THE INTEGRATED RESEARCH OF THE POSAD (SUBURB) OF Old VYSHHOROD IN 2023—2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37445/adiu.2025.03.13Keywords:
Ancient Vyshhorod, Posad, Old Rus’ era, metalworking complex, archaeozoological definitions, paleoethnobotanical definitions.Abstract
In 2023—2024, the Vyshhorod Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS of Ukraine and the Vyshhorod Historical and Cultural Reserve continued planned excavations of the Posad (Suburb) of Ancient Vyshhorod — the largest medieval pottery center in Eastern Europe. During two campaigns on the excavation area 14 and its extension (total area — 40 m2), the remains of four household pits and a number of post holes were recorded, while the most scientifically valuable results were obtained during the excavation of a production structure from the early 11th century (structure 1). The significant quantity of metallurgical slag, metal oxide, blanks and production waste, charcoal, clay crucibles, and other finds discovered in the fill of structure leaves no doubt that its function concerned to the production and processing of metals (apparently, as at many other Old Rus’ sites, these activities were combined). A number of individual finds come from the fill of the structure and the cultural layer, such as a fragment of a massive heart-shaped plaque, a square belt plaque decorated in the Scandinavian Borre style, a bronze figurative plaque with compass ornamentation, loop and pins, a lead trade seal, two iron «Г»-shaped keys and a fishing hook, three glass beads, and a pyrophyllite spindle whorl. The identification analysis of grain remains obtained through soil flotation (S. Horbanenko) indicates a high level of agriculture. Notably, several structures yielded cherry stones, which are rare at Old Rus’ sites. The analysis of faunal remains unearthed during the research (M. Kubliy) shows that domestic animals were the main source of meat, with the highest number of bones belonging to cattle, followed by domestic pigs and then small livestock. Hunting products played a supplementary role in the diet of the suburb’s inhabitants; in particular, materials from the 2023—2024 excavations indicate cases of hunting deer, roe deer, and beaver.
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