Городища скіфського часу Путивльського Посейм'я (Путивильська археологічна експедиція 2012-2021 рр.)

В книзі представлені результати робіт Путивльської археологічної експедиції на городищах скіфського часу Путивльського Посейм’я. Подано каталог, що складається з 26 пам’яток. Висвітлено історію їх дослідження, топографію, охарактеризовано оборонні споруди. За підсумками археологічних розвідок 2012—2016 років визначено особливості матеріального комплексу. Окремий розділ присвячено результатам п’ятирічних археологічних розкопок городища Ширяєве.

Для археологів, істориків, краєзнавців, викладачів і студентів вишів, а також усіх, хто цікавиться минулим нашої країни.

The basin of the middle course of the Seim River within the Sumy region, or so called Pytuvl Seim region, is rich on archeological sites of the different periods. The most traced based on shafts, moats and escarpments are the hillforts. Nowadays, there are 61 fortified settlements in the region. Layers or materials dated by the Scythian period were found at 26 hillforts.

The first mentions of these sites dated of the end of the 19 th and the first half of the 20th centuries. Brief information about the hillforts is collected in the works by D. Samokvasov and P. Eremenko. They were also explored by the directors of the Putivl and Hlukhiv museums of local lore. In the second half of the 20th century, I. Lyapushkin carried out largescale field surveys on the sites of the Left Bank Forest Steppe, including Seim region. The first excavations at the hillforts near the Vorgol and Shuryaeve villages were Leaded by D. Berezovets and V. Illinska. In the second half of the 20th century surveys at the enlightened region were systematically carried out by specialists in Slavic archaeology: O. Sukhobokov, Yu. Morgunov, R. Terpylovskyi, A. Oblomskyi, V. Pryimak. The period between roughly 1975 and the beginning of the 2000s was Slavic for researches on the Dnipro Left Bank. The level of conducting researches of the sites of the middle course of the Seim river in comparation to Kursk Seim region was extremely low for a long time.

The study of Scythian period hillforts of Putivl Seim region have just begun. The Putivl archaeological expedition conducted widespread surveys on all fortified settlements of the region during 2012—2016. New topographic plans were created, the peculiarities of the cultural layer on the settlement were clarified. The current research allows us to give a general characteristic of the fortified settlements of the region.

All the fortified settlements are situated on capes with one or more shafts on the open side. The main feature is that each cape has part, which goes down to the floodplain. The studies of defensive structures were conducted at three sites. The presence of a moat is assumed, although it can be traced visually at two more sites. In addition, significant part of the fortified settlements is defended by escarpments.

Based on presence of the cultural layers 3 groups of sites can be distinguished: the fortified settlement with long time existence layer; the fortified settlement with 0.5 m layer; the fortified settlement with negligible total amount of finds and objects. Potentially, the last one group includes unfinished settlements or administrative centers, which combine several unfortified settlements.

Comprehensive characterization of the material complex based on available number of finds is impossible. However, superficial analysis traces the connection of the Middle Seim tribes with the Yukhniv population of the forest zone. It is possible to assume, that the mixed marriages led to the presence of specific forms of pottery and some things in the material complexes of the population in northern part of the Dnipro Left Bank Forest-steppe.

The date of sites in Pytuvl Seim region is open. Preliminarily, it is the timeframe within middle of VI—IV centuries BCE. In the IV century BCE, there was only one fortified settlement — Shuryaevе.

Nowadays, Shuryaeve is the best researched hillfort. 260 m 2 were excavated during five field seasons. The defensive structures survey was carried out on the rampart of the hillfort.

According to the results of the 2017—2021 researches, the cultural layer varies from 2—2.1 m at the edges and up to 0.85—1 m in the middle of the site. In stratigraphy, three horizons are traced based on the color of the soil and contains the remains of objects. During 2017—2021, three dwellings in each layer, were fully investigated. The excavation of four more structures has begun.

On the territory of the forest-steppe, long (6 × 12 m) ground dwellings with underground basement were discovered for the first time. The walls were made of logs with wattle covered with clay. The interior is divided into a residential part, which was heated by oven and household part. In dwellings were arranged 1 m depth pits (cellars).

The material complex of the Shuryaeve hillfort is informative and indicative in dynamics of changes over almost three centuries. Pots are represented by three types with variants. Absolutely prevail slightly profiled. Other pottery includes bowls, jars, jugs, mugs, small vessels and miniature cult forms.

Variety of clay wares are widespread finds on the settlement.

Spindles represented as mass finds. The results of analyzes doesn’t allow to talk about any chronological or territorial features.

Forms of the spindles from the Shuryaeve hillfort are fundamentally different from the similar products from other monuments of the Dnieper Left-Bank Forest-Steppe region. The so-called cones with a hole, located parallel to the base, didn’t receive wide distribution in the Seim river basin. At the same time, the spindles from this region have a lot in common with the same products of Yukhnivska culture. Perhaps it’s one of the evidence of mixed marriages.

There are quite a lot of finds of bread-shaped wares, which most researchers attribute as religious objects. Among other things, a number of clay objects whose functions are difficult to determine. These are objects reminiscent of a master’s tool, various clay balls, etc. The finding of the «horned brick» is noteworthy. Similar products well known in the cultures of the Forest zone and aren’t typical for the material complex of the monuments of the Dnieper Left-bank Forest-Steppe region.

Stone tools are represented by mealing, ground stones and bars. There are a few finds made of bone as needles and awls, knife handles, amulets. Iron objects includes knives, sickles, various tools, jewellery and clothing details. It is possible to assume bronze jewellery local production.

Number of imported products indicates underdeveloped exchange relations.

As chronological markers for each of the three horizons were used arrowheads and some jewellery. The date of the third horizon can be determined within the second — third quarter of the VI century BCE; the second horizon — the end of the VI — the third quarter of the V century BCE; the first horizon — the end of the V—IV century BCE.

The economic structure of Shuryaeve settlement population was agricultural and animal husbandry oriented, with essential role of hunting and fishing.

The materials from excavations carried out on the settlement out of defensive structure synchronize with the second and first horizons of the hillfort.

This work is the first step in the study of Scythian hillforts in the Putivl Seim and represents the preliminary results. At this stage of the research, new accurate plans were created, the areas of the hillforts with cultural belonging were traced, the features of the cultural layers were determined. The material of the well excavated Shuryaeve hillfort is the most indicative and informative. The population was related to the Vorskla, Sula, Psel, and Siverskyi Donets regions inhabitants. The entire material complex and pottery have common manufacturing traditions. On the other hand, here are certain differences, which can be partially explained by the natural and climatic environments of the Middle Seim region and mainly by direct contacts with the population of the Yukhniv culture of Desna region.