Cultural Layers Research Articles

13TH CENTURY STAINED GLASSES FROM YAROSLAVL’: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASS AND ISSUES RELATED TO ITS ORIGIN

According to the generally accepted view there were no stained-glass windows in ancient Russian religious architecture. This opinion is undoubtedly based on the absence of stained-glass sets in the then-existing temples that have survived to this day. The information collected by the author of the article, on the contrary, testifies to the use of stained-glass windows in the architecture of Ancient Rus. One of such testimonies is the discovery of three stained-glass windows in the Yaroslavl’ Kremlin, in the cultural layers of the first half of the 13th century. To establish the place of production, the windows were studied using optical emission spectrography. The analysis in all three cases showed the same chemical composition - wood-ash lead glass.. This type of glass was imported to Rus’, and is well known in stained glass windows of the twelfth-fifteenth centuries proceeding from what is now Germany and Austria. An additional argument for the non-local origin of the Yaroslavl’ finds is the use of casting and rolling techniques in the manufacture of glass. The present study makes it possible to expand the geography of the distribution of glass with the indicated composition, which, until recently, was mainly limited to the area of Central Europe. The uniformity of all the characteristics of the stained-glass finds indicates that they belong to a single set of stained-glass windows. Most likely, they were used in the Assumption Cathedral, the only stone building that existed in Yaroslavl’ in the pre-Mongolian period. It was founded, according to chronicles, in 1215 by the Rostov prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich. The question of how stained-glass windows from German-speaking countries ended up in Yaroslavl’ was resolved owing to the art history research by V.V. Sedov, who established that the Assumption Cathedral in the capital of the principality, Rostov, was founded by the same prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich in 1213 and built with the participation of Romanesque - apparently German - craftsmen who worked on creating the decor of the building. This suggests that the German craftsmen also took part in the decoration of the Yaroslavl’ Cathedral, and this was why the material for future stained-glass compositions was brought to Rus’.

DARK SOIL PITS AND GRAVES IN VOLCANIC CAVE C6.1, KRONG NO, DAK NONG PROVINCE: DOCUMENTATION AND DISCUSSION

Dark soil pits and graves are critical documents discovered in volcanic cave C6.1. As a result of the investigation and excavation of cave C6.1 conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2019, we have discovered vestiges of nine dark soil pits and seven relatively intact graves, together with teeth and other human remains scattered in the cultural layer. This is an important source of information on the racial composition of the prehistoric inhabitants of the Central Highlands during the Neolithic period, as well as the paleoenvironment, environmental adaptations, and flora and fauna that prehistoric inhabitants exploited for their livelihoods. This article introduces documents and reconstructs the socioeconomic picture of the prehistoric inhabitants of cave C6.1. It also contributes scientific documents for the general conservation and promotion of heritage to develop sustainable cultural tourism in Dak Nong Province.

Грифельная доска с надписью ребёнка из Владимира (конец XVIII— начало XIX вв.)

Archaeologists often find children’s things in the cultural layer of the cities in Vladimir-Suzdal land. They are usually represented by toys or everyday items. School supplies are more rare archaeological artifacts. The fragment of a writing slate discovered in Vladimir belongs to this group of artifacts. It preserves a segment of a written exercise on its surface. The child who wrote it was learning the Church Slavonic grammar. It belongs to the category of texts that are not intended to be saved. A combination of circumstances fixed it in time. The inscription consists of only two lines. However, it provides an interesting information about both the spelling of the texts and the educational technologies used in home primary schooling for children of the middle urban estates of Vladimir in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

INTERFACE OF ARKAIM: ON THE QUESTION OF METAPHORIZATION

The article examines a theoretical approach to understanding the functioning of two discourses about Arkaim (scientifi c and esoteric) as a clash of two interpretations. This problem is considered using a set of humanitarian approaches through the concepts of interface, interpretation, metaphorization, object, assembly. The author comes to the conclusion about two-way group communication with space, which is expressed through, on the one hand, comprehension of the primary space of Arkaim (the natural givenness of space), on the other hand, cognitive development of space through the reconstruction of secondary space. Secondary space becomes the result of the actualization of one or another interpretation of space and is expressed through the construction of new cultural objects or cultural layers on the primary space.

Fenomén mečového tanca v Európe. Kultúrno-historické kontexty

Sword dances belong to the oldest layers of dance culture. The origin of these dances, which can be described as a phenomenal manifestation of dance culture in almost the whole of Europe, unfortunately cannot be reduced to a single genetic basis. It goes without saying that such dancing would not still exist today without its bearers. Sword dancing has been gradually modified in some countries, losing its ceremonial function or its connection to the calendar cycle, and being transformed into a theatrical form; in some countries it is now only maintained by small groups of dancers as a social occasion. The tradition of sword dancing is a unique example of Europe‘s intangible cultural heritage. The ancient chain and circle form of the dance is an element common to European countries, apart from the connection with the carnival season. The dance itself has its own specific features – dance patterns, costumes, clothing accesories, and props, which are unique components of the dance that point to its archaic character. The aim of the study is to document these dances, identifying the characteristic features and common expressions across almost all of Europe, or in the countries where they have been documented.

CULINARY ETHNOLOGY OF PODILLIA: FEATURES AND RECIPE INGREDIENTS

The article considers the actual and unique issue of studying the traditional recipes of Podillia to identify their uniqueness and regional features. We determined that this issue’s regional and local lore aspect opens vast opportunities for its use as a historical source. Patterns of the presence or absence of particular themes and motives often find their reasons in historical factors. To some extent, this also applies to such an area as the country’s cuisine and culinary traditions. The study revealed that the functioning of folk customs is subordinated to more practical than aesthetic requests. Where the question of folk traditions, beliefs, customs and rites, life and lifestyle of the population arises, only there is a prerequisite for the appearance of authentic cuisine and original recipes. Thus, the etiology of such folk recipes lags far behind the customs etiology in time. The previous research has proven that the identified features of the development of Ukrainian cuisine relate specifically to the national culinary traditions and customs of the population of Podillia. This layer of folk culture needs urgent exploration. A detailed study of the peculiarities of cuisine and culinary traditions can give ethnographers and culturologists valuable information about our people’s history, ancient traditions, beliefs, and culture. The specificity of the researched object and the degree of study of the chosen topic determined the purpose of the article, which is studying and organising the characteristic features of the culinary heritage of Podillia, as well as collecting and registering authentic recipes and methods of cooking dishes that reflect the cultural heritage of this region of Ukraine. The practical significance of the obtained results is that its main provisions can be used by specialists in various fields: ethnographers, folklorists, culturologists, historians, geographers, and tourism specialists. The personal contribution of the authors consists of the systematisation of folk culinary traditions and folk recipes of Podillia and a comprehensive study of the genealogy of ethnic cuisine. Keywords: Podillia, Ukrainian cuisine, culinary ethnology, culinary heritage, folk recipes, cooking technology.

EVIDENSE OF RICE CULTIVATION IN THE PRIMORYE IN MIDDLE AGE

The layer of displaced paleosol was found in a section under a rampart in the South Ussuriysk Fortress, that was presumably used for rice farming. The paleosol was periodically flooded, as evidenced by the presence of diatoms of different ecologies. Buliform rice phytoliths were found in the paleosol. A series of radiocarbon dates was obtained, that made it possible to restore the chronology of events. Finding of cryptotephra B-Tm of the Baitoushan (946/947 CE) made it possible to determine that the rice field existed in the period between the middle of the 10th century and the construction of the fortress at the beginning of the 12th century. The soil was transferred from the floodplain where soil profiles formed in the Middle-Late Holocene under drier conditions than in the Middle Ages. The moisture increase in the Medieval Warm Period was favorable for the development of agriculture, including rice cultivation. The deposits formed during severe floods overlapped both the cultural layers and the paleosol of the rice field. Perhaps this was one of the reasons for cessation of rice cultivation along with climate change towards cooling and a decrease in precipitation.

Советское искусство на художественных выставках и в экспозициях российских музеев и галерей 1990–2020-х годов

The article systematizes the approaches to the study and presentation of Soviet art material in the post-Soviet period and gives a periodization of changes in these approaches. The author refers to the types of exhibition recycling of Soviet art, mainly in the practice of the State Russian Museum, the State Tretyakov Gallery, and the Central Exhibition Halls of Moscow and St. Petersburg. In general, two types of temporary exhibitions of Soviet material stand out: research exhibitions and attraction exhibitions. The purpose of research exhibitions is to introduce previously unknown or marginalized layers of artistic culture into scientific circulation and the public sphere. In relation to this work, these are research exhibitions of the Russian-Soviet avant-garde and artistic movements of the 1920s-1930s and non-conformism of the 1940s-1980s. The goals of attraction exhibitions (the proposed term is based on S. Eisenstein’s well-known method of “the montage of attractions”) are associated with the creation of an entertaining visual environment that affects the viewer, offering them ways of understanding the Soviet past ideologized in the Soviet style. The purpose of the article is also to show how the cultural policy of temporary exhibitions affects the re-expositions of the State Russian Museum and the State Tretyakov Gallery, that is, the formation of certain patterns or scenarios for the presentation of the art of the Soviet past.

Разведочные исследования на среднепалеолитических памятниках Нижней Волги в 2023 году

In 2023 the Lower Volga Paleolithic detachment of the IAET SB RAS as part of a Lower Volga Expedition organized by the IHMC RAS continued the study of the Middle Paleolithic site Sukhaya Mechetka located on the northern outskirts of Volgograd, and also carried out exploration work at the Middle Paleolithic sites Chelyuskinets II and Zaikino Pepelishche, located in the Pichuga gully, Dubovskiy district, Volgograd region. The results of the work in 2023 make it possible to plan the continuation of comprehensive studies of the cultural layer of the Sukhaya Mechetka site and to resume the study of the Middle Paleolithic site Chelyuskinets II.

К изучению сельской округи золотоордынского города Укек: результаты археологического и археозоологического исследований на поселении Широкий Буерак в 2021 году

The paper presents the results of archaeological and archaeozoological study of the 2021excavation material from the Shiroky Buerak settlement which is a part of the Golden Horde city of Ukek. The purpose of the study is to reconstruct a part of the economic functions of this settlement in the life support system of a larger town. The excavations revealed three stratigraphic horizons, remains of several service amenities outbuildings and pits. The ceramic complex is mainly represented by fragments of local production vessels: unglazed red-clay, red-brown, and ancient Russian gray-clay. Fragments of tandoors, coatings, as well as the production of unglazed red clay ceramics were found. However, no special buildings were identified. Other finds include iron, bronze, bone items typical material culture of an “ordinary” rural settlement remains. The coins allow dating the monument to the early 14th century. The archaeozoological collection included 444 fragments of bone remains of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles which is typical for the rural settlements of this area according to the taxonomic set. The remains of sturgeons found in the cultural layers testify to the specialized fishing industry of the Volga region. The collection is dominated by domestic ungulates bones, among which the remains of cattle are of the highest proportion up to 70%. The proportions of the remains of small ruminants and horses are close to each other 15%and 13% respectively, while about 1% is presented by pig bones. Beef decisively dominates in the meat consumption of the settlement making up to 81%, which suggests that specialized breeding of cattle was one of the important aspects of economic activity to the detriment of other types of domestic ungulates breeding. A comprehensive archaeological and archaeozoological study revealed that the studied monument – Shiroky Buerak is a rural-type settlement with finds typical of the Ukek district, according to its industries, ceramic complex, and the residents` economic activities. The hypothesis about the important role of such settlements in supplying cities with meat products and provision of animal skins for processing by urban artisans has been confirmed, since such industries were found previously in the Ukek excavations.

Factors of cultural genesis in the Southern Urals in the Late Middle Ages and Modern Times (based on archaeological materials of the Republic of Bashkortostan)

The object of the study is cultural genesis in the Southern Urals in the Late Middle Ages and Modern Times. The subject of the study is the factors influencing its development, which are considered through the prism of studying the archaeological material obtained during reconnaissance work on the monuments of the XVI – early XX centuries. This problem was not the object of special study. At the same time, its solution, on the one hand, fills in the gaps in the analysis of the processes of cultural genesis in the region as a whole, and on the other hand, contributes to the study of the peculiarities of the ethnocultural development of individual ethnic groups living here in the past. The theoretical basis of the research is the researches of Russian scientists in the field of cultural genesis, containing conceptual and theoretical developments. The information base of the study was the factual material on the problem under study, obtained during archaeological research on the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan, including by the author himself, interdisciplinary and systematic approaches were used in the work for a comprehensive analysis of the designated problem, theoretical modeling, generalization, comparative historical, comparative typological methods were also used in the work. The scientific novelty of the study is due to the fact that for the first time the factors of cultural development in the Southern Urals in the Late Middle Ages and Modern Times were systematized and analyzed, which were considered in the context of the archaeological direction of cultural genesis research. It was revealed that the development of culture in the Southern Urals in the XVI – early XX centuries was influenced by both external (natural-geographical, anthropogenic, colonization, etc.) and internal (ethnic, religious, etc.) factors, which are recorded to varying degrees by the cultural layers of urban and rural settlements, fortifications and factories, cemeteries , etc. At the same time, speaking about the factors of cultural genesis, it should be borne in mind that they are so closely interrelated that it is often difficult to determine whether a change in culture is the result of the influence of one or another factor or several at the same time.

The Figurative System in the Works During the Russian-Ukrainian War: Nazhyvo (Live) and Mutilated Sky Projects

The article analyzes changes of the figurative system in works on military subjects, created in the period from the end of February 2022 to the middle of 2023, focusing on Nazhyvo (Live) and Mutilated Sky projects. The first exhibition of the Nazhyvo project featured works which declared their authors’ rootedness in the cultural layers of their homeland; the second exhibition focused on the theme of human interaction with the universe in times of war; the third exhibition showed the authors’ interest in mythology, which demonstrates a deeper level of artistic comprehension of Ukraine’s modern history. The author highlights that when changing the figurative system due to the expansion of topics and the depth of comprehension of dramatic events, the participants of the Nazhyvo project retain constant motifs in their works, such as archetypal images. In their artistic practices, the participants of the Mutilated Sky project realize the results of comprehending their own identity as a solid foundation in times of great suffering through the expression of rootedness in their family, community, and, more broadly, their native land. The rootedness expressed by the young artists in their own way confirms the tendency manifested in the works of Ukrainian artists during wartime. Thus, for the participants of the Nazhyvo and Mutilated Sky projects, it is important to mark identity in their artistic practices by conveying a connection with their ancestry as a family and their ancestry in the sense of their native land, as well as by placing the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war in a broader historical and cultural context. The effective realization of creative aspirations is facilitated by the development of a figurative system characterized by expansion in the development of sustainable motifs

Hai på menyen

In 2021 the University Museum of Bergen conducted an archaeological excavation at the Middle Neolithic (3500–2700 BC) site Nerlandsøy at Sunnmøre. The most surprising find was 154 teeth from Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) imbedded in culture layers. Teeth from this species have been found in three other sites infrom North-Western Norway, however in much lesser number than on Nerlandsøy. In this paper the shark teeth are interpreted as a hitherto unknown part of the increasing big game hunting taking place in the Middle Neolithic. The hunting activity is reflected both in the material culture, as well as in the rock art, in the region and is believed to be an important part of the social dynamics of the society.

Politics and Muslim women in the Deep South of Thailand: roles, opportunities, and challenges

This study investigates the political representation of Malay Muslim women in the Deep South of Thailand. It addresses the research question(s) about whether the identities of either being Malay or Muslim impede the participation of women in formal politics. The research results demonstrate that the intricate cultural dimensions of identifying as Malay, Muslim, and Thai have collectively influenced the political roles of women in the Deep South. Typically, leadership positions in politics are perceived as male-oriented domains. The study suggests that new values are needed to increase the participation of Malay Muslim women in politics, particularly among young generations. Despite the acceptance of women in public space, the roles of women are often presented as one who has the responsibility to look after the family rather than engage in politics. The research highlights the challenges that Malay Muslim women face in formal politics. Cultural layers of religion, values in Malay society, and Thai political culture are obstacles that impede their participation in formal politics. More research is needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

The role of key Sherpa holidays in preserving and broadcasting their traditional culture in modern Tibet

The aim of the work was to identify the role of holidays of the Sherpa ethnic group in the preservation and continuity of their traditions. The tasks were to analyze the characteristics of traditional holidays, such as the Sherpa New Year, religious holidays and agricultural holidays, and to find out their role in modern Tibet. The author comes to the conclusion that, despite the strong influence of external cultural factors, a significant layer of the traditional local holiday culture of Sherpas remains. Using comparative historical and typological approaches and the method of system analysis based on a large amount of information, the characteristics of Sherpa holidays are systematized. The novelty lies in the vastness of the collected information and its analysis and generalization, previously such research results have not been published. The author comes to the conclusion that, despite the strong influence of external cultural factors, a significant layer of the traditional local holiday culture of Sherpas remains. Thus, the study of the holidays and the festive culture of the Sherpas showed that, along with the influence of external cultural factors, the Sherpas still retain a significant traditional layer of their local culture. Thus, the New Year is more influenced by external factors and changes in time and customs, while agricultural and religious holidays preserve traditional customs. Among the agricultural and religious festivals, one can see the manifestation of the traditional folk beliefs of the Sherpas. Chinese Sherpas, being a very small ethnic group, are becoming an important subject of study, as is the protection of their cultural heritage, and holidays and festivals, as vivid indicators of their traditional culture, are even more valuable for research.

Waterscape in Hjari Veraldar The 'Last Habitable Edge of the Earth'

Iceland is a geologically active land and home to some of the world’s most active volcanoes and the largest glaciers in Europe. Due to its harsh environmental circumstances, its inhabitants’ living conditions are unpredictable. Icelanders live in a sort of ‘rescue mood’, ready to face a variety of natural disasters, such as avalanches, flooding, heavy storms, eruptions, landslides and earthquakes. In this northern sea island, water is the most influential element in culture, language, economy, leisure, landscape, planning strategy, and islanders’ everyday life. Water comes in all forms, both as a provider and a threat. Based on this premise, this commentary is a synthesis image of the forms of water from an outlander point of view, reading an alien landscape in which the forms of water are one of the most enchanting interpretation experiences in the landscape. This anecdote is a narration of the forms of water concerning urbanisation, land and human in different subtle layers of Icelandic culture, economy and landscape design

Implications of ideology on school buildings and cultural pluralistic context of Gazimağusa, North Cyprus

This paper aims to answer the pertinent question: What are the implications of ideology on school buildings and the culturally pluralistic context of Gazimağusa in Northern Cyprus? It traces the social and communication qualities of architecture to restructure the architectural identity of schools and the cultural patterns of this city during the British Period (1878–1960). The colonialists relied on education as an ideological tool for perceiving social and economic stability through training a new, educated middle class to replace the existing traditional authorities: Ottoman leaders and Church structures. Their failure to recognize the diverse cultural layers of the context led to unsustainable outcomes. An interpretative case research approach that involved descriptive and historical techniques was utilized to investigate this situation. Ideology had two separate but related consequences in the context chosen at both urban and architectural scales. Resulting in a cultural shift from intrinsic to extrinsic living that contradicts previous cultural alignments of the place. The urban syntax for communal life shifted to exclusivity, and cultural coexistence was divided between Turkish and Greek Cypriots on the one side; on the other, schools copied a globalized character of transformation. Based on contextual perceptions, the study advocates for a creative cultural mix of local and global concepts. The island went through modernization, hosting the two communities under British Colonial Rule who were both struggling with the colonizers on one hand and experiencing ethnic and political clashes on the other; they formed the conditions for a wide variety of school buildings. Within this context, the paper highlights school buildings as an ideological space, symbol, and tool of nationalism and colonization/decolonization.

Религиозная ситуация в советской деревне. Опыт микроисторического исследования

In the light of the Year of National Cultures and Traditions announced in the Republic of Tatarstan in 2023, the relevance of historical knowledge about individual ethno-regional loci is undeniable, which allows us to show the degree of preservation of the traditional origin in it on the real layer of culture. The purpose of the work is to analyze the role of the religious factor in the Soviet period in the life of one of the ancient Tatar villages – Novoe Nadyrovo Almetyevsk district. The objectives of the research are to reveal the factors and realities of the transformation of religious consciousness in the Soviet period since more than 70 in-depth interviews conducted in the village. From time immemorial, Islam has played a consolidating role in the life of the rural community, providing a system of strong ethical and moral foundations; despite the anti-religious policy of the Soviet state, the role of religion in the life of society has been preserved. The prism of microhistoric research conducted by the method of oral history seems to be very functionally effective for interpreting the retrospective of the twentieth century. It serves the non-opportunistic scientific connotations of history, which was subjected to powerful ideologization in Soviet historiography and, because of this, largely distorted the picture of the civilizational space.

Archaeological Finds of the 18<sup>th</sup> Century in the Village of Povalikha

Purpose. Russian rural archeology of the Verkhneobskoi Region is a potentially promising area of scientific research, so any materials related to it must be introduced into scientific circulation in a timely manner. However, the number of publications on this topic in the region is still very small. This article presents archaeological finds from the cultural layer of the village of Povalikha, founded in 1719 in the department of the Beloyarskaya fortress (the Altai Region).Results. Four archaeologically intact vessels were found. Three vessels are unique in their shape and have a recess from the rim to the bottom, the question of their purpose remains controversial. A copper coin of 1739 was found in one of them. A summary of the numismatic complex discovered in the village is given. Individual fragments of ceramic vessels, a birch bark back from shoes and a fishing hook have been studied. The authors discuss a need for a broader study of Russian settlements of the 18th century located in the Altai Region.Conclusion. The authors conclude that the accidental discovery of representative artifacts indicates the clear prospect of thorough reconnaissance studies in the territory of the village of Povalikha. At the same time, it should be noted that the archaeological study of life support systems and the culture of everyday life of the Russian pioneers in the Verkhneobskoy Region is largely at the stage of initial accumulation of materials.

Non-Ceramic Site of Shamanka 8 on the Southern Coast of Baikal Lake

Purpose. The southern coast of lake Baikal is a territory known in Siberian archaeology for its Kitoi cemeteries. Besides burials of the Shaman capes there are some Neolithic and Bronze age complexes at Circum–Baikal railway. In 2012 it the first non-ceramic site was discovered in South Baikal, which was named Shamanka 8. This paper presents the assemblage of this complex and discusses its chronological and cultural features.Results. The Shamanka 8 site is located on the top of the third hill of the Shaman cape. The cultural layer lies under the Holocene Optimum sediments. The site stratigraphic structure is characterized by compression. There is no bone fragments and ceramic. For lithic knapping, mainly local raw material (quartz) were used. The quartz assemblage has such features as poor formal standardization, high degree of flake fragmentation, cores with the orientation of fracture plane relative to the longitudinal axis, bipolar reduction. All of these specifics are explained by uneven fracture characteristics and bad workability of quartz, as well as its breakage patterns. Some artifacts, including single non-quartz tool, suggest that there may be a connection between the Shamanka 8 site and the industries of the Final Paleolithic sites in the Northern Baikal region and the Irkutsk region. Quartz small knife (?), carinated end-scraper and tubular core have analogies in the 2nd cultural layer of the Kurla II site, dated by 13.5 uncal kya. Similarly dated quartz components of Nirikan I and flint tool-kit of Verkholenskaya Gora I include other cultural link types.Conclusion. The similarity in the morphology of some tools with Final Paleolithic counterparts and stratigraphic position of finds allow us to assume the Final Sartan age of the Shamanka 8 site and dates it to the Bølling – Allerød warming. However, in the absence of direct radiocarbon dating, an Early Holocene/Early Neolithic attribution of the site is also possible. Further studies may help resolve this issue.