THE PALAEOETHNOBOTANICAL MATERIALS OF THE CHORNOLISKA CULTURE FROM VOLOSHKOVE 6

Abstract

In 2022, the Dniester expedition of the «State Research Centre “Protective Archaeology Service of Ukraine”» of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine explored the multi-layered settlement of Voloshkove 6. The 528 m2 area has been studied and 62 objects were discovered. 46 of them belonged to the Chornoliska culture. In two objects (objects 1A and 49) the remains of botanical origin were found.
 The researchers noticed the palaeoethnobotanical remains in time and removed the soil containing them. Samples have been taken and the burned macro-remains of plants also were selected by flotation. Using identification analysis it was ascertained that sample 1 (object 1A) contained several caryopses and fragments of barley (Hordeum vulgare). In sample 2 (object 49) about 15 cm3 of legume seeds — lentil (Lens culinaris) was distinguished. Isolated cleavers (Galium aparine) were found in small quantities in both samples.
 Given the homogeneity of the finds, it can be argued that they are the result of harvesting and storing the harvest of one year. Sample 2 can be interpreted as a seed fund for future crops, which was stored in a separate container.
 Today, this is the first find of charred macro-remains from the sites of the Chornoliska culture and the second reliable definition of the palaeoethnobotanical materials of this culture. Therefore, barley (Hordeum vulgare) was added to the previously established list cereals of millet (Panicum miliaceum) and emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccon) grown by the carriers of the Chornoliska culture. So far, legumes are represented only by lentil.
 This finding does not yet make it possible to assess the grain farming as a whole. Currently, it only supplements the data on cultivated plants that were grown by the carriers of the Chornoliska culture.