THE VARIANT OF SYSTEMATIZATION OF THE HILL-FORTS OF SCYTHIAN AGE OF DNIEPER-DON FOREST-STEPPE INTERFLUVE

Abstract

The article is devoted to the development of a typology of fortified settlements of the Dnieper-Don forest-steppe interfluves of the Scythian period. The formation and development of the fortification in that region was influenced by the economic opportunities of the local population, relations with neighboring tribes and among themselves, under special natural-geographical conditions. The presented systematization of the hillforts proceeds from the understanding of the principles of the construction of their defense. Based on which, we noticed the following possible pattern of systematization of fortified settlements. Type I is fortified settlements with a single-row system without additional protective pre-walls, regardless of whether the fortification is traced along the entire perimeter or only on the front side. Type II — single-row settlements with additional reinforcement on the front side. Type ІІІ — settlements with a single-row system of fortifications, having additional protection from a combination of non-residential frontiers, complicating the approaches to the entrance to the village site and creating the possibility of leading flanked fire on the attack. Type IV — monuments protected (often on the front side) by a multi-row system of fortifications. Type V — settlements with a pronounced main courtyard and a large economic frontier. By the VI type, we attributed the Belsk hillfort due to its features.