Excavation Material Research Articles

Assessing performance, economic costs and environmental benefits of high-performance ecological geopolymer concrete incorporating excavated rock and soil from tunnelling, fly ash and slag as reclaimed raw materials

Excavated rock and soil from tunnelling (ERST), fly ash (FA), and slag are one of the largest sources of solid waste and play an important role in reducing dependence on natural resources and solving the problem of solid waste accumulation. This study verifies the feasibility of high-performance ecological geopolymer concrete (HPEGC) incorporating ERST, FA and slag for engineering applications. The effects of different binding material to machine-made sand ratio (BMMSR) and SN/FS (the total mass of sodium silicate and NaOH solids to the total mass of the powdered raw material) on the slump, compressive strength, tensile strength, drying shrinkage, salt corrosion resistance of concrete and the microstructural deterioration process before and after salt corrosion were analysed by indoor tests and microscopic tests. The results showed that the hydration products generated at SN/FS of 10, 12, and 15 % could effectively fill the pores of HPEGC and improve the pore structure and interfacial properties of HPEGC by microminiaturisation of the pore size. HPEGC formed a dense three-dimensional reticulated polysilica-aluminate-like structure due to the coexistence of C-S-H gel, C-A-S-H gel, N-A-S-H amorphous gel, and Na2Al2Si3O10. HPEGC with SN/FS of 12 % and BMMSR of 0.36 showed 29.5 % and 18.9 % improvement in compressive and tensile strengths, better resistance to sulfate attack, and 4.5 % and 45 % reduction in economic cost and GHG emission, respectively, compared with ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC). The results of the study proved that the engineering application of HPEGC incorporating ERST, FA and slag as raw materials is promising, providing new solutions for global underground excavation materials and industrial solid waste, and effectively promoting the sustainable development of the construction industry.

On the provenance of stone artefacts from the excavation materials of the zaporozhian Nekhvoroshchansky monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God

Purpose. To determine, according to the data of petrographic analysis, the probable provenance of the raw materials of stone artefacts, namely, the fragments of tools and building stone of the Cossack times and the Late Bronze Age that were found during the archaeological excavations in the territory of the former Zaporozhian Nekhvoroshchansky Monastery, as well as to connect the results obtained with historical context. Methods. The study of the raw material of stone artifacts was carried out by the method of petrographic analysis using a polarizing microscope. The provenance was determined by comparing the obtained petrographic characteristics of the studied samples with similar rocks according to the data of geological materials. Findings. The studied samples were represented by a part of a stone tool of the Early Modern period and two fragments of building material from the cultural horizon of the Late Bronze Age. According to the results of the petrographic analysis, it was established that the tools of the Cossack period were made of hornblende diorite, and the samples dated to the Bronze Age were represented by sandstones with siliceous and carbonate cement, respectively. Regarding the origin of the raw material of the Cossack period artefact, it was found that the diorite manifestations in the zone of the Middle Dnipro megablock of the Ukrainian Shield are geographically closest to the site of the excavation. The sandstone with siliceous cement is most similar to such rocks of the Oligocene-Miocene Poltavska series, which are widespread in the region. The sample of sandstone with carbonate cement was most likely formed in the zone of groundwater emergence, has a Quaternary age and could well be of local origin. The originality. For the first time, a petrographic study of stone artefacts from the territory of a Zaporozhian Nekhvoroshchansky Monastery was carried out. The facts of the supply of sandstones of the Poltavska series from the Samara River Valey during the Late Bronze Age and diorites from the Dnipro Valley during the Zaporozhian Cossack period to the Oril River Valey have been established. Practical implementation. The obtained data can be used when writing scientific works on the history and archeology, as well as educational literature.

Blade Weapons of Altai Population in Rouran Period (by the materials of the Choburak-I complex)

The article presents the study of the collection of bladed weapons, obtained during the excavations of the Rouran period burials on Choburak-I necropolis. This site is located in the Chemal district of the Altai Republic. The analyzed series of weapons includes three swords and six combat knives found in the burials of four adult men and one teenager. It has been established that the complex of long-bladed weapons is represented by single-edged blades without crosshairs and pommel, with a semi-segmental tip. The surviving combat knives with a triangular blade section are divided into two types, distinguished by a straight handle and a handle inclined towards the blade. The published collection demonstrates typical examples of weapons of the nomads of Central Asia of the 4th – 5th centuries AD. New excavation materials confirm the thesis that swords were a status category of weapons among the population of Altai during the Great Migration period. Burials with such items, investigated as part of the Choburak-I necropolis, differed in the representative composition of the inventory, and, judging by the available data, belonged to military leaders or especially distinguished professional soldiers.

Utilizing Crushed Limestone as a Sustainable Alternative in Shotcrete Applications.

Solving the challenges facing the mining industry is crucial for shaping the global attitude towards clean energy technologies associated with critical minerals extracted from depth. One of these challenges is the well-known explosion-like fractures (rockbursts) or spalling failures associated with the initiation of internal cracks. To prevent such catastrophic failure, shotcrete, as a cement grout, is widely used in tunnel support applications. In areas where the tunnels are constructed within the limestone strata using tunnel boring machines (TBM), drilling, and/or blasting, millions of cubic meters of crushed limestone (CL) in powder form are extracted and landfilled as waste. Given the fact that natural sand consumption as a raw material in the construction industry exceeds previous records, recycling of such excavation material is now becoming increasingly needed. From this perspective, this study aims to utilize crushed limestone as a potentially sustainable alternative to natural sand in shotcrete applications in deep tunnels. Accordingly, several strength characterization and crack initiation determinations through various stress-strain-based models were carried out on cylindrical samples containing different proportions of crushed limestone. By increasing the crushed limestone content in the shotcrete mix, the crack initiation stress (as a measure of the in situ spalling strength) increased as well. The results suggest that the crushed limestone has good potential to replace the natural sand in the shotcrete mixture used in tunnel support applications.

Stone inventory of the site complex “Koksharovsky Hill sanctuary — Yuryinskoe settle-ment” (based on materials of excavations in 2013 and 2015)

The article presents detailed statistical, typological and mineralogical characteristics of stone products from the “Koksharovsky Hill sanctuary — Yuryinskoe settlement” complex of sites derived from the excavations of A.F. Shorin conducted in 2013 and 2015. By these excavations, the eastern part of the sacred space of the sanctuary and the adjacent to it section of the settlement Yuryinskoe were investigated. A noticeable admixture of the Mesolithic (16.35 %), as well as Eneolithic and Bronze Age stone products (1.4 %), was found within the complex. The main body of the stone complex of items belongs to the Neolithic (82 %). The technology of stone knapping was focused on obtaining 1.2–2.1 cm wide plates. The plates were processed mainly by ventral retouching, and they served as the initial semi-finished product for manufacturing knives, arrowheads, scrapers and points. Double-sided retouching was used to process arrowheads and knives. Adzes, axes and arrowheads were made by means of abrasive technique. Processing tools were represented by hammers, pestles, bumpers, retouchers, abrasives and grinding plates. Talc products were widely used. Non-utilitarian items were represented by two talc and quartzite discs, and a miniature talc “iron”. About 30 types of mineral raw materials, obtained mainly from local sources, were used on the site. Of these products, 30 % have preserved the primary (prevalently tile-like) crust.

Shallow Subsurface Structure of the Moon: Key Questions for Future Exploration

Lunar shallow subsurface structure is important in revealing the formation and evolution of the Moon. Therefore, a review of key issues in the lunar shallow subsurface structure will help deepen our understanding of the Moon. From a global perspective, lunar shallow subsurface structure is formed by endogenic and exogenic geological processes such as volcanic activities, tectonic activities, meteorite impacts, and space weathering. Its morphological characteristics and stratigraphic structure record the evolution of these geological processes. Recent lunar exploration missions have returned new samples and high-resolution data that have greatly enriched our knowledge. On the basis of reviewing the research progress of radar detection, crater-based excavation analysis, material inversion, and heat flow measurement, we also discuss the processes that contribute to the formation of the lunar shallow surface structure, such as volcanoes, impacts, tectonics, and space weathering. The main hot issues were sorted out and focused on 3 areas: transformation of lunar shallow subsurface structure by geological processes, environment and material composition of the lunar shallow surface structure, and physical properties of lunar shallow surface structure. Overall, existing research on the lunar subsurface has made significant progress, but it has also brought more new unsolved mysteries. It is necessary to introduce new applied payloads such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), orbiter subsurface investigation radar (OSIR), or time-domain electromagnetic sounding (TDEM) to provide higher-resolution subsurface data, and develop better interpretation methodologies, to further deepen the understanding of the lunar shallow subsurface structure and indeed reveal the mechanism of lunar geological evolution.

Evaluation of the shear strength of residual limestabilized soils from the Antioquian batholith

In general, the construction of roads demands the exploitation of high amounts of granular materials, and this generates important economic and environmental impacts. The use of materials from excavations for the construction of fills and embankments is an ideal solution to reduce the exploitation of virgin materials. However, the use of excavation materials may be limited when these materials are fine-grained or have low mechanical specifications. In this sense, soils stabilized with quicklime have become a viable alternative for road construction, reducing the use of quarry materials. Although there are standards and techniques for the use of soils improved with quicklime for pavements, today the process for evaluating these materials for the construction of embankments and fills is not well established. This research presents the evaluation of the resistance behaviour of residual soils resulting from the weathering of the Antioquian Batolito (Antioquia-Colombia) when are subjected to quicklime stabilization. The optimal percentage of quicklime was determined by means of unconfined compression tests for dosages of 1%, 2% and 3%. Direct shear tests were used to study the influence of quicklime in soil properties like cohesion and friction angle in both natural and stabilized soils. The soil studied corresponds to a silty sand (SM). A factorial 2 x 3 experiment design was made to determine the number of tests with density, quicklime percentage and curing temperature as independent variables and unconfined compressive strength (qu) as response variable. A total of 54 unconfined compression tests and 27-seven direct shear tests were conducted. The results showed a significant increase in the strength of the materials treated with quicklime in relation to the natural state. There were increases greater than 100%, 50% and 15% in cohesion, unconfined compression, and friction angle respectively. The larger increment was calculated with 2% and 3% of quicklime dosage. However, due to cost benefits the optimum percentage of quicklime considered was set to 2%.

Environmental reclamation of limestone mining sites in Italy: Financial evaluation, challenges and proposals for sustainable development

Currently the environmental restoration of former extraction sites of limestone materials to be used in construction sector is still an open issue, challenging the opportunities for a more sustainable development of local communities.The present study evaluates the multiple causes underlying the abandonment of former limestone quarries and the lack of their reclamation as well as proposals to promote their environmental restoration.We primarily frame the issue in both the European and Italian regulatory framework. Then, the present study applies an innovative Cost Revenue Analysis to a case study of a generic environmental restoration project of a former extractive limestone site. Such analysis deepens on investment and operating costs, revenues, Net Present Value and Revenue/Costs ratio. Results show that restoration activities, performed in agreement with current regulations, involving the creation of terraces in embankments by means of excavation materials from external construction sites or even acting directly on the existing quarry, are currently discouraging for entrepreneurs, since they do not generate enough revenues to cover the costs of restoration. As a result, we suggest some solutions to strengthen the current regulatory and political framework, to make the restoration activities more convenient in financial terms. Such solutions would be also beneficial for the society and environment.

The Collection of Archaeological Antiquities From the Pavlo Khavliuk Excavations in the Funds of Vinnytsia Regional Museum of History and Nature

The purpose of the article is to generalize information about the formation of the collection of archaeological monuments from the explorations and excavations of Pavlo Khavliuk, which is stored in the funds of the Vinnytsia Regional Museum of History and Nature. The research methodology is represented by: the principle of historicism, system approach, methods of logic, grouping, comparative-historical, statistical and problem-chronological principles. The scientific novelty of the work in the fact that it is the first generalizing work, which systematizes and analyzes the materials of long-term excavations by Pavlo Khavliuk (1925-2001) at various historical monuments of archeology from the territory of the Vinnytsia region, which constitute a significant part of the stock collection of the Vinnytsia Regional Museum of History and Nature. Conclusions. Pavlo Ivanovych studied the archaeological monuments of our region from 1950 to 2001. During this time, the archaeologist discovered more than 1,200 objects of archaeological heritage. Stationary excavations were carried out at almost 100 monuments (settlements, hillforts, burial grounds, etc.). From 43 of them, the materials entered the main fund of the Vinnytsia Regional Museum of History and Nature. The rest of the collection is in the research fund and is under development. Among the processed materials in the foundation collection, there are materials from the monuments of the Trypil culture (Borysivka, Luhova, Rakhny Sobovi, Ulanivka), the pre-Scythian period (Kunka), the Scythian period (Gaisyn, Zhornyshche, Severynivka, Slobidka, Soroka, Stina), the Zarubinets culture (Nosivtsi, Maryanivka, Rachny Sobovi, Parkhomivka, Raiky), Chernyakhiv culture (Gaivove, Garmaki, Gunka, Demydivka, Zayachivka, Skitka, Slobidka, Trostyanets), early Slavic period (Holiky, Kalnik, Korzhivka, Kochuriv III, Kuna, Pariivka, Parkhomivka, Semenky I, Trostyanets, Khrinivka, Chortoriya, Shchurivtsi), of the period of Kyiv Rus (Demydivka, Parkhomivka, Sazhki, Slobidka, Chervone, Chortoriya, Yurkivtsi). There are 1,676 objects in the "Archaeology" storage group, and 156 artifacts in the "scientific auxiliary fund". Scientific passports have been drawn up for these subjects and they are actively introduced into scientific circulation. The other part of the collection is being processed and replenishes the fund collection of the museum. The obtained data are systematized and comprehensively analyzed, their historical interpretation is presented. The work describes the characteristics of materials by archaeological cultures and years of excavation.

Technical and environmental properties of recycled aggregates produced from concrete sludge and excavation materials

This study presents a Re-Con Zero dry washing technology used to produce recycled aggregates from concrete sludge (RCZ) and combined as a feedstock in wet recycling excavation materials (EM) for unbound applications. A two-component admixture i.e, high water absorbing polymer and aluminum sulphate was used in producing RCZ. RCZ0, RCZ50 and RCZ100 were produced with EM within the range 0–100%. Analysis by the Los Angeles (LA) and micro-Deval (MD) test demonstrated RCZ to be of high-quality, hence a clear trend of improved performance as the content increased was observed in the LA and MD values. X-ray diffraction analysis performed on original and pulverized residues (<1.6 mm) showed that feldspar, quartz, phyllosilicates (mica and chlorite) and minor amounts of pyroxene (diopside) were present together with paste minerals such as portlandite and residual clinker, and calcite. Acid solubility results demonstrated the relation to increased paste content as particle size reduced. This observation was more prevalent in < 1.6 mm RCZ fraction which further indicated the significant amount of remained paste after wet treatment. Low levels of the content of chemical species of potential concern were in general found and were mostly complying to Norwegian regulations. Total Cr exceeded the criteria of 100 mg/kg, but the leachable Cr(VI) was not detected which showed that remaining Cr after recycling process was present mostly on the trivalent form. This indicated low leaching of Cr upon carbonation and a decrease in pH.

On the status and selectivity of the infant burials of the Yamnaya Archaeological Culture of the Southern Urals (based on the excavation materials of the burial mound No. 1 of the Boldyrevo-4 group)

Bioarchaeology is an important field of interdisciplinary research based upon the contextual study of anthro-pological materials. In particular, bioarchaeology of childhood appears to be the most specialised area of re-search, addressing quality of life and social patterns of ancient groups. In this paper, we continue the study of the infant remains from the burial mound No. 1 of the Boldyrevo-4 burial ground — one of the elite and largest burial mounds of the Yamnaya (Pit Grave) Culture in the northern part of the Volga-Urals. It was located on the left bank of the Irtek River, a tributary of the Ural, and had a diameter of 62 m and a reconstructed height of 8 m. The earli-est horizon was represented by mounds Nos. 1 and 2 with close parameters. They contained one burial each (burials Nos. 3 and 4, respectively), located in the centers of the mound platforms, which belonged to children. Based on the results of our preliminary study, the child from burial No. 3 died of metastatic cancer (the most probable diagnosis is lymphocytic leukaemia). Burial No. 4 contained remains of two children. Child No. 1 from burial No. 4, represented only by the cranium, had possibly suffered from scurvy. Here we publish the results of the analysis of ancient DNA aimed at identifying the sex of the interred, as well as the results of the Sr isotope analysis, which allows determination of their ‘local’ or ‘distant’ origin. The quality of the ancient DNA was evaluated by targeted sequencing carried out using a specially designed panel of probes that allowed the selection of target sections of the genome for subsequent enrichment using the method of hybridisation, followed by the target NGS. The genetic data confirm that all three individuals belonged to the female sex. On the basis of Sr isotope ratios, the girls from burials Nos. 3 and 4 (No. 2) were born in the territories with different geochemical signals. Unfortunately, for the child No. 1 from burial No. 4 such observations could not be obtained. The biological age (around 6 years old), female sex attributes, and the presence of serious health conditions allows one to pose the question on the selective nature of the children burials in this mound of the Yamnaya Culture. Moreover, they could have received a special hereditary social status, which influenced the further erection of the burial mound for members of the elite.

Раннеславянские памятники в среднем течении р. Ворона

The basin of the Khoper River in its middle course is the extreme southeastern area of the Late Zarubintsy and Kiev culture archaeological sites. Based on the materials of excavations in this region, sites of Shapkino-Inyasevo type were identified. Until recently, they were dated to the second half of the 2 nd — second half of the 3 rd centuries. In 2022, exploration was carried out in the valley of the Vorona River (the western tributary of the Khoper River). The objectives of the study were, firstly, to compile a general map of Early Slavic sites, and secondly, to clarify their chronology. The materials of the Early Slavic tradition come from 16 areas. Some characteristic finds demonstrated that the group of the Early Slavic sites on the Vorona River dates to the middle of the 1 st century AD — 5 th/6 th centuries AD.

A WARRIOR’S BURIAL OF THE BULAN-KOBY CULTURE AT THE KOKSA BURIAL GROUND (materials of excavations by S.I. Rudenko in Altai)

The article discusses the collection of archaeological items from the State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg) which were obtained by S.I. Rudenko during his excavations in Altai in 1925. The paper provides detailed descriptions of the shape and design of weapons, belt sets and household tools, supplemented with the data of exact dimensions, drawings and photographs. The authors consider a significant body of analogies based on which the complex of artefacts is dated from the 2nd – first half of the 4th century AD. An analysis of the goods and the funeral rite made it possible to include the burial from Koksa in the circle of the Belyi Bom stage sites of the Bulan-Koby archaeological culture. The composition of the goods indicates that the burial belonged to a professional man-at-arms of the middle command level in the military hierarchy in the rank of centurion.

Obsidian Vessels and Eye Inlays from Naqada and Abydos in the Collection of the Garstang Museum, Liverpool, UK

Abstract Nine unpublished obsidian artefacts (one cosmetics jar, two vessel fragments, and six eye inlays) from the Garstang Museum collection are presented, with the aim of patching gaps in the current record concerning their excavation contexts and material properties, which were presumably detailed in John Garstang’s now-lost excavation report/notes. The objects date to the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods, and five objects were matched to those described in previous archival research on Garstang’s Abydos excavations. SEM-EDS was conducted to characterise the material compositions and make a preliminary assessment of the obsidian’s provenance. It is suggested that the obsidian for the three vessels (analyses on prepared surfaces) may have originated in the region of modern Eritrea and Ethiopia, but the eye inlays (non-destructive analyses on raw surfaces) could not be matched to any geological obsidian source, highlighting the difficulties with balancing object preservation and analytical quality in researching museum collections.

Особенности погребений женщин-литейщиц на нижневычегодском Чежтыягском могильнике

The materials of excavations of a separate group of burials of founder women in the Low-Vychegda Chezhtyyag burial ground dating back to the XIII century are introduced into scientific discourse. Based on the typological and chemical analysis of grave goods, the author identified the characteristic features of the burials. Grave goods include items of bronze foundry production, metal ingots and a scrap for making adornments, casting tools, many women’s adornments, numerous findings in the inter-grave space and a great number of artefacts that have been fired. There are no items related to the sphere of men’s production activities or weapons items. Next to the burials of women-foundry workers, there are small burials of teenage girls, apprentices of adult women. The rich implements of burials, many beads, a tamga trace on one of the vessels indicate a high social status of the buried founder women, endowing them with magical properties.

Нижнее Притоболье в эпоху бронзы: географические паттерны и культурные ареалы

The article presents a reconstruction of the settlement system of communities in the Lower Tobol region during the Bronze Age based on the analysis of archaeological materials using cartography methods and GIS tools. It is noted that the structural components of settlement require many attributes to be described, for example, the distance to the water, the height of the shore, the distance between compared objects, the configuration of the site itself, etc., some of which are accurately determined during work with reports and excavation materials, not excluding inspection of objects in the field. Using the example of the specific territory of the Lower Tobol region, it is confirmed that the geographical position of the sites and the surrounding relief can, along with other data, indicate the cultural and epochal specificity of the object, which allows us to characterize the settlement patterns of groups in ancient times and complement our ideas about the way of life of people and the economic model that they adhered to in a certain era. The work addresses the issues of determining geographical patterns (settlement models) characteristic of the Bronze Age in general and for individual cultures in particular (for the analysis were used sites of the Barkhatov, Suzgun, Pakhomov, Cherkaskul, Fedorov, Alakul, Koptyakov, Tashkovo cultures known for the Lower Tobol region). The use of statistical methods and modeling of natural processes, as well as analysis of the distribution of observed objects, made it possible to characterize the territories selected for settlement, identify patterns of settlement inherent in groups of different cultures, and also determine the relationship between the locations of sites and the lines of watercourses, having processed a large array of data and analyzing the nature of the settlement of the territory of the Lower Tobol region in the Bronze Age.

Caffa as Thalassopoliteia: The Genesis of the Civic “Maritime Identity” in a Late Medieval City

In this article, the author deals with the formation of Caffa by the end of the fourteenth century as the leading thalassopoliteia in the Black Sea region, when the head of the city of Caffa became “the ruler of the whole Black Sea” at the same time. The author refers to Liber Gazariae (1341), Caffa’s Statuta (1316, 1449), Caffa’s notarial acts from the fourteenth–fifteenth centuries, Massaria Caffae 1381, 1424, Italian pilot charts, Byzantine periploi from the fourteenth–fifteenth centuries, Italian nautical charts from the fourteenth–fifteenth centuries, and materials of archaeological excavations in Feodosia port. Following the study, the author reveals the essence of the thalassopoliteia of Caffa in the pre-modern world which involved the establishment of Caffa’s territorial power over the entire coastline of the Crimean Peninsula in the form of the “Great Chora”; control over maritime communications, requirements of obligatory calls to the port of Caffa for all vessels sailing the Black Sea; creation of a maritime logistics network in the form of ports, harbours, berths, and anchorages for the export of local products, which was served by ships, loaders, and the metrological service of Caffa’s port; introduction of the semaphore signaling system within the “Great Chora” of Caffa ensuring safety of navigation in the Black Sea; neutralisation of piracy, corsairing, and maritime actions of hostile countries, reimbursement of damages to affected citizens of Caffa; creation of a naval chain of fortresses and fortifications with locations of fast-moving battle triremes; development of shipbuilding and ship repair infrastructure both in the port of Caffa and in its subordinate ports; formation of the institution of Caffa’s thalassopoliteia, a special “maritime identity”, the birth of the idea of “contract with the sea”.

Spanish Luxury Pottery from the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century Excavated at the Genoese Castle of Cembalo

This paper analyses the Hispano-Moresque pottery with luster painting which was obtained by the castle of Cembalo from the second half of the fourteenth to fifteenth century. The excavation materials comprise of a few types of ceramic ware: pitchers, several types of bowls, and plates (dishes). The parallels to the ware in question appeared in a large tract of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, Eastern Europe, and the Golden Horde lands. The said vessels were popular on such a wide territory due to their unusually picturesque ornamental design. Parade Spanish ceramic ware appeared in the castle of Cembalo in result of the Genoese merchants’ active trading in the Black Sea area, where it was used as present and commodity. This ware penetrated into the area in question from the mid- or the second half of the fourteenth century on, according to the finds of the Pula group. The most of the fragments excavated dates from the fifteenth century. The Spanish ceremonial ware continued to penetrate to the Crimea, the castle of Cembalo in particular, even after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. The latest finds date from the third quarter or late fifteenth century.

Species composition of bone remains of animals from medieval Аspara and Sharuashylyk settlements (according to the results of the excavations of 2021)

New data on the species composition of the late Middle Ages paleofauna (13-15 centuries) are published, obtained from excavation materials on hillforts of Aspara and Sharuashylyk in valleys of the Shu and Talas rivers. The hillfort of Aspara is located on the foothill plain north of the Kyrgyz Alatau, on the left bank of the river. Aspara is the left tributary of the Shu river. The hillfort of Sharuashylyk is located in the lower reaches of the river. Talas, in the semi-desert zone, at the southwestern outskirts of the sandy desert of Moyynkum. A comparative study of the paleofauna of late medieval settlements located in different landscapes of the Shu-Talas interfluve is carried out for the first time. 3047 mammalian bones were studied, 67.1% of which were determined up to the species. Almost all bone remains determined before the genus and species belong to pets (95.9%). Among the bones of mammals and birds from Sharuashylyk, the proportion of pets is 99.3%, and in the hillfort of Aspara - 96.6%. More than half of the sample (51.3%) are small cattle bones. The second place in terms of number belongs to the remains of cattle (30%), in third place – to horses (16.8%). Small numbers of camel bones and dogs are present. The obtained data make it possible to assess the degree of similarity and differences of paleozoological complexes of two simultaneous sites located in different natural and geographical zones. Keywords: Shu-Talas interfluve, later Middle Ages, Aspara, Sharuashylyk, paleozoology, animal husbandry, hunting.

Problems in the archaeological study of Medieval Bilhorod and its ceramics (based on the excavations of one of the pottery workshop)

The medieval city and fortress built on the ruins of ancient Tyras at the mouth of the Dniester (the territory of modern Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine) are among the key archaeological sites of the Northern Black Sea region of the late Byzantine and Ottoman times. Despite the long term of excavation in the site and the large explored area, the chronology of its cultural layers and ceramics from them, as well as the declared origin of some groups of the pottery cause reasonable doubts. That is why the re-examination of ‘old’ excavation data from the perspective of new achievements of medieval archaeology and ceramology in the Northern Black Sea region is the focus of our study. The article analyses in detail the excavation materials in the area of one of the pottery workshops, which from 1970s were considered as a reference for dating the construction periods of a medieval settlement outside the fortress walls. The study of the archival documentation and ceramic collections allowed us to find out that the cessation of the activity of the pottery workshop dates back to the second half of the 15th century and not to the beginning of the 14th century as has been regarded before. So subsequent dwellings and other constructions were built, accordingly, more than 100 years later than previously thought. Hence we have obtained a strong case for significantly correcting the chronology of the cultural horizons of medieval Bilhorod. Moreover, it become possible to clarify ideas about ceramic production and the historical topography of the city, as well as to outline the topical questions for future research.