The last phase of
the Tripolye Culture in
Introduction: The Tripolye Culture (also know as Cucuteni in
The Tripolye Culture is best known for its exquisite multicolour ceramic (Figs. 1, 2), anthropomorphic clay figurines (Figs. 3, 4) and miniature models of houses (Fig. 5), but, one of the most intriguing mysteries of this culture are the so-called giant settlements in Ukraine. These agglomerates of houses (of oval shape) cover a surface that varies from 60 to 350 hectares. The largest Tripolye settlement is that of Talianki (350ha) (Fig. 6ab), located in the Cherkassi District between the rivers Juzhny Bug and Dniper. It is indeed in this area (Uman and Talnek regions) that the majority of giant settlements are situated, and the most important ones (11 villages) are part of the recently formed Tripolye Reservation. The importance of this reservation does not only lie in the presence of these settlements, but also in its geographical location. In fact, because of its exclusively fertile soil and the presence of fairly large woodlands, it offered an ideal environment for agriculture, cattle-breeding and livestock activity. The favourable environmental conditions of this region facilitated the development of these extremely large settlements, especially between ca. 3900 and 3,300 cal BC (late BII to late CI – Passek periodisation).
One of most recurrent questions within the Tripolye Culture research scholars is the reason why these enormous settlements underwent an exemplary development in the above-mentioned period first, and then they started to decline inexorably, until they disappeared towards the end of the 4th millennium cal BC.
This project, which is carried out
in collaboration with the
Research objectives: The project has the following
objectives: 1) to find out the reason of the Tripolye Culture decline at the
very beginning of the 3rd millennium cal BC; 2) was there any
cultural influence from outside that triggered the disappearance?; 3) what
happened to the large Tripolye population?; 4) did the 3rd millennium
cal BC Westward migrations (in Ukraine) really happen? The project is
furthermore of vital importance to clarify strategic aspects of agricultural
activity (similarities or/and differences) between Eastern and Western regions
of
Strategy: The first phase of the project
includes two crucial field seasons: 2007 and 2008. In order to find plausible
answers the above-listed objectives, it is important to collect as many
environmental data as possible. We will therefore proceed as follows: various
small test-excavations will be carried out, throughout the next two years, in
all of the 11 giant settlements (namely: Talainki; Dobrovoda; Kasenovka; Apolonka; Maidanietzke; Peshane; Veselly-Kut; Onopriifka; Vilshivetz; Chicherkosiuka and Glibochiok) of
the Tripolye Reservation. Stratigraphic soil samples
as well as thin-sections will be obtained from each site and, through palynological, osteological and
geological analyses, a clear picture of the Chalcolithic
environmental and climatic conditions will be drawn. At the same time,
comparative analyses (literature reviews and laboratory work) of local as well
as external (Northern Steppes, Eastern and central
Fig. 1 Tripolye vase found at
Fig. 2 Tripolye vase
found at
Fig.
3 Tripolye anthropomorphic figurine found at
Fig. 4 Tripolye anthropomorphic figurine found at Talianki, Ukraine
Fig. 5 Tripolye miniature clay model of a house found at Peshane, Ukraine
Fig.
6 A) Plan of the Talianki settlement,
© Photographs: Dr. A.G. Korvin-Piotrovski