Lower Danube Region Research Articles

NAMES OF RITUAL BREAD IN BULGARIAN DIALECTS OF SOUTHERN UKRAINE

The purpose of the article is to describe the ritual vocabulary associated with the use of bread in the ritual calendar of Bulgarians, to study and systematize the terminological system used in the Bulgarian continuum, to study the main trends in its development in the dialects of the Lower Danube region in Southern Ukraine. The object of the article is the names of ritual bread and other dough products in the Bulgarian dialects. The subject of consideration is the description and functioning of the terminological system of bread baking and the use of dough products in the calendar and ritual system of the Danube Bulgarians of Besarabia. As a result of the study, the names of bread and dough products operating in the Bulgarian dialects between the Dniester and Danube rivers are analyzed and classified. The rituals associated with baking bread for various religious and family holidays among the Bulgarians of the Lower Danube region are described. Conclusions. In the Bulgarian dialects, there is a fairly complete, capacious and integral system of names for bread and rituals where it is used. The study of the lexical and thematic layer of the names of bread and other dough products gives a sufficient idea of the nature of the dialect vocabulary and its archaic features.

Herennius Germanus – veteranus of legio IIII Flavia and the Archeological Complexes of Ratiaria and Its Territory

The archaeological studies of the frontier zones of the Roman Empire are of particular importance due to the abundant excavated data that can be directly linked to historical sources and epigraphic evidence known for centuries. In the Lower Danube region of the Roman Limes, an area that has not been as extensively explored as the areas in Central and Western Europe, there are now a lot of new rescue and regular excavations. The new field data, which were obtained from details unearthed near the village of Sinagovtsi, Vidin region, only 15 km away from the ancient centre of Ratiaria, are important as they might help clarify the way of life in Antiquity if linked to and interpreted together with the already known epigraphic, historical and numismatic data.

Камни из ритуальных сосудов в скифских погребальных комплексах на левобережье Нижнего Днестра

The paper deals with 221 burnt stones from the Scythian graves found on the left bank of the Lower Dniester dated to the 5th—2nd centuries BC. All of them, if it was fixed, come from wooden or handmade ritual vessels. Stones of approximately the same size and without traces of processing were used as heating elements. In all cases, traces of burning were recorded — soot spots and characteristic fracturing. Petrological thin sections showed the mineral composition of the rocks and their structural and textural features. These are, as a rule, sandstones and, much less often, other rocks (carbonate, igneous and metamorphic). The vast majority of stones are of local origin, and only a few are imported. At present, it is obvious that the tradition of fumigating graves among the Scythians of the North-West Black Sea region appeared no later than the 5th century BC. Initially, wooden vessels served as containers for red-hot pebbles and organic balms. Starting from the 3rd century BC as vessels for the same pebbles, handmade incense cups began to be used, widely known not only in the cemeteries of the 3rd—2nd centuries BC near the Glinoe Village and in other sites of the Dniester region, but also in a number of other Scythian sites, situated westwards (Dobruja, Lower Danube region) and eastwards (Bug, Dnieper, Crimea, Azov and Don regions). Keywords: Scythians, graves, 5th—2nd centuries BC, left bank of the Lower Dniester, wooden and handmade ritual vessels, petrography, rocks

New Settlement of Holercani-Hansca Cultural Horizon in Republic of Moldova

As a result of field surveys of the last years, the new site of Holercani-Hansca cultural group – Andreevca-I settlement has been found. The purpose of this research paper is the characteristics of the mentioned site and the interim results of its study.
 Results. Andreevca-I settlement is located in Orhei raion of the Republic of Moldova, at the lands of Chiperceni Community. The site is located 0.38 km northeast of the village of Andreevca and 0.28 km northwest of the pond of the village of Andreevca; on the left bank of the stream Vorotet. The settlement is located on a smooth slope. The land area of the settlement along the line North-West-South-East is 100x200 m. Fragments of ceramics, bones of animals, pieces of burnt clay, and different stones, some of them with traces of processing, were found on the plowed surface. The settlement is multilayered. The ceramics of the Late Bronze Age prevail in the materials of the settlement. It is associated with Holercani-Hansca cultural group (12th – 10th century BCE), interim between the cultures of the early Hallstatt, and the Late Bronze Age.
 According to O.G. Levitskiy, Holercani-Hansca group fills the gap between the cultural formations of Pre-Babadag and Tămăoani type and Balta group of sites of the Late Bronze Age. In addition, Hallstatt horizon with prevailing incised ceramics, which can be conventionally called Tămăoani-Holercani-Balta, is distinguished. Chronological framework of this horizon according to analogues of Balta group and Tămăoani can be the end of the 12th – 10th century BCE. The closest analogues to this cultural formation could be the cultures of the Lower Danube region – Sihleanu, Tămăoani, Pre-Babadag, Babadag-I, and early Belozerka culture sites, including Balta group of the Late Bronze Age. The role of Chisinau-Corlateni type sites, of which Holercani-Hansca group had got a number of material borrowings while forming its cultural entity, is doubtless.

"THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES (1829-1835): AUTONOMY AND CONSTITUTIONAL FEATURES IN THE COMPARATIVE EUROPEAN CONTEXT "

The main themes covered in this study concern the changes in die political and juridical status of die Dannbian Principalities (Moldavia, Wallachia and Serbia), following die Treaty of Adrianople, in the sense of defining tiieir internal autonomy, as well as die institutional transformations that followed, which shaped die modem architecture of die state, but also die means of interference and control of die protecting power, Russia. Analysed in a European constitutional context, die Organic Regiilations of die Romanian Principalities and die "constitrution" projects drafted in die Principality of Serbia tended to establish a political regime of mixed monarchy, of real modern substance, but also suitable for Russian interests in the Lower Danube region.

Mud and burnt Roman bricks from Romula

Sesquipedalian mud and burnt bricks (second to third century AD) were excavated from the Roman city of Romula located in the Lower Danube Region (Olt county, Romania). Along with local soils, bricks are investigated by petrographic analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electron microscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray microtomography (XRT), thermal analysis (DTA-TG), Mӧssbauer spectroscopy, magnetometry, colorimetry, and mechanical properties assessment. The results correlate well with each other, being useful for conservation/restoration purposes and as reference data for other ceramic materials. Remarkably, our analysis and comparison with literature data indicate possible control and wise optimization by the ancient brickmakers through the recipe, design (size, shape, and micro/macrostructure), and technology of the desired physical–chemical–mechanical properties. We discuss the Roman bricks as materials that can adapt to external factors, similar, to some extent, to modern “smart” or “intelligent” materials. These features can explain their outstanding durability to changes of weather/climate and mechanical load.

DNA Barcoding and Distribution of Gastropods and Malacostracans in the Lower Danube Region

This survey reports the spatial distribution of gastropods belonging to Caenogastropoda, Architaenioglossa, Littorinimorpha, Cycloneritida and Hygrophila orders, and malacostracans from Amphipoda and Mysida orders in the lower sector of the Danube River, Romania, using DNA barcoding based on the cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) gene sequence. Sampling was performed for eight locations of Danube Delta branches and Bechet area during three consecutive years (2019–2021). Molecular identification of sixteen gastropods and twelve crustacean individuals was confirmed to the species level, providing the first molecular identification of gastropods from the Lower Danube sector. Phylogenetic analysis showed that species of gastropods and crustaceans clustered in monophyletic groups. Among gastropods, Microcolpia daudebartii acicularis, Viviparus viviparus, Bithynia tentaculata, Physa fontinalis, Ampullaceana lagotis and Planorbarius corneus were identified in Chilia and Sulina branches; and the Bechet area was populated by Holandriana holandrii, Theodoxus transversalis and Gyraulus parvus. The amphipods and mysids were present along the three main Danube branches. The calculated density of these species revealed an abundant community of crustacean Chelicorophium robustum on Sulina branch, and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes and D. villosus in extended areas of the Danube Delta. The presence of these invertebrates along Danube River was reported in relation to the sediment type and water depth.

Multinationals in the Grain Trade: Bunge and Nidera in the Lower Danube Region (1930–1948)

This study presents, in a positivist manner, the evolution in the Lower Danube area of two of the most important grain export companies in the world, by highlighting the changes of the Danube grain market under the impact of the two totalitarian trends and that of World War II. It is in this competitive environment that the Dutch companies Bunge and Nidera also manifest their presence. This paper is based on unedited sources preserved at Brăila County Service of the National Archives of Romania, as well as on news and articles from the Romanian press of the 1930s. This approach has not allowed drafting statistical series able to underline the sinusoidal waves of the commercial trades undertaken by the two Dutch companies in the Danube ports. The archival material at our disposal has allowed the reconstruction of the Dutch company Bunge’s network in the extended area of the mouths of the Danube, precedence having the branches existing in the 1930s on the present-day territory of the Republic of Moldova.

Towards a Better Understanding of Motivation and Constraints for Domestic Geotourists: The Case of the Middle and Lower Danube Region in Serbia

The main goal of this study is to explore the motivation and constraints among domestic geotourists in Serbia. For this purpose, a survey was conducted on 303 respondents from Serbia who have visited geosites within the Middle and Lower Danube region in Serbia during the past three years. The initial results were obtained through an exploratory factor analysis which revealed five motivating factors (Visiting attractions, Research and prestige, Rest and relaxation, Acquiring new knowledge and Friends) and four constraints factors (Structural, Lack of time, Lack of information and recommendation and Inter/Intrapersonal). Ranking the factors further revealed that “Acquiring new knowledge” motivates geotourists the most while Structural constraints are the main demotivator. Further analysis by using ANOVA and T-test for independent samples revealed significant differences between gender and educational groups, and the results show that women are more motivated than men by the factor related to acquiring new knowledge, while those with master’s or doctoral degrees consider the factor related to friends less important than those with lower degrees.

O fibulă cu sfere de la Poienești și orizontul La Tène C1 extracarpatic / A fibula with globules (Gebhard 14 type) from Poieneşti and the extra-Carpathian La Tène C1 horizon

Without forming a well‑defined regional group, the relatively synchronous “Celtic” extracarpathian discoveries (LT C1) form a distinct horizon. For the name of this horizon, one could appeal to the funerary discoveries from Glăvănești (in Moldova) and Telești (in Oltenia). The Glăvănești‑Telești horizon is subsequent to the “Getic” horizon of the Thracian fibulae (Zimnicea‑Peretu group) which, in turn, can be synchronized for the time being only to the early La Tène (LT B1– B2). In addition to the chronological justification, the succession of these “horizons” also has a cultural one. The magnificent inventories such as those from Agighiol, Peretu et al. reflects stable “northern Thracian” power structures that could not coexist at the Lower Danube with power structures of intra‑Carpathian (“Celtic”) origin, e. g. the tomb from Telești. In other words, funerary contexts, such as those at Telești or Mezek, could not be established in the Lower Danube region until, more likely, after the decline of North Thracian power structures. In turn, the Central European cultural patterns mediated by the “Celtic” power structures lost their vigour, expressiveness and consistency at the Lower Danube with the formation of the Poienești‑Lucașeuca group. The Gebhard 14 type fibula with spheres from Poienești‑Măgură and the two Werner XIV type horse‑bits discovered in the same site can be perceived as exponents of the extra‑Carpathian “Celtic” horizon. By analogy with the fibulae from Wederath (tomb 96) and Kălnovo (tomb 3), the one from Poienești could be dated in the first half of the middle La Tène (maybe even during the LT– C1b sub‑phase !). The earliest necropolis of the Poienești‑Lucașeuca group (respectively, the one from Poienești) could not be organized until after the dissolution of the extra‑Carpathian “Celtic” horizon. The present contribution is not intended to resolve issues related to the precise periodization and absolute dating of the transition between the two successive extra‑Carpathian horizons, “Celtic” (Glăvănești‑Telești) and “Bastarnian” (Poienești‑Lucașeuca). However, the beginnings of the latter horizon cannot be adequately determined without the plenary debate on the end of the former.

Pilot Application of ‘Invasive Alien Species in Europe’ Smartphone App in the Danube Region

The present pilot study tested and validated the use of the ‘Invasive Alien Species in Europe’ smartphone app (IASapp) in the Lower Danube Region. The study was conducted in three stages: (1) Testing the effectiveness of the app in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia by organizing information and field testing campaigns; (2) Improving and extending the functionality of the app and developing a list of the invasive alien species (IAS) of concern to the Danube River Basin (DRB); and (3) Testing the updated app during the Joint Danube Survey 4 campaign. Overall, 13 campaigns were carried out, during which seven aquatic IAS of EU concern and nine IAS relevant to the DRB were recorded. Currently, the developed new functionality of IASapp allows the recording of 64 IAS of DRB concern. The updated IASapp has an important role in increasing public awareness on IAS issues, as well as in enlarging the participation and output of citizen science in the IAS early detection, monitoring and reporting in the DRB. Therefore, the constant communication with existing stakeholder groups and establishment of new citizen science groups is crucial for increasing the effectiveness of using the IASapp in the Danube Region and tackling the IAS issues.

The Lower Danube Region and the South of Russia: International Trade, Navigation and Merchants in the British Consular Reports (1829–1900)

This work by Christian Constantin on the lower Danube region and the south of Russia from the perspective of British consular reports from the nineteenth century was published by LAP Lambert Publishing in the year 2020. This work is another study by this author devoted to the economy and trade in the lower Danube and the Black Sea region in the nineteenth century—one of the previous ones, the article “The South Russia in Vision of the Europeans: The British Consular Reports on the Years 1882 and 1883” (Hiperboreea 2018, vol. 5, no. 5) was integrated into this book as chapter 3. Another article, entitled “Romanian–British Commercial Exchanges at the Lower Danube: The Consular Report of Percy Sanderson on the Year 1883” (Hiperboreea 2016, vol. 3, no. 2) was integrated as chapter 4 of this book. This, however, means that this work cannot be treated as something new.The book is divided into four main chapters. The first one analyzes the general problem of the transition of the character of the grain market in the lower Danube region in the nineteenth century, when this area was becoming gradually more independent from the Ottoman economy and the European powers were more and more active in that area. The next part of the work concentrates on a very particular problem (chronologically and thematically): the activity of European merchants in Odessa in 1882 and 1883 from the British perspective in the broader context of the economic rivalry between European powers in the lower Danube area and the Black Sea region. The third part of the work is devoted to the same time (the year 1883), but it investigates the problem of the economic exchange between Romania and Great Britain. The last part of the work depicts the trade and agriculture in the Brăila port in the last decade of the nineteenth century. From this short recapitulation of the content of the book, it is clear that it is mainly devoted to a rather restricted chronological period of the last two decades of the nineteenth century or even two specific years (1882–1883), which are described in the historical documents on which the author focuses. A period of more than fifty years, from 1829 to 1882 (in which Istanbul was still one of the main destinations of grain exports), is also described but rather as a point of reference to better expose the changes that occurred in the last decades of the nineteenth century. Hence, it would be more accurate if the time scope presented in the title of the work were more restricted chronologically.The choice of historical documents (British consular reports) is very interesting because such types of documents are often used by researchers interested in the history of diplomacy, or—analogically to travelogues—as documents that allow an investigation into the evolution of certain stereotypes or geopolitical and civilizational ideas, such as in the context of Eastern Europe or of the Balkans. In this case, the author uses the consular reports in the context of the economic history of the region. Unfortunately, large parts of the text, which appeared in the already-mentioned articles written by the author and were originally presented as transcriptions of the consular reports, are integrated into the main text of the monograph without such indication, and they appear to be the analysis of the researcher instead of being properly cited as historical documents (pages 48–72 and 76–107—hence, a great part of the book!). Even if it is only an editorial mistake, it is very confusing for the reader, and it disqualifies this publication. Hence, even if the subject is interesting, the already-mentioned articles, which served as the basis for this monograph, are more recommended than the reading of this book itself.

Бегущая ласка, крадущийся лев и затаившийся кот: археозоологические материалы на Нижнем Дунае

The article addresses finds of bones of carnivores of the families Felidae and Mustelidae in the South-West of modern Ukraine in the context of domestication of their individual representatives. Published finds come from the monuments of Orlovka/Kartal (layers of cultures of Cernavoda, the Thracian Hallstatt and the first centuries AD) and Novoselskoe (Thracian Hallstatt). Bones of a wild forest cat, a lion, a domestic cat, a rock marten and a marbled polecat have been identified in the archeozoological materials. Paw prints of another small predator, weasel, were found on a fragment of Roman tile. Accounts from ancient writers mention the practice of using representatives of the marten family and domestic cats, but much later in time, for the elimination of mouse-like rodents. Archeozoological materials from the sites in the Lower Danube region confirm the appearance of a domestic cat on the territory of the South-Western part of modern Ukraine only in Roman time.

Review, Daniela Tănase, Craftsmen and Jewelers in the Middle and Lower Danube Region (6th to 7th Centuries), BRILL: Leiden/Boston, 2021, 406 pag.

Book review, Daniela Tănase, Craftsmen and Jewelers in the Middle and Lower Danube Region (6th to 7th Centuries), BRILL: Leiden/Boston, 2021, 406 pag.

Трансформация этни­ческого состава населения украинского Подунавья: к вопросу о переселении молдаван/румын на Дальний Восток (1947-1949 гг.) / Transformation of the Ethnic Combination of the Ukrainian Podunavia Population: on the Issue of the Resettlement of Moldavians/Romanian to the Far East (1947 – 1949)

Based on previously unpublished archive documents (Ismail, Ukraine), the organization and resettlement of parts of the residents from the lower Danube region to South Sakhalin in 1947-1949 are considered. First of all, the resettlement touched the representatives of the Moldovan/Romanian ethnic group living in Reni district. This relocation should be seen as an attempt from the part of the Soviet totalitarian regime to transform the ethnic composition of the region, having evicted the part of the local population to remote corners of the Soviet empire, which, without much enthusiasm, met the socialist changes of the second half of the 1940s and related to the collectivization of agriculture. The age, gender, and quantitative indicators are analyzed. Lists of immigrants to the South Sakhalin in 1947 and 1948 are given.

THE JEWELRY MOLD FROM KHODOSIVKA SETTLEMENT OF THE VOLYNTSEVO CULTURE

Casting molds for making small ornaments of lead or tin alloys were found in different parts of the East Europe in the areas of various archaeological cultures. This simple technology and simple shapes of products were in use by many peoples since 3rd till 10th century and perhaps even earlier. Lead castings and stone molds for their manufacture attracted the attention of researchers of Early Slavic archaeology since discovery of the Velyki Budky hoard (1981) and Bernashivka workshop (1990).
 The obvious problem was the chronological and geographic lacuna between the Slavic Bernashivka type ornaments (6th—7th centuries) and ornaments of the Kamno-Rхuge type (8th—10th centuries) from the Eastern Baltic region. Several versions explaining the similarity of finds from the northern and southern areas have been proposed: common substrate, population migrations, imitation of some fashion etc. In recent years two molds for some ornaments of the Kamno-Rхuge type have been discovered at the Romny culture hillforts (Sverdlovske 1, Vorkhol II), which demonstrated the lasting of the tradition in the south until the 10th century.
 A problem of the upper limit for existence of the Bernashivka type ornaments can be clarified using the mold find from Khodosivka settlement. The mold was discovered by expedition of E. O. Petrovska in 1976 during a survey along the left edge of the Gley ravine (Kozakiv ravine) near the Khodosivka hillfort. It was found in remaining part of a pit dwelling in context with fragments of hand-made and wheel-made pots of the Volyntsevo culture. The object dates back to the second half of the 8th century — early 9th cen-tury.
 Negatives of ornaments are carved on both sides of the mold. A diamond-shaped patch carved on the main side. On the reverse side the negatives of round plaques are carved and probably loops for attaching the same plaques. There is also circular decoration presents, probably, of a circular pendant. The closest analogies to such decorations were found in the Bernashivka workshop, and also at the molds from the Lower Danube region. Products from the Khodosivka mold look quite archaic and simple in comparing to gold and silver jewelry from hoards of the Volyntsevo culture. Such production was undoubtedly the part of nonprofessional home craft.

Brutes: zur Herkunft eines germanischen Lehnwortes in den lateinischen Inschriften

Based on the chronology and geography of inscriptions not taken into account until now this paper argues that the word brutes of the Latin inscriptions is not a borrowing from Gothic from the Lower Danube region, as it is generally assumed, but a loanword from Northwest-Germanic in the neighbourhood of Pannonia.

Commentaria archaeologica et historica (III). Chronology of the Dacian Silver Hoards

These comments stem from the recent publication of a number of studies regarding the silver artefacts of pre-Roman Dacia, with important implications for the relative and absolute chronology of the late La Tène period in the region in question, and also for some cultural and historical transformations that happened in the same area. Some of the conclusions presented in these studies are insufficiently supported by arguments. Their publication requires a detailed analysis, which is meant to clarify a number of controversial aspects. For example, D. Spânu has recently divided the evolution of the Dacian silver hoards into two phases dated to the La Tène D2a and D2b (the period between ca. 75 – 65 BC and the Augustan age). To support this chronology, he chose to ignore a series of hoards, or only certain artefacts from other hoards, which did not fit into the suggested model. These efforts to push the chronology of the Dacian silver hoards within a particular time frame stem from his aim to use these discoveries as arguments for a series of a priori historical interpretations for which archaeological evidence is scant. This includes the idea that the local silver ornaments were all made exclusively of melted Mediterranean coins which supposedly reached pre-Roman Dacia massively only after the defeating of Mithridates VI Eupator and the fall of the Kingdom of Pontus. However, the analysis of the silver jewellery from pre-Roman Dacia is demonstrating that the artefacts in question were made using both locally-sourced silver and melted Mediterranean coins. Chronologically, these hoards can be divided into three phases: first group dated to the La Tène D1, 150/125 – 75/50 BC; second group belongs to the La Tène D2, 75/50 – 30/25 BC; third group dated to the Augustan – Tiberian period, 30/25 BC – AD 25/30. It can be therefore concluded that the scenario proposed by D. Spânu for the chronology of the end of the Late Iron Age in the lower Danube region and Transylvania, based on an erroneous dating of the silver hoards, is not credible. This kind of analysis requires the incorporation of different categories of archaeological evidence belonging to the last three centuries before the Roman conquest. Their contextual interpretation could provide a more reliable and detailed chronology of the evolution of the communities from each of the two territories in question. Lastly, this evolution was not uniformly equal across wide areas, as suggested by the typo-chronological tables and schemes drawn in the office by some researchers, since each community had its own history and evolution governed by a multitude of different social, economic, demographic or ecological factors.

ВОССТАНОВЛЕНИЕ КОНТРОЛЯ НАД ДУНАЙСКИМИ ПРОВИНЦИЯМИ В ТВОРЧЕСТВЕ ПОЭТА КЛАВДИАНА

The paper analyzes the poetic work of a late antique court poet from Western Roman Empire Claudius Claudianus. The key verbal construc - tions describing the situation on the Lower-Danube region after the Goths have settled are identified. The analysis of the Claudianus’ discourse shows the state of alarm of the Honorius court looked at the Balkan region. The high officials of Western Empire sought to establish Roman authority over the Danube region, regardless of whether the Eastern or Western court would rule there. Claudianus conveys to the readers that desire to see those lands under Roman rule. The study of contexts in which the Danube is men- tioned by Claudianus allows to assume that in the official discourse at court of the Western Emperor Honorius the Lower-Danube lands were pronounced pacified. They were beginning to recover from the destruction of the past wars, although still being perceived as a hotbed of instability. It was supposed that after Theodosius I first concluded the Treaty with the Goths in 382, and then Alaric and his people left Thrace in 395, the Danubian lands returned to Roman rule regardless whether the Roman institutes of power there functioned or not.

Contacts of the North-West Black Sea Coast Population in the Late Bronze Age

The purpose of the article is to consider the possibility of Timber-grave (Zrubna) culture influencing on the western area of Sabatynivka culture on the one hand and the likelihood of connections of the population of the Sabatynivka culture of the Northwest Black Sea in the eastern direction on the other. The methods of research are comparative historical, chronological method and scientific methods. The scientific novelty consists in the comparison of archaeological data on the Sabatynivka culture of the region and the results of genetic analysis. Conclusions . In the late Bronze Age, the steppe part of Right-Bank Ukraine, steppe Crimea, and Pryazovie were inhabited by tribes of Sabatynivka culture. It is dated to the 15th-12th centuries BC. Most researchers associate its origin with Babyne culture. Timber-grave culture in Ukraine was widespread, mainly on the left bank of the Dnieper. In the steppes of the Dnieper region, archaeological material reflected contacts between the Sabatynivka and the Timbergrave cultures. This is not surprising. In this situation, the Dnieper is not only a border between cultures but also their contact zone. Due to the western influences (cultures of the Lower Danube region), archaeologists include the Sabatynivka culture in the Sabatynivka – Noua – Coslogeni cultural and historical community. But there is reason to suppose that the Black Sea steppe and a small part of the population are penetrating to the west. This is evidenced by the findings of ceramics with features of Timbergrave culture, found on the settlement Grybivka IV of Sabatynivka culture in the Odesa region. The Late Bronze Age monuments often trace the influence of different cultural traditions. This is reflected, first of all, in the composition of the ceramic complex, the method of making ceramics, its ornamentation. Most of the pottery found in Grybivka IV is traditional for the monuments of the Sabatynivka culture of the Northwest Black Sea. However, the decoration made by the notched stamp resembles the finds well-represented on the Timber-grave culture sites situated between the Volga and Ural rivers. Some ornamental compositions detected on the vessel fragments from the Grybivka IV site are known on the Timber-grave pottery, namely those which are treated as an element of Andronovo culture. DNA analysis also reflected the evidence of transcultural contacts. The bones from the burial of Sabatynivka culture Sychavka 1/6 were subjected to this analysis. The deceased appeared to be a relative of another sample taken from the burial of Timber-grave culture and living in the Samara region (Russian Federation).