic research was undertaken on the second casting moulds complex discovered in 2018 at the archaeological monument Tokivske-1 in Ukraine. Metalworking of the Late Bronze Age in the Northern Black Sea region is known for its utilisation of stone moulds made from meta-ultrabasites (“talc schists”) by representatives of the Sabatynivka culture. Field investigations in the vicinity of Tokivske indicated the probable place of stone mining, from where a considerable part of the casting moulds under study were made. The discovery of the place of stone mining near Tokivske-1 and finds of similar moulds in other regions give grounds for considering the monument to be not only a centre of metalworking but also stone-processing. The obtained data are also the first geologically proved evidence that the Kryvyi Rih area, which was previously considered the main supplier of “talc schists”, was not the only place of mining of raw materials for the manufacturing of casting moulds in the Middle Dnipro area. Both complexes, the second and the previous one, found in 2017, contain matrices made of identical raw materials, namely, the samples made are untypical for the Middle Dnipro area species. This fact indicates the synchronicity of both complexes and a significant volume of casting production in Tokivske-1.

Highlights

The archaeological monument of Tokivske-1, the study of which began in 2012 by the expedition of the Dmytro Yavornytsky National Historical Museum of Dnipro, appeared to be one of the most interesting archaeological sites of the Middle Dnipro area recently included in the archaeological map
As a result of the study of the second complex of casting moulds from Tokivske-1, we have identified a possible place of extraction for the raw material of most of the matrices, one which was close to the site
It is possible that the megalithic cult site was used by ancient craftsmen, and the monument itself could be both a metalworking and, to some extent, a stone-processing centre of the Sabatynivka Culture of the Late Bronze Age

Summary

Introduction

The archaeological monument of Tokivske-1, the study of which began in 2012 by the expedition of the Dmytro Yavornytsky National Historical Museum of Dnipro, appeared to be one of the most interesting archaeological sites of the Middle Dnipro area recently included in the archaeological map. The monument was discovered thanks to the active work of local historian Y. I. Serhiichuk, who informed the museum archaeologists about the existence of an interesting feature, located near the village of Tokivske in the Dnipropetrovsk Region (Figure 1). The village is known for its deposit of pink granites of the Tokivskyi complex as well as for geological landmarks such as a canyon and waterfalls in the River Kamianka valley. The discovery of a stone megalithic construction and a cult pit during the archaeological excavations was the first result of the work.

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