M. Dębiec, J. Górski, J. Müller, M. Nowak, A. Pelisiak, T. Saile, P. Włodarczak (Eds.), From Farmers to Heroes? Archaeological Studies in Honour of Sławomir Kadrow. Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie (Bonn 2022) 197–212., 2022
Taking into account the latest findings on chronology, our article describes processes of populat... more Taking into account the latest findings on chronology, our article describes processes of population aggregation and dispersal of Chalcolithic Tripolye communities in the forest steppe zone between Dniester and Dnieper. Using a quantitative approach, we compare regional settlement trajectories of the 5th and 4th millennium BCE, which were associated with the foundation and later disintegration of large communities. The Chalcolithic settlement history of the study region proves to be a multi-layered, regionally divergent process. This included 1) in several regions the synchronous onset of large communities, 2) relatively early beginnings of disintegration in some regions, 3) the continued population aggregation in very large mega-settlements in the Sinyukha River catchment, and 4) the spatially differentiated disintegration of large communities. According to our interpretation, this development can be understood as the result of the establishment of a densely populated settlement system at the end of the 5th millennium. Later, this system could be maintained and further developed only in a small innovative region, while the population density in other regions was declining. Along with the disintegration and finally the collapse of this complex socio-cultural system, the colonisation of new regions began.
The article presents the analysis of flint finds obtained during the serway in three Trypillia se... more The article presents the analysis of flint finds obtained during the serway in three Trypillia settlements (Chyzhivka, Veseliy Kut and Vladimirovka) in 2017. New finds of flint artefacts (the most informative collection comes from Vladimirovka) significantly complement our knowledge of the flint industry of Vladimirovka local group in particular, and the development of flint production of Cucuteni-Trypillya communities in the interfluve of the Dnieper and the Southern Bug in general.
J. Müller/R. Hofmann/M. Shatilo, Tripolye Mega-Sites: “Collective Computational Abilities” of Pre... more J. Müller/R. Hofmann/M. Shatilo, Tripolye Mega-Sites: “Collective Computational Abilities” of Prehistoric Proto-Urban Societies? Journal of Social Computing 3, 1, 2022, 75-90, doi: 10.23919/JSC.2021.0034.
In the East European region between Prut and Dnieper, proto-urban mega-sites developed ca. 4100−3600 BCE with population agglomerations of around 10000 inhabitants per site. An outline of complexity categories, based on P. Turchin et al. (2018), illustrates that "computational abilities" are first developed to make the shift from dispersed to agglomerated settlement patterns. The development of an internal decision-making system for a polity that organizes communication via public buildings on different levels, together with a site-specific track system, may be responsible for this shift (or made it possible). However, after generations, this communication pattern was not developed into further collective communication abilities (e. g., into a writing system), while at the same time a tendency toward centralizing decision processes probably destroyed the communication flow. This ultimately led to the collapse of Tripolye mega-sites.
This study, once again, raises the question on the driving forces of stylistic development. For t... more This study, once again, raises the question on the driving forces of stylistic development. For that, we focused on two prehistoric contexts, more specifically on Trypillia and the Late Neolithic site Vinča-Belo Brdo where we analyzed various objects with «realistic» images. For Trypillia, we included the following categories: house models, sledge models, depictions of equipment for animal use on zoomorphic objects (figurines, vessels etc.), «realistic modelled» faces of anthropomorphic figures, and depictions on anthropomorphic figurines (hairstyles and accessories for hair, necklaces, footwear and clothes). Based on the latest findings on chronology, we trace the mentioned realistic features in time and space by means of quantifications and mapping. Additionally, we investigate the changes of anthropomorphic figurines in terms of size. In the case study of Vinča, the frequency of realistic features in the different depths of the tell stratigraphy are put in relation to the total number of figurines and the historical dynamics of the late Neolithic societies. The consideration of different material categories shows that objects with «realistic» characteristics mainly occur in certain periods and geographical regions These include high population densities in large agglomerated settlements, increased innovativeness, intensive interaction in densified far-reaching communication and exchange networks. In both case studies, the developments ended in fundamental crises and were associated with the disintegration of large settlements and population decline. Linked to this, some types of «realistic» objects disappear, others become fewer and lose their «realistic» characteristics.
EAA 2021 (Kiel), Theme 6: Material culture studies and societies, Session 514, 2021
A striking category of finds from Neolithic and Copper Age sites in Mediterranean, SouthEast and ... more A striking category of finds from Neolithic and Copper Age sites in Mediterranean, SouthEast and East Europe are the miniature items that embody certain aspects of prehistoric life in non-perishable materials. Depictions of humans, animals and means of transportation, architectural entities such as houses or stoves, adornments, clothing or tools, all of them are a valuable source of information for studying non-literate societies.
The aim of the article is to identify the main tasks, strategies and some results of an ongoing U... more The aim of the article is to identify the main tasks, strategies and some results of an ongoing UkrainianEuropean Project that is dealing with the Tripolye culture phenomenon. In order to investigate emergence and decline of giant-settlements with thousands of houses and very specific spatial layouts, the challenge need to be mastered to perform representative archaeological and scientific sampling with reasonable efforts. This is only possible through the combination of non-destructive survey techniques, targeted archaeological excavations and the application of modern scientific methods. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the social, ecological, demographic and economic dimensions of such settlements and underlying transformations of human societies also in their regional variability, the consideration of different spatial investigation levels is required. In the first phases of the project, high-resolution magnetic surveys were applied to different large Tripolye settlements and exemplary investigations were carried out at the local scale of the Maidanetske settlement. At the current stage of the project, the studies focus more on the meso-and macro-regional level.
Recently, high-resolution magnetometry surveys have led to the discovery of a special category of... more Recently, high-resolution magnetometry surveys have led to the discovery of a special category of buildings-so-called 'mega-structures'-situated in highly visible positions in the public space of Tripolye giant-settlements of the late 5 th and first half of the 4 th millennium BCE. In this paper we explore what these buildings actually are and how they can contribute to the understanding of the development of social space in Tripolye giant-settlements. For this investigation, we linked newly obtained excavation data from the giant-settlement Maida-netske, Ukraine, with a much larger sample of such buildings from magnetic plans obtained in the region between the Carpathian foothills and the Dnieper River. Accordingly, Tripolye mega-structures represent a particular kind of integrative building documented in many non-ranked ethnographic contexts. Based on our results we are interpreting that these buildings were used for various ritual and non-ritual activities, joint decision-making, and the storage and consumption of surplus. In Tripolye giant-settlements at least three different categories of mega-structures could be identified which most likely represent different levels of socio-political integration and decision-making. The emergence of this hierarchical system of high-level integrative buildings for the whole community and different low-level integrative architectures for certain segments of local communities was related to the rise of Tripolye mega-sites. The presence of different integrative levels most likely reflects the fusion of different previously independent communities in the giant-settlements. Later in the mega-site development, we observe how low-level integrative buildings increasingly lose their importance indicated by shrinking size and, finally, their disappearance. This observation might indicate that the power which was previously distributed across the community was transferred to a central institution. It is argued that the non-acceptance of this concentration of power and the decline of lower decision-making levels might be a crucial factor for the disintegration of Tripolye giant-settlements around 3600 BCE.
C. Preoteasa, N. Ciprian-Dorin (Eds.), Cucuteni Culture within the European Neo-Eneolithic Context. Pietra Neamţ, 2016., 2016
House reconstruction is an important issue in early agricultural archeology studies. The roof is ... more House reconstruction is an important issue in early agricultural archeology studies. The roof is an essential part in such reconstructions that creates a certain image of a house and the period it belongs to. In Tripolie there is a long tradition to make house reconstruction with a gable roof, although there is no background for that. The only reliable source of information to reconstruct the roof shape of a Tripolian house is the models of houses. Tripolian models of houses with the survived parts of the roof are not numerous. So far there have been no models with a gable roof. All of them show vaulted shape of the roof. In addition to the models of houses there are also a number of ethnographic analogies with this roof type. The ethnographic parallels demonstrate simplicity and prevalence of this kind of construction in the past.
Müller, J., Hofmann, R., Ohlrau, R., Shatilo, M., 2018. The social constitution and political org... more Müller, J., Hofmann, R., Ohlrau, R., Shatilo, M., 2018. The social constitution and political organisation of Tripolye mega-sites: hierarchy and balance, in: Meller, H., Gronenborn, D., Risch, R. (Eds.), Überschuss ohne Staat - Politische Formen in der Vorgeschichte. Surplus without State - Political Forms in Prehistory, Landesmuseum, Halle, pp. 247-262.
An exceptional phenomenon of European Prehistory is the concept of well-planned mega-sites of Late Tripolye communities at the borderland between the North-European forest zone and North-Pontic Grass steppe ca. 4100–3700 BCE. Even though population agglomerations of about 10.000–15.000 inhabitants within singular sites are evident, archaeological indicators of social stratification are difficult to detect. Is it possible to reconstruct political institutions of societies without rule that integrated such huge settlements into a balanced social constitution?
In: Cornelia-Magda Lazarovici, Gheorghe Lazarovici, Papers presented at the international symposium “From Symbols to Signs. Signs, Symbols, Rituals in sanctuaries” Suceava, Romania, 9-11 September 2016. IN MEMORIAM GHEORGHE DUMITROAIA, Suceava , 2017
The question of what kind of information is contained in ornaments, symbols and signs on the pott... more The question of what kind of information is contained in ornaments, symbols and signs on the pottery of early farmers from South-Eastern Europe is still under discussion. Often, the authors are mostly interested in such aspects as their possible sacred meaning, reflecting ideology of the early communities or their probable relation to a writing system. In contrast to this I would like to analyze a few ornament elements and signs, as a source of information for the reconstruction of some aspects of everyday life or to show functions of certain tackles.
Площинні «ігри» розглянуто як один з проявів широкого поширення геометричних рис в матеріальній к... more Площинні «ігри» розглянуто як один з проявів широкого поширення геометричних рис в матеріальній культурі ранньоземлеробських суспільств Південно-Східної Європи. Їх поява пов’язується зі змінами, що відбулися з переходом до агрикультури – перевизначення понять «простір» та «час», а також, з протиставленням «антропогенного» світу та світу «дикої природи». Предмети для «ігор» пропонується розглядати в більш широкому контексті традицій моделювання.
The article considers the hypothesis that some groups of artifacts (astragalus, tokens ... more The article considers the hypothesis that some groups of artifacts (astragalus, tokens and objects with a system of holes) dating to early agricultural period (Neolithic and Chalcolithic) from the territory of South-Eastern Europe could have been used as equipment for playing ancient “games” or divination practices. The analysis led to several conclusions: 1) the objects from South- Eastern Europe are similar in shape to the artifacts that most researchers consider game equipment (Ancient World, ethnography); 2) these objects appear in agricultural societies, where signicant changes in the outlook and self-consciousness of the population could be observed; 3) astragalus, tokens and boards with holes appear in the early Neolithic in the Near East and in the SEE region, they could have reached South-Eastern Europe during the Neolithic transition period; 4) the name “games” for such items can only be used conventionally.
In 2007, at the base of Trypillya Expedition of the IA NASU in Lehedzyne village an experiment of... more In 2007, at the base of Trypillya Expedition of the IA NASU in Lehedzyne village an experiment of constructing and firing the model of a Trypillian house in the 1/6th of its natural size was conducted. The experiment was made in the context of the conception of a constructive function of fire and of single-storey house. It has resulted in obtaining the data allowing the author to make a conclusion that a process of thermal treatment of a platform was long-termed and builders had to control temperature conditions very well. The data received by its nature is close to authentic structures.
Roof in a house creates a certain image of a building and epoch of its functioning, this also con... more Roof in a house creates a certain image of a building and epoch of its functioning, this also concerns Trypillya culture. However, there is a problem of the reconstruction of roofs in Trypillya culture houses. Overhead covers remains in fact are not recorded archaeologically, and the only reliable source for such reconstructions are few buildings models. First model with a roof was discovered at Kolomyishchyna II settlement in 1939. It became a source for reconstruction of a house with gabled overhead cover. Afterwards, models of structures with vaulted roof were found (Rozsokhuvatka, Sushkivka, Pishchane). Nevertheless, in Trypillian structures reconstruction such type of roofs was not taken into consideration. Buildings of the culture are traditionally reconstructed mainly with gable covering. Houses with cylindrical roof are peculiar for localities with warm climate (for instance, this type of structures was typical on the territory of contemporary Moldova). Climatic conditions on the area of Trypillya culture were close to the contemporary conditions of the territories were cylindrical roof type. All this, as well as buildings models, allow the author to assume that such type of roof was also used in Trypillya culture buildings.
D. Mischka, K. Mischka, C. Preoteasa (eds.). 2016. Beyond excavation. Geophysics, aerial photography and the use of drones in Eastern and South-East European archaeology. Piatra-Neamț, 18-22
In recent years, high-resolution geomagnetic surveys in Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements led to the ... more In recent years, high-resolution geomagnetic surveys in Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements led to the discovery of large, so far unknown building structures which are located at prominent positions within settlements. Due to their extraordinary size, positioning and special architectural characteristics this structures are interpreted as some kind of public or communal buildings such as temples or assemblage houses. Within large settlements two classes of such buildings can be distinguished: high-level 'mega-structures' for the whole settlement and low level ring-or pathway buildings for parts of the commune. The second category of buildings, normally show regular distributions within settlements which likely reflect some kind of communal organisation. In order to achieve better understanding of construction and functional aspects of such buildings, we excavated one of the low-level ring-or pathway building in the large settlement Maidanetske in the frame of a Ukrainian-German cooperation. Detailed collection of information regarding the finds and their context, of imprints of construction timber on daub, and the dense sampling for botanical, zoological, pedological, and geoarchaeological investigations should provide arguments for the evaluation of functional aspects of this building in comparison to 'normal' houses. In order to understand transformations in the social organisation of Tripolye communities, we would like, on the other hand, evaluate such buildings in a diachronic perspective based on plans of geomagnetic surveys. Thereby, important aspects like frequency and positioning of within settlements and the size of the structures in relation to the use group size will be discussed.
During the spread of the Neolithic and subsequent consolidation, adaptation, and further expansio... more During the spread of the Neolithic and subsequent consolidation, adaptation, and further expansion of Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities into diverse landscapes of Anatolia, the Caucasus, Southeastern and Eastern Europe an extraordinary variety of practices related with death such as intramural depositions, kurgan graves, cemeteries, etc. can be observed. Some of these traditions, e.g. deposits in ditches or early burial mounds, create large distribution zones that usually extend far across the boundaries of 'archaeological cultures'. Many societies in this vast area are characterised by the absence of systematic burials and discoveries of 'practices' are rather an exception than a rule. Various explanations for this situation have been proposed which include the archaeologically invisible burial practices, or the use of other objects to build individual and collective identities. In addition, as recent discoveries suggest, this picture is partly the result of selective archaeological practice. As session research questions, we would like to consider
M. Dębiec, J. Górski, J. Müller, M. Nowak, A. Pelisiak, T. Saile, P. Włodarczak (Eds.), From Farmers to Heroes? Archaeological Studies in Honour of Sławomir Kadrow. Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie (Bonn 2022) 197–212., 2022
Taking into account the latest findings on chronology, our article describes processes of populat... more Taking into account the latest findings on chronology, our article describes processes of population aggregation and dispersal of Chalcolithic Tripolye communities in the forest steppe zone between Dniester and Dnieper. Using a quantitative approach, we compare regional settlement trajectories of the 5th and 4th millennium BCE, which were associated with the foundation and later disintegration of large communities. The Chalcolithic settlement history of the study region proves to be a multi-layered, regionally divergent process. This included 1) in several regions the synchronous onset of large communities, 2) relatively early beginnings of disintegration in some regions, 3) the continued population aggregation in very large mega-settlements in the Sinyukha River catchment, and 4) the spatially differentiated disintegration of large communities. According to our interpretation, this development can be understood as the result of the establishment of a densely populated settlement system at the end of the 5th millennium. Later, this system could be maintained and further developed only in a small innovative region, while the population density in other regions was declining. Along with the disintegration and finally the collapse of this complex socio-cultural system, the colonisation of new regions began.
The article presents the analysis of flint finds obtained during the serway in three Trypillia se... more The article presents the analysis of flint finds obtained during the serway in three Trypillia settlements (Chyzhivka, Veseliy Kut and Vladimirovka) in 2017. New finds of flint artefacts (the most informative collection comes from Vladimirovka) significantly complement our knowledge of the flint industry of Vladimirovka local group in particular, and the development of flint production of Cucuteni-Trypillya communities in the interfluve of the Dnieper and the Southern Bug in general.
J. Müller/R. Hofmann/M. Shatilo, Tripolye Mega-Sites: “Collective Computational Abilities” of Pre... more J. Müller/R. Hofmann/M. Shatilo, Tripolye Mega-Sites: “Collective Computational Abilities” of Prehistoric Proto-Urban Societies? Journal of Social Computing 3, 1, 2022, 75-90, doi: 10.23919/JSC.2021.0034.
In the East European region between Prut and Dnieper, proto-urban mega-sites developed ca. 4100−3600 BCE with population agglomerations of around 10000 inhabitants per site. An outline of complexity categories, based on P. Turchin et al. (2018), illustrates that "computational abilities" are first developed to make the shift from dispersed to agglomerated settlement patterns. The development of an internal decision-making system for a polity that organizes communication via public buildings on different levels, together with a site-specific track system, may be responsible for this shift (or made it possible). However, after generations, this communication pattern was not developed into further collective communication abilities (e. g., into a writing system), while at the same time a tendency toward centralizing decision processes probably destroyed the communication flow. This ultimately led to the collapse of Tripolye mega-sites.
This study, once again, raises the question on the driving forces of stylistic development. For t... more This study, once again, raises the question on the driving forces of stylistic development. For that, we focused on two prehistoric contexts, more specifically on Trypillia and the Late Neolithic site Vinča-Belo Brdo where we analyzed various objects with «realistic» images. For Trypillia, we included the following categories: house models, sledge models, depictions of equipment for animal use on zoomorphic objects (figurines, vessels etc.), «realistic modelled» faces of anthropomorphic figures, and depictions on anthropomorphic figurines (hairstyles and accessories for hair, necklaces, footwear and clothes). Based on the latest findings on chronology, we trace the mentioned realistic features in time and space by means of quantifications and mapping. Additionally, we investigate the changes of anthropomorphic figurines in terms of size. In the case study of Vinča, the frequency of realistic features in the different depths of the tell stratigraphy are put in relation to the total number of figurines and the historical dynamics of the late Neolithic societies. The consideration of different material categories shows that objects with «realistic» characteristics mainly occur in certain periods and geographical regions These include high population densities in large agglomerated settlements, increased innovativeness, intensive interaction in densified far-reaching communication and exchange networks. In both case studies, the developments ended in fundamental crises and were associated with the disintegration of large settlements and population decline. Linked to this, some types of «realistic» objects disappear, others become fewer and lose their «realistic» characteristics.
EAA 2021 (Kiel), Theme 6: Material culture studies and societies, Session 514, 2021
A striking category of finds from Neolithic and Copper Age sites in Mediterranean, SouthEast and ... more A striking category of finds from Neolithic and Copper Age sites in Mediterranean, SouthEast and East Europe are the miniature items that embody certain aspects of prehistoric life in non-perishable materials. Depictions of humans, animals and means of transportation, architectural entities such as houses or stoves, adornments, clothing or tools, all of them are a valuable source of information for studying non-literate societies.
The aim of the article is to identify the main tasks, strategies and some results of an ongoing U... more The aim of the article is to identify the main tasks, strategies and some results of an ongoing UkrainianEuropean Project that is dealing with the Tripolye culture phenomenon. In order to investigate emergence and decline of giant-settlements with thousands of houses and very specific spatial layouts, the challenge need to be mastered to perform representative archaeological and scientific sampling with reasonable efforts. This is only possible through the combination of non-destructive survey techniques, targeted archaeological excavations and the application of modern scientific methods. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the social, ecological, demographic and economic dimensions of such settlements and underlying transformations of human societies also in their regional variability, the consideration of different spatial investigation levels is required. In the first phases of the project, high-resolution magnetic surveys were applied to different large Tripolye settlements and exemplary investigations were carried out at the local scale of the Maidanetske settlement. At the current stage of the project, the studies focus more on the meso-and macro-regional level.
Recently, high-resolution magnetometry surveys have led to the discovery of a special category of... more Recently, high-resolution magnetometry surveys have led to the discovery of a special category of buildings-so-called 'mega-structures'-situated in highly visible positions in the public space of Tripolye giant-settlements of the late 5 th and first half of the 4 th millennium BCE. In this paper we explore what these buildings actually are and how they can contribute to the understanding of the development of social space in Tripolye giant-settlements. For this investigation, we linked newly obtained excavation data from the giant-settlement Maida-netske, Ukraine, with a much larger sample of such buildings from magnetic plans obtained in the region between the Carpathian foothills and the Dnieper River. Accordingly, Tripolye mega-structures represent a particular kind of integrative building documented in many non-ranked ethnographic contexts. Based on our results we are interpreting that these buildings were used for various ritual and non-ritual activities, joint decision-making, and the storage and consumption of surplus. In Tripolye giant-settlements at least three different categories of mega-structures could be identified which most likely represent different levels of socio-political integration and decision-making. The emergence of this hierarchical system of high-level integrative buildings for the whole community and different low-level integrative architectures for certain segments of local communities was related to the rise of Tripolye mega-sites. The presence of different integrative levels most likely reflects the fusion of different previously independent communities in the giant-settlements. Later in the mega-site development, we observe how low-level integrative buildings increasingly lose their importance indicated by shrinking size and, finally, their disappearance. This observation might indicate that the power which was previously distributed across the community was transferred to a central institution. It is argued that the non-acceptance of this concentration of power and the decline of lower decision-making levels might be a crucial factor for the disintegration of Tripolye giant-settlements around 3600 BCE.
C. Preoteasa, N. Ciprian-Dorin (Eds.), Cucuteni Culture within the European Neo-Eneolithic Context. Pietra Neamţ, 2016., 2016
House reconstruction is an important issue in early agricultural archeology studies. The roof is ... more House reconstruction is an important issue in early agricultural archeology studies. The roof is an essential part in such reconstructions that creates a certain image of a house and the period it belongs to. In Tripolie there is a long tradition to make house reconstruction with a gable roof, although there is no background for that. The only reliable source of information to reconstruct the roof shape of a Tripolian house is the models of houses. Tripolian models of houses with the survived parts of the roof are not numerous. So far there have been no models with a gable roof. All of them show vaulted shape of the roof. In addition to the models of houses there are also a number of ethnographic analogies with this roof type. The ethnographic parallels demonstrate simplicity and prevalence of this kind of construction in the past.
Müller, J., Hofmann, R., Ohlrau, R., Shatilo, M., 2018. The social constitution and political org... more Müller, J., Hofmann, R., Ohlrau, R., Shatilo, M., 2018. The social constitution and political organisation of Tripolye mega-sites: hierarchy and balance, in: Meller, H., Gronenborn, D., Risch, R. (Eds.), Überschuss ohne Staat - Politische Formen in der Vorgeschichte. Surplus without State - Political Forms in Prehistory, Landesmuseum, Halle, pp. 247-262.
An exceptional phenomenon of European Prehistory is the concept of well-planned mega-sites of Late Tripolye communities at the borderland between the North-European forest zone and North-Pontic Grass steppe ca. 4100–3700 BCE. Even though population agglomerations of about 10.000–15.000 inhabitants within singular sites are evident, archaeological indicators of social stratification are difficult to detect. Is it possible to reconstruct political institutions of societies without rule that integrated such huge settlements into a balanced social constitution?
In: Cornelia-Magda Lazarovici, Gheorghe Lazarovici, Papers presented at the international symposium “From Symbols to Signs. Signs, Symbols, Rituals in sanctuaries” Suceava, Romania, 9-11 September 2016. IN MEMORIAM GHEORGHE DUMITROAIA, Suceava , 2017
The question of what kind of information is contained in ornaments, symbols and signs on the pott... more The question of what kind of information is contained in ornaments, symbols and signs on the pottery of early farmers from South-Eastern Europe is still under discussion. Often, the authors are mostly interested in such aspects as their possible sacred meaning, reflecting ideology of the early communities or their probable relation to a writing system. In contrast to this I would like to analyze a few ornament elements and signs, as a source of information for the reconstruction of some aspects of everyday life or to show functions of certain tackles.
Площинні «ігри» розглянуто як один з проявів широкого поширення геометричних рис в матеріальній к... more Площинні «ігри» розглянуто як один з проявів широкого поширення геометричних рис в матеріальній культурі ранньоземлеробських суспільств Південно-Східної Європи. Їх поява пов’язується зі змінами, що відбулися з переходом до агрикультури – перевизначення понять «простір» та «час», а також, з протиставленням «антропогенного» світу та світу «дикої природи». Предмети для «ігор» пропонується розглядати в більш широкому контексті традицій моделювання.
The article considers the hypothesis that some groups of artifacts (astragalus, tokens ... more The article considers the hypothesis that some groups of artifacts (astragalus, tokens and objects with a system of holes) dating to early agricultural period (Neolithic and Chalcolithic) from the territory of South-Eastern Europe could have been used as equipment for playing ancient “games” or divination practices. The analysis led to several conclusions: 1) the objects from South- Eastern Europe are similar in shape to the artifacts that most researchers consider game equipment (Ancient World, ethnography); 2) these objects appear in agricultural societies, where signicant changes in the outlook and self-consciousness of the population could be observed; 3) astragalus, tokens and boards with holes appear in the early Neolithic in the Near East and in the SEE region, they could have reached South-Eastern Europe during the Neolithic transition period; 4) the name “games” for such items can only be used conventionally.
In 2007, at the base of Trypillya Expedition of the IA NASU in Lehedzyne village an experiment of... more In 2007, at the base of Trypillya Expedition of the IA NASU in Lehedzyne village an experiment of constructing and firing the model of a Trypillian house in the 1/6th of its natural size was conducted. The experiment was made in the context of the conception of a constructive function of fire and of single-storey house. It has resulted in obtaining the data allowing the author to make a conclusion that a process of thermal treatment of a platform was long-termed and builders had to control temperature conditions very well. The data received by its nature is close to authentic structures.
Roof in a house creates a certain image of a building and epoch of its functioning, this also con... more Roof in a house creates a certain image of a building and epoch of its functioning, this also concerns Trypillya culture. However, there is a problem of the reconstruction of roofs in Trypillya culture houses. Overhead covers remains in fact are not recorded archaeologically, and the only reliable source for such reconstructions are few buildings models. First model with a roof was discovered at Kolomyishchyna II settlement in 1939. It became a source for reconstruction of a house with gabled overhead cover. Afterwards, models of structures with vaulted roof were found (Rozsokhuvatka, Sushkivka, Pishchane). Nevertheless, in Trypillian structures reconstruction such type of roofs was not taken into consideration. Buildings of the culture are traditionally reconstructed mainly with gable covering. Houses with cylindrical roof are peculiar for localities with warm climate (for instance, this type of structures was typical on the territory of contemporary Moldova). Climatic conditions on the area of Trypillya culture were close to the contemporary conditions of the territories were cylindrical roof type. All this, as well as buildings models, allow the author to assume that such type of roof was also used in Trypillya culture buildings.
D. Mischka, K. Mischka, C. Preoteasa (eds.). 2016. Beyond excavation. Geophysics, aerial photography and the use of drones in Eastern and South-East European archaeology. Piatra-Neamț, 18-22
In recent years, high-resolution geomagnetic surveys in Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements led to the ... more In recent years, high-resolution geomagnetic surveys in Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements led to the discovery of large, so far unknown building structures which are located at prominent positions within settlements. Due to their extraordinary size, positioning and special architectural characteristics this structures are interpreted as some kind of public or communal buildings such as temples or assemblage houses. Within large settlements two classes of such buildings can be distinguished: high-level 'mega-structures' for the whole settlement and low level ring-or pathway buildings for parts of the commune. The second category of buildings, normally show regular distributions within settlements which likely reflect some kind of communal organisation. In order to achieve better understanding of construction and functional aspects of such buildings, we excavated one of the low-level ring-or pathway building in the large settlement Maidanetske in the frame of a Ukrainian-German cooperation. Detailed collection of information regarding the finds and their context, of imprints of construction timber on daub, and the dense sampling for botanical, zoological, pedological, and geoarchaeological investigations should provide arguments for the evaluation of functional aspects of this building in comparison to 'normal' houses. In order to understand transformations in the social organisation of Tripolye communities, we would like, on the other hand, evaluate such buildings in a diachronic perspective based on plans of geomagnetic surveys. Thereby, important aspects like frequency and positioning of within settlements and the size of the structures in relation to the use group size will be discussed.
During the spread of the Neolithic and subsequent consolidation, adaptation, and further expansio... more During the spread of the Neolithic and subsequent consolidation, adaptation, and further expansion of Neolithic and Chalcolithic communities into diverse landscapes of Anatolia, the Caucasus, Southeastern and Eastern Europe an extraordinary variety of practices related with death such as intramural depositions, kurgan graves, cemeteries, etc. can be observed. Some of these traditions, e.g. deposits in ditches or early burial mounds, create large distribution zones that usually extend far across the boundaries of 'archaeological cultures'. Many societies in this vast area are characterised by the absence of systematic burials and discoveries of 'practices' are rather an exception than a rule. Various explanations for this situation have been proposed which include the archaeologically invisible burial practices, or the use of other objects to build individual and collective identities. In addition, as recent discoveries suggest, this picture is partly the result of selective archaeological practice. As session research questions, we would like to consider
A striking category of finds from Neolithic and Copper Age sites in Mediterranean, South-East and... more A striking category of finds from Neolithic and Copper Age sites in Mediterranean, South-East and East Europe are the miniature items that embody certain aspects of prehistoric life in non-perishable materials. Depictions of humans, animals and means of transportation, architectural entities such as houses or stoves, adornments, clothing or tools, all of them are a valuable source of information for studying non-literate societies. Miniatures have been traditionally considered as art and religious objects. This approach gave birth to durable paradigms and narratives. On the other hand, miniatures are, above all, artifacts which come from archaeological contexts. Consequently, they could be and should be quantified, contextualized and investigated as material objects. Our session seeks to address empirical approaches to the Neolithic and Copper Age miniatures from the 7-4 millennia BC in the Mediterranean, South-East and Eastern Europe and focus on the following research questions: • What are the theoretical aspects of the concept of miniaturism? How can it be used in better understanding of technical, functional and symbolic features of small objects and ‘replicas’? • How do miniatures occur in the archaeological record? What are the circumstances of their discovery in various archaeological contexts of the Neo-Eneolithic? • What is the relation between miniatures and other archaeological finds? Are they ‘special’ finds? If so, how ‘special’ are they compared to the ‘usual’ mass finds? • How and what modern interdisciplinary methods can be applied to study these prehistoric objects? What is their potential for understanding the taphonomy, function and meaning of miniatures? • What are the social implications of the above-mentioned research questions? If there is a ‘society of miniatures’, to which extent can it mirror a ‘society of people’? Presentations on various approaches of Neo-Eneolithic miniatures as material things are welcome.
Our session will address new insights concerning the chronology of Copper Age sites between the B... more Our session will address new insights concerning the chronology of Copper Age sites between the Black Sea and Central Europe. This vast region is characterised by various environments and historical landscapes, which led to an equally large variety of lifestyles and historical archives. The diversity of archives and different research traditions resulted in different ways of constructing chronology such as stratigraphic sequences of the lower Danube tell sites, ornamental styles and local groups of the flat Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements, or grave types in the North-Western Pontic. These different research approaches have built the basis for the establishment of various historical narratives, which often became fixed points of view. For example, current spatio-temporal understanding of ‘Tripolye’ was built up mainly on data obtained before late 1980s and the resulting models are partly used to date. Intensive research and dating have changed the ‘local’ situation dramatically in recent years. But often results of this work are confronted with established ‘global’ narratives that reflect ‘regional research traditions’. The aim of the session is to explore how these new data increasingly allow us to rethink the typology-focused chronological constructions and historical reconstructions based on them. In particular, we would like to have a closer look on transformations that took place in this region, e.g.: • Establishment, transformation and disintegration of flourishing agricultural settlement systems in the Lower Danube (BPK V, KGK VI)) and the North-Eastern Carpathian region (Cucuteni-Tripolye), • Expansion of human groups into the forest-steppe zone between Prut and Dnieper, • Cucuteni-Tripolye population agglomerations with giant settlements, • The development of mobile pastoralism with dispersed settlement pattern in the steppe and forest steppe north-west of the Black Sea • Intensive interlinking of the Pontic-Baltic region through communication and exchange networks (Baden, Funnel beaker, Globular Amphora, Malice).
Dal Corso, M., Pashkevych, G., Filipović, D., Liu, X., Motuzaite Matuzeviciute, G., Stobbe, A., S... more Dal Corso, M., Pashkevych, G., Filipović, D., Liu, X., Motuzaite Matuzeviciute, G., Stobbe, A., Shatilo, L., Videiko, M., Kirleis, W.
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Papers by Mila Shatilo
Tripolye communities in the forest steppe zone between Dniester and Dnieper. Using a quantitative approach, we compare regional settlement
trajectories of the 5th and 4th millennium BCE, which were associated with the foundation and later disintegration of large communities. The Chalcolithic
settlement history of the study region proves to be a multi-layered, regionally divergent process. This included 1) in several regions the
synchronous onset of large communities, 2) relatively early beginnings of disintegration in some regions, 3) the continued population aggregation
in very large mega-settlements in the Sinyukha River catchment, and 4) the spatially differentiated disintegration of large communities. According
to our interpretation, this development can be understood as the result of the establishment of a densely populated settlement system at the end
of the 5th millennium. Later, this system could be maintained and further developed only in a small innovative region, while the population density
in other regions was declining. Along with the disintegration and finally the collapse of this complex socio-cultural system, the colonisation of
new regions began.
In the East European region between Prut and Dnieper, proto-urban mega-sites developed ca. 4100−3600 BCE with population agglomerations of around 10000 inhabitants per site. An outline of complexity categories, based on P. Turchin et al. (2018), illustrates that "computational abilities" are first developed to make the shift from dispersed to agglomerated settlement patterns. The development of an internal decision-making system for a polity that organizes communication via public buildings on different levels, together with a site-specific track system, may be responsible for this shift (or made it possible). However, after generations, this communication pattern was not developed into further collective communication abilities (e. g., into a writing system), while at the same time a tendency toward centralizing decision processes probably destroyed the communication flow. This ultimately led to the collapse of Tripolye mega-sites.
and decline of giant-settlements with thousands of houses and very specific spatial layouts, the challenge
need to be mastered to perform representative archaeological and scientific sampling with reasonable efforts.
This is only possible through the combination of non-destructive survey techniques, targeted archaeological
excavations and the application of modern scientific methods. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the
social, ecological, demographic and economic dimensions of such settlements and underlying transformations of human societies also in their regional variability, the consideration of different spatial investigation
levels is required. In the first phases of the project, high-resolution magnetic surveys were applied to different
large Tripolye settlements and exemplary investigations were carried out at the local scale of the Maidanetske
settlement. At the current stage of the project, the studies focus more on the meso-and macro-regional level.
An exceptional phenomenon of European Prehistory is the concept of well-planned mega-sites of Late Tripolye communities at the borderland between the North-European forest zone and North-Pontic Grass steppe ca. 4100–3700 BCE. Even though population agglomerations of about 10.000–15.000 inhabitants within singular sites are evident, archaeological indicators of social stratification are difficult to detect. Is it possible to reconstruct political institutions of societies without rule that integrated such huge settlements into a balanced social constitution?
and objects with a system of holes) dating to early agricultural period (Neolithic and Chalcolithic)
from the territory of South-Eastern Europe could have been used as equipment for playing ancient
“games” or divination practices. The analysis led to several conclusions: 1) the objects from South-
Eastern Europe are similar in shape to the artifacts that most researchers consider game equipment
(Ancient World, ethnography); 2) these objects appear in agricultural societies, where signicant
changes in the outlook and self-consciousness of the population could be observed; 3) astragalus,
tokens and boards with holes appear in the early Neolithic in the Near East and in the SEE region,
they could have reached South-Eastern Europe during the Neolithic transition period; 4) the name
“games” for such items can only be used conventionally.
Books by Mila Shatilo
Abstracts by Mila Shatilo
Talks by Mila Shatilo
Sessions by Mila Shatilo
Tripolye communities in the forest steppe zone between Dniester and Dnieper. Using a quantitative approach, we compare regional settlement
trajectories of the 5th and 4th millennium BCE, which were associated with the foundation and later disintegration of large communities. The Chalcolithic
settlement history of the study region proves to be a multi-layered, regionally divergent process. This included 1) in several regions the
synchronous onset of large communities, 2) relatively early beginnings of disintegration in some regions, 3) the continued population aggregation
in very large mega-settlements in the Sinyukha River catchment, and 4) the spatially differentiated disintegration of large communities. According
to our interpretation, this development can be understood as the result of the establishment of a densely populated settlement system at the end
of the 5th millennium. Later, this system could be maintained and further developed only in a small innovative region, while the population density
in other regions was declining. Along with the disintegration and finally the collapse of this complex socio-cultural system, the colonisation of
new regions began.
In the East European region between Prut and Dnieper, proto-urban mega-sites developed ca. 4100−3600 BCE with population agglomerations of around 10000 inhabitants per site. An outline of complexity categories, based on P. Turchin et al. (2018), illustrates that "computational abilities" are first developed to make the shift from dispersed to agglomerated settlement patterns. The development of an internal decision-making system for a polity that organizes communication via public buildings on different levels, together with a site-specific track system, may be responsible for this shift (or made it possible). However, after generations, this communication pattern was not developed into further collective communication abilities (e. g., into a writing system), while at the same time a tendency toward centralizing decision processes probably destroyed the communication flow. This ultimately led to the collapse of Tripolye mega-sites.
and decline of giant-settlements with thousands of houses and very specific spatial layouts, the challenge
need to be mastered to perform representative archaeological and scientific sampling with reasonable efforts.
This is only possible through the combination of non-destructive survey techniques, targeted archaeological
excavations and the application of modern scientific methods. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the
social, ecological, demographic and economic dimensions of such settlements and underlying transformations of human societies also in their regional variability, the consideration of different spatial investigation
levels is required. In the first phases of the project, high-resolution magnetic surveys were applied to different
large Tripolye settlements and exemplary investigations were carried out at the local scale of the Maidanetske
settlement. At the current stage of the project, the studies focus more on the meso-and macro-regional level.
An exceptional phenomenon of European Prehistory is the concept of well-planned mega-sites of Late Tripolye communities at the borderland between the North-European forest zone and North-Pontic Grass steppe ca. 4100–3700 BCE. Even though population agglomerations of about 10.000–15.000 inhabitants within singular sites are evident, archaeological indicators of social stratification are difficult to detect. Is it possible to reconstruct political institutions of societies without rule that integrated such huge settlements into a balanced social constitution?
and objects with a system of holes) dating to early agricultural period (Neolithic and Chalcolithic)
from the territory of South-Eastern Europe could have been used as equipment for playing ancient
“games” or divination practices. The analysis led to several conclusions: 1) the objects from South-
Eastern Europe are similar in shape to the artifacts that most researchers consider game equipment
(Ancient World, ethnography); 2) these objects appear in agricultural societies, where signicant
changes in the outlook and self-consciousness of the population could be observed; 3) astragalus,
tokens and boards with holes appear in the early Neolithic in the Near East and in the SEE region,
they could have reached South-Eastern Europe during the Neolithic transition period; 4) the name
“games” for such items can only be used conventionally.
Miniatures have been traditionally considered as art and religious objects. This approach gave birth to durable paradigms and narratives. On the other hand, miniatures are, above all, artifacts which come from archaeological contexts. Consequently, they could be and should be quantified, contextualized and investigated as material objects.
Our session seeks to address empirical approaches to the Neolithic and Copper Age miniatures from the 7-4 millennia BC in the Mediterranean, South-East and Eastern Europe and focus on the following research questions:
• What are the theoretical aspects of the concept of miniaturism? How can it be used in better understanding of technical, functional and symbolic features of small objects and ‘replicas’?
• How do miniatures occur in the archaeological record? What are the circumstances of their discovery in various archaeological contexts of the Neo-Eneolithic?
• What is the relation between miniatures and other archaeological finds? Are they ‘special’ finds? If so, how ‘special’ are they compared to the ‘usual’ mass finds?
• How and what modern interdisciplinary methods can be applied to study these prehistoric objects? What is their potential for understanding the taphonomy, function and meaning of miniatures?
• What are the social implications of the above-mentioned research questions? If there is a ‘society of miniatures’, to which extent can it mirror a ‘society of people’?
Presentations on various approaches of Neo-Eneolithic miniatures as material things are welcome.
The aim of the session is to explore how these new data increasingly allow us to rethink the typology-focused chronological constructions and historical reconstructions based on them. In particular, we would like to have a closer look on transformations that took place in this region, e.g.:
• Establishment, transformation and disintegration of flourishing agricultural settlement systems in the Lower Danube (BPK V, KGK VI)) and the North-Eastern Carpathian region (Cucuteni-Tripolye),
• Expansion of human groups into the forest-steppe zone between Prut and Dnieper,
• Cucuteni-Tripolye population agglomerations with giant settlements,
• The development of mobile pastoralism with dispersed settlement pattern in the steppe and forest steppe north-west of the Black Sea
• Intensive interlinking of the Pontic-Baltic region through communication and exchange networks (Baden, Funnel beaker, Globular Amphora, Malice).