Некоторые итоги и проблемы изучения строительного дела на сабатиновских поселениях Северо-Западного Причерноморья
Some Research Results and Problems in the Study of Construction Works on Sabatinovka Settlements in North-Western Black Sea Region

Summary/Abstract: The past two decades, and especially the last one, saw a substantial progress in the study of construction works on Sabatinovka settlements in the north-west Black Sea region. Still many studies lack a clear system of description and classification of features and use irregular terminology. Many features, especially in the steppe Boug river region are not published. This paper offers a classification and description of each “construction cell” (“architectural unit”) by a number of aspects, beginning with components of wall basements, with a critical analysis of my colleagues’ opinions and of my earlier works dedicated to one or another aspect of these problems. The walls are primarily characterised following the principles proposed by S.D. Kryzhitskii for ancient masonry, yet taking into account its peculiarities typical of Sabatinovka epoch. The paper points out the difficulties in determining how much deepened are the features characterised by form, area, function, etc. Complexes of features are considered, mainly their lay-out. Architectural blocks of some Sabatinovka settlements in the studied region are compared. Characteristics of the settlement lay-outs is provided with some attention paid to linear concentrations of the latter. While analysing concepts proposed by the colleagues, attempts of sociological reconstructions are undertaken based on analysis of the features. It seems that the settlement Voronovka II was inhabited by extended and small nuclear families with the former prevailing. There probably existed patronimy. The supposed hierarchy of settlements along with the other circumstances allows comparing the Sabatinovka culture with the most archaic stage of the early complex societies of agricultural and stock-raising version of the non-urban way of development. A special focus is on the critics of distinction of the Sabatinovka “proto-towns” etc. The Sabatinovka settlements did not advance in their evolution farther than the stage of quasi-towns.

• Details
• Contents