North Black Sea Region Research Articles

Crimea and the North Black Sea Region in the Context of Russia's National Interests

Crimea and the North Black Sea Region in the Context of Russia's National Interests

Reconstructing Some Elements of Adornment Spread in the North Black Sea Region During the Scythian Era

Reconstructing Some Elements of Adornment Spread in the North Black Sea Region During the Scythian Era

Scythian Jewelry Meshes and the Problem of Their Interpretation

This article explores the phenomenon of a specific type of personal adornment worn by members of the Scythian elite in the North Black Sea region in the second half of the 5th century and throughout the 4th century BCE. The discussion juxtaposes the records from 19th-century and early 20th-century excavations with contextual analyses of very recent discoveries from Ukraine, which shed significant new light on the appearance, production, and meaning of Scythian jewelry. The reconstruction of the shape of the jewelry type in question is greatly complicated by two factors: the lack of relevant depictions in the contemporary corpus of Scythian and Greco-Scythian figure scenes and misleading scholarly references to supposed analogies in a Roman-era mosaic, which became the chief reason for the misinterpretations of the ornament’s appearance. Composed of numerous gold or gilded silver tubes; beads; pendants; and, sometimes, “buttons,” this jewelry type is reconstructed in two gender-specific variants in this article: one mesh-like and the other with a cross-chest form. For over a hundred years, scholars have considered only the mesh variant to be the correct reconstruction. As a result, many costume reconstructions of this jewelry form in specialist research and museum displays alike are still proposed without a sufficient evidentiary base.

Двусторонние геммы-литики из погребения № 13 кургана № 1 могильника «Богомольные пески-I»

The article examines five double-sided glass gems found as elements of a bracelet on the left wrist of a child aged 2,5–3 years in the burial no. 13 of the kurgan no. 1 of the “Bogomol’nye peski-I” group near the village of Nikol’skoe, Enotaevskiy District, Astrakhan Region. The inventory of the burial gives grounds for its dating within a broad frame of the 1st – first half of the 2nd century AD. As in the Scythian burials of the Dnieper region, glass gems in the kurgan of the “Bogomol’nye peski-I” group were found in a child’s burial. They were considered by their owners as items of jewelry and amulets, and not as a means for imprinting images. It is worth noting that the images on the sides of the same gem are rarely semantically related to each other, but rather give the impression of a rather random choice of subjects. In many cases, the motives go back to gems of the late Classical and Hellenistic periods. Given the fact that the images on the glass gems were mechanically reproduced from intaglios, there is reason to suppose that these were works of glyptics from the late Hellenistic period, which could theoretically be used for making glass gems at a later period. The uniqueness of double-sided glass gems, on the one hand, and their distribution in the North Pontic region in the 6th–4th centuries BC, on the other hand, give grounds to suggest the possibility of the origin of finds originating from the Sarmatian burials of the Lower Volga region from the workshops of the North Black Sea region, possibly of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Древневенгерское погребение у с. Глиное на левобережье Нижнего Днестра

The article analyzes the early medieval grave Glinoe 13/2 investigated in 2008 on the left bank of the Lower Dniester. The burial was sunk into the Scythian barrow. The inventory included a knife, an earring, an awl and a fireflint. The sheep femur lay behind the skull of the buried. An analysis of the funerary rite and inventory made it possible to date the Glinoe 13/2 grave to the 9th—10th centuries. Radiocarbon dating of human and sheep bones made it possible to specify the time of the internment until the end of the 9th — the first half of the 10th century. An analysis of the peculiarities of the placement of sacrificial food remains and the composition of species in it in the medieval burials of the North Black Sea region confirms the Early Hungarian attribution of the published grave. This burial is included in the group of Early Hungarian graves near the Glinoe village, which reflects the presence of a large family in this microregion. These circumstances, together with the date of the Frumusica graves and evidence from the written sources, allow us to state the presence of the Early Hungarians in the Lower Dniester region at the beginning of the 10 th century.

Предметы с неопределенной функцией и магия зеркал

This paper deals with the discussion about the item, which is named in the literature as the Sauromatian “mirror”. A round disk (with a flat side handle) shows a corrugation on its two sides. The purpose of such a thing that does not have a reflective surface is difficult to determine. However, it cannot be called a “mirror” due to corrugation, so the function of the object has not yet been determined. Having identified an object from the Oguz barrow as a mirror, its researchers established the role of mirrors in the funerary rite of the Pontic Scythia. They put forward the postulate that the mirrors in the composition of the accompanying equipment, laid under the back or left forearm of the deceased, are documented in the 5th—4th centuries BC funerary complexes of dependent women of Scythia. However, regularities are not traced in the arrangement of mirrors for the buried in the North Black Sea region. This does not allow us to present a real picture of the role of mirrors in the funerary rite of the Scythians or their neighbors and to clarify the social status of those buried by the location of these objects. Studies of the funerary rite show that nomads were united only by the desire of the owners of the mirrors to protect their mirror surface from damage that could distort the image of the owner. Therefore, it seems not advisable to equalize objects having double-sided corrugation on the disk with mirrors, without taking into account the differences.

Changes in the ethnic picture and its impact on the internal political situation in the Bosporus after Rheskuporis VI

The article examines the influence of ethnic change in the North Black Sea region on the internal political situation in the Bosphorus kingdom in the mid-6th century – the first quarter of the 6th century AD. The main ethnic groups that appeared in the Bosphorus at the specified time, the degree of their influence on the state institutions of the kingdom and the nature of political changes are determined. It is assumed that, as a result of the movement of barbarian groups throughout the North Black Sea region, representatives of these groups have taken power in the Bosphorus kingdom. We can refer to these Sarmatian-Alan representatives and Gothic nobility. With the appearance of the Huns in the North Black Sea region, the Bosphorus falls into the sphere of influence of the Huntribal union, under the de facto rule of the Gothic nobility. With the appearance in the Northern Black Sea region of the Huns-Utigurtribes, power in the Bosphorus returns to the hands of the pro-Roman nobility, to which King Diuptun can be assigned.

Бронзовые плоские черешковые наконечники стрел с жальцами из Северного Причерноморья

The article considers the currently known bronze flat petiolate arrowheads with stings found in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the Northern Black Sea region, along with new finds. In total, 19 petiolate arrowheads with stings and 3 negatives of similar products on casting molds were taken into account. The distribution area of such items covers the entire western part of the region, between Danube-Carpathian region and the Dnieper basin. The finds are concentrated in the southern part of the Middle Dnieper region (9 items), the North-West Black Sea region (5 items), and the Upper Dniester region (3 items). One arrowhead was found in Podolia and another one was discovered in Northern Bukovina. All currently known casting molds for manufacturing petiolate arrowheads stings come from the North-Western Black Sea region, which allows to localize there one of manufacturing centers. Based on the design features of petiolate, it is proposed to divide all flat petiolate arrowheads with stings into five types. In addition, it is considered the possibility of selecting sub-variants if necessary: by the width of the feather, by the length of the petiole, by the presence of rib in the middle of the feather, by the asymmetry of the stings, by massiveness, etc. Arrowheads of the discussed type, with their archaeological context being reliably known (Magala, Novoselitsa, Volkovka, Gordeevka, Petrikov, Stary Buyukany), are associated with closed complexes of the BrD – HaB1 period (XIII–X centuries BC) in the North Black Sea region. All occasional finds from the region can be dated within these limits. The arrival of bronze petiolate arrowheads with stings in the Northern Black Sea region may have been influenced by contacts with the Balkan-Carpathian and Middle Eastern cultural centers. It cannot be ruled out that the regional manufacturing of such arrowheads could be based on imitating local flint implements of the same type, found in various Bronze Age cultures.

Комплекс металлических изделий завершающего этапа эпохи поздней бронзы с территории Войцеховского могильника

The paper publishes and analyzes the set of metal products of the Late Bronze Age, discovered in 2013 by the Fastov archaeological expedition in the arable layer of barrow group 6 of the Voitsekhovka cemetery, located on the left bank of the Middle Sluch river in Eastern Volhynia. The collection includes 31 items, mostly highly fragmented. These are 7 knives, 5 sickles, 4 celts, 3 knives-daggers, a fragment of a sword blade, 4 spearheads, a cheekpiece, a fragment of a pin-wand of Gordeevka type, 2 bracelets, a fragment of a rod, 2 bronze ingots. Finds can be dated preliminary to the BrD—HaA period. It cannot be excluded that at least some of the finds were part of a plowed-up hoard/hoards buried in the area of the cemetery. The article is the first complete publication of this finds. The authors suggest analogies from the sites of the Carpathian-Danube region and the North-Black Sea region.

Scythian Burial of the Child with the Sword Model in the Lower Dniester

The paper for the first time publishes and analyzes the materials obtained in the study of the burial of the child no. 10 in the barrow 16 of the “Sluiceway” group near the Glinoe village, Slobodzeya district, on the left bank of the Lower Dniester. The grave dates back to the third quarter of the 4th century BC and contained the burial of a small child. The western part of the pit was intended to sacrificial food and a knife, and the eastern part was intended for the body of the child and grave goods, where a “bed” was made of a mixture of natural clay and humus. Two Cypraea moneta shells, one glass bead, as well as an iron model of the sword were part of the necklace. The last find is a unique item in the Scythian burials of the North Black Sea region. It imitated swords of the Solokha type (with claw-shaped tops and false-triangular crosshairs), known in the Scythian burials of the Northern Black Sea Region from the last quarter of the 5th century BC until the end of the 4th century BC. It is noteworthy that it was such a sword that was found in the pair burial of the same barrow where the burial of the child was sunk. There is no doubt that the model of the sword in the necklace of a child was a votive object. Perhaps it indicated the child's belonging to the estate of the warriors.

Ferruginous accumulations in hypogene karst conduits of Crimean Piedmont: Evidence for a deep iron source for the Kerch-Taman iron-ore province, north Black Sea region

This study documents ferruginous accumulations in hypogene karst cavities in the Eocene limestones of central-eastern Crimean Piedmont, including unusual quartz-goethite tubes in Tavrida Cave, and aims to reveal their origin and significance to the problem of iron source for the adjacent Kerch-Taman iron ore province. We employed speleological, petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical (including REE analysis) methods. Ferruginous materials dominated by goethite precipitated in open cavities, although metasomatic replacement of the host rock also occurred. Although the formation of conduits/cavities enclosing ferruginous materials clearly predated the main phase of hypogene speleogenesis in Tavrida Cave, both speleogenetic phases were controlled by the same cross-formational flow paths. Geochemical characteristics of the studied materials in all sites are largely similar, pointing to their genetic affinity. REEY patterns in most of the samples are remarkably similar to those found in iron formations worldwide, for which significant hydrothermal contribution is established. We show that these accumulations had been formed from acidic, reduced, hydrothermal fluids rising from a deep source and intruding oxidizing environment of the karstified Eocene aquifer, where goethite had been precipitated at the boundary of the iron reduction/oxidation zone. This mechanism is consistent with the hypogene origin of host karst conduits. These findings have implications to the origin of iron ores in the adjacent Kerch-Taman province, where deposits are closely associated with mud volcanoes operating there since at least the Middle Miocene. Although the marine sedimentary (hydrogenetic) origin of these deposits is universally accepted, the source of iron is a matter of debate. Revealing of the deep fluid source of iron for the ferruginous accumulations in hypogene caves in Piedmont suggests that the deep fluid system associated with mud volcanism in the Kerch-Taman region could have been a significant, if not the major, supplier of iron for ore deposits in the Cimmerian basin.

The Greek and Latin inscriptions of Ancient North Black Sea Region. 2019 year

The Greek and Latin inscriptions of Ancient North Black Sea Region. 2019 year

Modeling of electricity production by wind power stations of Ukraine

Based on the results of actual multi-year measurements of wind speeds, numerical calculations have been made of the forecast energy productions of 43 megawatt-high power stations of the leading world producers in the wind conditions of the North Black Sea region of Ukraine. The established correlation between the annual energy production of wind power station (WPS) and its basic parameters (nameplate capacity, diameter of the rotor and hub height) allowed to develop a mathematical model of the forecast annual energy production of WPS. The calculations for the mathematical model are well in line with the operational parameters of the generation. The mathematical model makes it possible to quickly and reliably select (or design) the optimal wind turbine for industrial wind power in the North Black Sea, thus taking a significant step in reducing the energy dependency, environmental protection and the transition to energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies enabling Ukraine to reach the level of advanced states in the development of wind energy.

Sarmatian Barrow 1 of Kotlovina I Cemetery on the Left Bank of the Lower Danube

Introduction. The paper deals with analyzing the Sarmatian burial complex investigated in 1990 in the barrow 1 of Kotlovina I cemetery located on the western shore of the lake Yalpug, 3 km from the village of the same name in Reni district of Odessa region. Materials. The mound was surrounded by a circular ditch with a single gap in the south. Similar ditches were recorded on the Sarmatian sites of the North-Western Black Sea region, as well as on the territory of Hungary and in the Don region. The burial was made with an offset from the geometric center of the mound, apparently, in order to avoid robbery. The main and only grave was done in a pit with an undercut. The buried man laid under the western wall of the funeral chamber in an elongated position on his back, his head to the north. The accompanying inventory is represented by a red clay pottery jug, which was covered by a handmade lid-bowl, as well as a large handmade pot. A large onehanded red clay pottery jug is of particular interest. Such vessels were widespread in the North Black Sea region, and their findings are known both in funeral complexes and in ancient settlements of the Roman time. The large size of the handmade lid-bowl, as well as the presence of traces of fuliginosity makes it possible to assume its dual purpose: as tableware during life and as a lid of the pottery vessel for the internment. The handmade pot is distinguished by an ornament in the form of impressions on the upper part of the body, forming a triangle. Conclusions. The analysis of the features of the funeral rite and the time of the inventorys existence make it possible to date the barrow to the 2nd – 3rd centuries AD. Grave 1 from barrow 1 of Kotlovina I cemetery clarifies the historical picture of the stay of Sarmatian tribes in the North-West Black Sea region, in particular, on the left bank of the Lower Danube.

Міграційні хвилі молдован на теренах Північно-Причорноморського регіону: історичний аналіз

Міграційні хвилі молдован на теренах Північно-Причорноморського регіону: історичний аналіз

South of Eastern Europe and Upper Paleolithic diversity around the Last Glacial Maximum

In contrast to the still standing paradigm of local evolution in Upper Paleolithic (UP) research in Eastern European Paleolithic archaeology, this article proposes a view that sees the Late UP record as a punctuated presence of different UP industries in the southern part of Eastern Europe, i.e. the Great North Black Sea region. This punctuated presence seems to be predominantly connected to the influence of palaeoenvironmental conditions around the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Basic UP features can be summarized as follows: the exclusive occurrence of Epi-Aurignacian sites during Heinrich Event 2; the permanent presence of a regional variant of Epigravettian sites in the Great North Black Sea region since the LGM sensu stricto despite lacking evidence of the preceding Gravettian; the absence of any “generic industrial links” between the Gravettian and Epigravettian in the central part of Eastern Europe; an Early Epigravettian “hiatus” in the central part of Eastern Europe that might explain the presence of some assemblages of “Magdalenian character” before the appearance of Late Epigravettian sites.

Скифские браслеты и кольца с выступами из могильника у села Глиное

The article examines bracelets and rings of the La-Tene style from Scythian burials of the cemetery near the Glinoe village, Slobozeya district, on the left bank of the Dniester. Bracelets were found in three burials belonging to different kurgan groups (Glinoe-“Sad”, kurgan 8, burial 5; Glinoe-“Vodovod”, kurgan 16, burial 6; Glinoe, kurgan 71, burial 1). Single rings with protrusions were found in two burials (Glinoe-“Sad”, kurgan 8, burial 2; Glinoe-“Vodovod”, kurgan 7, burial 2). Two chains of double rings and one chain of the triple rings of the La Tene style comes from burial 3 of kurgan 14 of the Glinoe-“Vodovod” cemetery. The author considers the typological attribution of these objects according to existing classification, concerns the issue of their manufacturing and dating, as well as the nature of using. Bracelets with protrusions in the form of rosettes of two, three and four ledges from the Glinoe cemetery were likely produced by lost-wax casting. Taking in account the small number of such bracelets found in the North Black Sea region, it is still difficult to draw an unambiguous conclusion about their local production. All researchers agree on the dating of such bracelets in the second half of the 4th – the beginning of the 3rd centuries BC. The purpose of the items analyzed appears obvious. They were worn by women and children. The dating of rings with single, double and triple protrusions almost matches the dating of bracelets of the same type. They were common in the 4th – the beginning of 3rd centuries BC. There is data allowing to consider those bracelets have been used in complex necklaces.

Barrow 11 of the “Garden” Group in the Lower Dniester Region and Contemporary “Mythmaking” About Scythian “Amazons”

The article publishes and analyzes materials obtained during the study of the Scythian barrow 11 of the “Garden” group excavated in 2018 near village Glinoe, Slobodzeya district, on the left bank of the Lower Dniester, for the first time.The barrow was surrounded by a circular ditch and contained four burials – one infant and three female. The tools from the barrow are represented by knives, spindle-whorls, needle. The only piece of tableware was found and it was a wooden bowl. The adornments (a pair of earrings, two bead necklaces, one bead bracelet, two “elbow bracelets”) were also discovered. Earrings with conical bulges on one of the endings testify to the Thracian influence on the material culture of the Scythians of the North-West Black Sea region. All female graves contained mirrors. Two of them are identical, and both were laid under the body of the buried. One of the mirrors has handle aforethoughtly broken in antiquity. The cult objects are a pendant made of a dog’s tooth and a stone slab, the arrowheads are the only weapons. The barrow dates back to the second half (preferably the third quarter) of the 4th century BC. Finding a quiver set in the grave 4 of barrow 11 of Glinoe/”Garden” group made the authors to analyze the burials of the so-called Scythian “amazons” of the North Black Sea region. It turned out that many of them were attributed with flagrant violations of scientific methods as burials of women-warriors, which is nothing more than modern “myth-making”. As a result, the authors claim that an open-minded analysis allows us to distinguish three groups of Scythian burials with weapons: 1) containing weapons, placement of which reflects certain “ethnographic” features of the rite or the special status of buried; 2) containing arrowheads that may indicate hunting; 3) the burials of warriors with diverse and numerous weapons.

Курганне поховання бронзового часу біля села Прогресівка на лівому березі Тилігульського лиману

У статті висвітлюються результати рятівних робіт на пошкодженій пам’ятці археології на території Ташинської сільської ради Березанського району Миколаївської області, на північ від села Прогресівка. Розкривається історія археологічних робіт на Березанщині. Дається коротка характеристика поховань та попередня ідентифікація. Розглянуті три поховання, одне з яких – парне. Два поховання відносяться до бабинської історико-культурної спільноти кінця першої – початку другої чверті ІІ тисячоліття до Р.Х. а одне, з великою вірогідністю, до рубежу ер (сарматський час).

Две находки архаических костяных накладок на ножны из Северного Причерноморья

The paper deals with the finds of bone plates for scabbard mouth found in 2015 in the North Black Sea Region. Two bone plates for the same scabbard were found in Myrmekion in a layer of the first quarter of the 5th century BC. An onlay from an excavation site at the Berezan Island is dated to the second half of the 6th century BC. The scabbards decorated with these plates were made for the sword of makhaira (kopis) type. These finds support the idea that the abundance of this type of swords in the North Black Sea Region had existed from the Archaic period. A finding of a sword of the Greek type in a layer of a site at the Bosporus proves that Greek colonists continued to use a Greek set of weapons which disproves an opinion about the widespread adoption of the barbarian offensive weapons set.