ORGANIZATION OF THE LIVING SPACE ON THE SEVERIAN VODYANE HILL-FORT

Abstract

The organization of the living space in the Romenska culture part of Vodyane hill-fort in Zmiiv district of Khakiv oblast is analyzed in the paper. The hill-fort occupies the edge of plateau and a high cape of the right bank of Uda River; it existed during two periods: the Early Iron Age — mid. 5th—4th cent. BC (the forest-steppe culture of Sсythian Age) and Early Middle Ages — the Romenska archaeological culture. In the latter period only the northern part of the site was inhabited (0,5 ha). The Severian neighboring community lived here for 50—60 years (within the 10th — beginning of 11th centuries). A total of 11 dwellings, 2 household buildings, 3 open heating systems (cookhouses), vault, 6 household pits (one of which was used for food storing) were discovered on the hill-fort.
 In the Severian time the hill-fort was built by rows/lines of houses from the southern east to the northern west with the consideration of the topographic level of each separate row. Three building lines are watched and the southern one was probably the earliest. First researchers recorded the entrance to the hill-fort on the west edge of the cape with a rampart. The absence of objects and, practically, of cultural layer in the south-western corner of the yard and along the considerable part of the western edge of the cape provide an opportunity to offer the organization of the living space of the settlement. From the entrance to the hill-fort, the road ran along the western edge of the cape, and the passes between rows of houses were located to the south from this road.
 At least 6 homesteads stand out on the hill-fort. 3 more homesteads can be defined based on the presence of cavities on the site surface. It points to the fact that the organization of the living space on Vodyane hill-fort in the end of the 1st millennium is defined by linear character (by rows) with elements of homestead building. It corresponds to the late period of the Severians’ development, when clan community was replaced by neighboring one.