SALTOV POTTERY IN MOKHNACH P SETTLEMENT

Abstract

The pottery of the Saltiv cultural-historical community period (8th — mid-10th centuries) found in Mokhnach-P settlement is analyzed in the paper. This settlement is the best researched one in the microregion of the hillfort Mokhnach, Chuhuiv district in Kharkiv region. The settlement was a part of the Khazar Khaganate forest-steppe territory at the late 1st millennium AD. All pottery found in the settlement was wheel-made. The traces of local ceramic manufacture, such as two pits for clay homogenization, pointed to this fact. However, it related to the production of the most popular ceramic categories (cooking pots) and was at the level of homemade manufacturing. High-quality imported pottery occupied a dominant position. It was supplied from the Northern Pontic region and neighboring pottery centers of the Khaganate’s forest-steppe. The tableware set was of high quality and diversity. Almost all of its groups and categories are mentioned here. Tare pottery are presented by amphorae, big tare pithoi, hydria, flasks and big ceremonial pithoi. Pots and jugs can be found among cooking ceramics. Tableware includes jars, mugs, kubyshkas, table pithoi, pots, and also a ceremonial vessel with two containers. Form and ornamentation of these vessels are traditional and have a lot of analogies to all territories of the Saltiv cultural-historical community. The peculiarity of the local ceramic complex is in the extremely small amount of remains of thick-walled tare pithoi made of chamotte clay for grain storage. Other features include a lot of high-quality ceremonial pithoi and separate rare ornaments on cooking pots. The volume of pots indicates the domination of a small couple family; it completely correlates with a tiny useful amount of the researched dwellings here. The only vessel with two containers belongs to an extremely limited category of ceremonial and cult ceramics, and has a very restricted range of analogies, mostly on Saltiv sites of the Siverskyi Donets. It reflects the traditions and culture of Iranian-speaking, Turkic and also Caucasian nations, beginning, at least, from the early Iron Age. These vessels could be used in a ritual of fraternity, inter-family reconciliation, and also could serve as an honorable drinking bowl for the most respected guest during a feast.