What is Chernyakhov culture? Culture Chernyakhovskaya: origin and description

Culture Chernyakhovskaya - one of the largest archaeological periods in the early history of the Slavs. It occupied quite a large area in the territories of modern Ukraine, Romania, Moldova and Russia. Geographically located mainly in forest-steppe, forest, less often - in the steppe zones.

general characteristics

The study of this culture is of great importance for understanding the history, the ethnogenesis of the Proto-Slavs. During the period under review, active migratory processes took place, peoples mixed with each other, which sometimes makes it very difficult to identify certain ethnic components in the composition of cultures. Nevertheless, most experts agree that the formation of the ancient Slavs took place in close contact with the migration of other tribes, first of all it is ready. In science, the view prevails that it is the movement of the latter, which in the 1-3th centuries AD, E. Moved to the regions of the Roman provinces, the Northern Black Sea Coast, played a special role. By the same time, some Slavic-type cultures have been formed, such as, for example, Pshevorskaya, Kiev and others. Many scholars believe that the Slavs stood out among the Ants tribe, as there are reports in ancient sources. It is in this context that the Chernyakhov period in the history of the Slavic settlement should be considered.

Study

This culture received its name after the village of Chernyakhov (Kiev region), which was investigated in the early 20th century by the scientist Korotinsky. Most experts are inclined to the fact that it was ethnic in its ethnic composition was multinational. It is also believed that the Zarubinets and Chernyakhov cultures are closely related, since the latter has replaced the first, which is considered Slavic (although in foreign historiography there is a view that it was German in its national composition). The changing culture was studied by such prominent scientists as Rybakov and Sedov.

Origin

Culture Chernyakhovskaya emerged as a result of migration processes that took place on the territory of Eastern European countries. Many historians associate it with the resettlement of Goths, who, having occupied Ukrainian territory, mixed with the local population. At this time the state of Oyum arose. Its borders coincide with this political entity. Due to complex migration flows, the Chernyakhovskaya culture was polyethnic, including Slavs-Antes, Germans, Scythians, Sarmatians. Historian Rybakov believed that it was ancient Slavic, but this opinion in science is disputed.

Economy

Culture Chernyakhovskaya covers the period of time from II to IV century. N. E. It was quite developed according to its economic level. The basis of the economy was farming. Archaeologists have found the remains of plows, iron tips, hoes, which were used in agriculture. Cattle breeding prevailed, although the inhabitants bred pigs and horses. Pits were used for storage, which were found in a number of settlements. Chernyakhovskaya culture is characterized by a high level of craft development. The population skillfully handle metal, bones, and wood. Decorations from non-ferrous metal, remnants of tools made of animal bones have been preserved.

In some parking lots, metallurgical mines were found. Residents, apparently, were familiar with various methods of iron processing (hardening) and steel production. However, a lot of preserved bronze items. There is a point of view that some processing techniques were borrowed from the Roman provinces, as well as from the Central European region.

Dwellings

Chernyakhovskaya culture spread mainly in forest zones, so its dwellings were large in size and, as a rule, rectangular. Fortified fortifications are few, but still some of them were preserved in the southern area (Gorodok, Aleksandrovka). Their walls reach twelve meters in height, there are earthen ramparts and fortifications. They were located on the hills, while ordinary houses - along the tributaries of small rivers.

The dwellings were divided into two parts: residential and economic. In the center was a hearth. In some houses, the walls were made "dry", i.e. without a special binder solution. These structures, as a rule, are pillars, the frame was made of wattle and coated with clay. The dwellings were located "nests" along floodplains of rivers. Inside, they had one or two cameras.

Monuments

Chernyakhovskaya archaeological culture has preserved a number of interesting monuments. First of all, we are talking about the famous Zmiyev (Troyan) shafts, which are located to the south of Kiev along the banks of the Dnieper. This colossal structure was defensive in its purpose. It is a chain of land embankments and ditches, stretching for a long distance (individual structures have a length of one to one hundred and fifty kilometers).

Also of special interest are the memorials of Chernyakhiv culture of Vinnytsia region. Here was discovered a unique rock carvings, over the value of which scientists are still arguing. It depicts a deciduous tree, on one of whose branches a cock is sitting, and in front of it is a man behind which a deer is located. In addition, the composition has a frame in the space between the horns. Another monument in the same area is the Ilyinetsky quarry for the extraction of volcanic tuff for the manufacture of millstones. This indicates a high level of development of metallurgy in this region.

Burial places

The clothing complex of the Chernyakhov culture can be traced not only for dwellings, but also for burials. However, as a rule, they are not found in burials a little, but nevertheless some artifacts allow to recreate the appearance of this period. In burial pits, sometimes they dig up household and household items. Sometimes there are vessels and parts for homework, for example, a spindle. Find and decorating. Among them, for example, fibula.

Chernyakhovskaya culture is characterized by two methods of burial: a corpse and cremation. In the first case, regular rectangular wells were used, in the second case the remains were placed in vessels: jugs, pots and even bowls. In the graves there are also remnants of armaments: for example, arrowheads, spears, swords bent for ritual purposes. There are both single and binary burials.

Houseware

The settlement of the Chernyakhov culture, as a rule, was economic in its purpose and functions. Therefore, very often here they find the products necessary for agriculture and metallurgy. The inhabitants knew the potter's wheel, they made utensils of the most diverse form. Also weaving was highly developed, archeologists periodically find traces of various fabrics on objects of everyday use and home life.

Dishes

Separately, we should say about clay vessels, since it is for this particular complex that archaeologists most often distinguish between cultures. The population of the period under review produced a variety of everyday objects, but the finds of vessels decorated with either horizontal lines or additional nalepnymi rollers and grooves are especially well known. Among the findings, the Black Sea amphoras are remarkable, as well as red-clay and red-lacquered ware, created and brought from the workshops of the Roman provinces. Products from coarse clay are found, as a rule, in economic buildings.

Other artifacts

The metal of the Chernyakhov culture is mostly iron. The population skillfully processed ore, obviously, not without the influence of Roman technology. Nevertheless, the finds of weapons are not so many: they are mainly arrowheads, spears, parts of swords.

Separately it is necessary to say about treasure. Numerous coins of Roman coinage are found on the territory of culture: bronze to the west of the Dniester, to the east - silver coins. And the latter found quite a lot in the treasures, but experts say that this money was used for international trade, while for local needs, natural exchange was used. Coins of the Bosporan coinage are less common.

Clothes complex

Among the artifacts there is a large number of ornaments: for example, fibula, beads, buckles, combs are found in large numbers. Of household items there are knives, axes, spurs. Sometimes they find military items, but there are not many of them. Of particular interest are swords, daggers, and spears. Separately here it is necessary to say about the original find - the image of the calendar on the vessel. It has a round shape, and under each month - the corresponding figure.

Vessels

Thus, Chernyakhiv culture, whose photos are represented in this article, was distinguished by a rather high level of development in the economic and economic spheres. Separately, we should say about the vessels of ritual purpose: some of them found images of calendars. In addition, there are finds of glassware. The technique of its manufacture was mastered by the Romans in the beginning of our era and passed to the population of the culture in question. Often find vessels of an ovoid shape of a yellowish or greenish color.

Ethnography

Chernyakhovskaya culture, as already mentioned above, was multinational in its ethnic composition. This is due to the migration flows that have occurred on the European continent at the time being. In this regard, historians distinguish several ethnographic components in its composition: Germanic, Sarmatian-Scythian, Slavic. The first is represented by binary burials, large houses and buildings, as well as special ceramics of the Velbars type. These signs are typical for almost the entire range of the distribution of this culture.

The second ethnographic type is represented by large stone buildings, multi-chamber houses, a special funeral ritual, when meat was put into the grave with a knife stuck in it, pieces of chalk or paint. Basically, the burial was carried out in pits or catacombs. Also for this range is a special form of pottery - pots with an upwardly extending neck. This group of finds is mainly concentrated in the area of the Northern Black Sea Coast, where these peoples lived.

Finally, the Slavic group of artifacts is represented by small square semi-dugouts with a large number of economic pits. This territory is characterized by the absence of large burial grounds, as well as the presence of mostly molded pots. The main place of distribution is the Dniester region, where other Slavic cultures also developed: Kiev, Pshevorsk. OM Prikhodnyuk singled out a separate Penkovsky as well as a Slavic culture. Chernyakhov culture was close to them, although the scientist claimed that he had not had a decisive influence on the development of the Slavic elements, since it was too multi-ethnic.

Problems of chronology

In connection with the above feature in science, there are problems of dating and chronology of this culture. This is due to the fact that the finds do not always allow reliably attributing its artifacts to this or that century. In addition, a lot of imported products are found in this area, primarily of Roman origin, under the influence of which it developed. Therefore, the most appropriate method is dating by burial.

Characteristics

So, this culture is characterized by a variety of findings, which say that several different elements took part in its formation. Of particular importance is the fact that she was in the zone of Roman influence. Its provincialism undoubtedly contributed to a high level of cultural development and, in turn, stimulated the emergence of more advanced production technologies in the region. Some experts also note the Dacian influence on this territory.

Correlation with other cultures

Chernyakhov period was an important stage in the development of the ancient Slavs. However, at that time they were in very close contact with other ethnic groups, so this culture allows only to partially reconstruct the Slavic antiquities. But it was under the influence and, in turn, itself had an impact on other cultures in which the Slavic element was more pronounced: Pshevorskaya, Kolochinskaya, Kiev.

Completion

The decline of culture was due to another migration wave that shook the European continent. This time there was a migration of the warlike nomadic tribe of the Huns. This led to the outflow of a large part of the population to the west, as there are written sources. At the same time in the forest-steppe and steppe zones there were some groups of the population that were subordinated to the Huns. But to the north-east in the period preceding the Chernyakhov culture, and then coinciding with it in time, there continued to exist another Slavic culture - the Kiev one. Her tracks are well preserved. Archaeologists find burial grounds, dwellings, household items and even treasures.

Value

Chernyakhovsky period of development is important in that this is one of the first stages in the history of the early Slavs. It covers a rather large territorial space, including a number of regions of our country: Belgorod and Kursk. At the same time, he has access to the history of other peoples of the time under consideration: the Germans, the Celts of the Scythians and others. In addition, this period has clear signs of late Roman, Black Sea influences, which allows us to study the late stages of development of these regions. Therefore, the culture described in the article was actively studied before the revolution, in the Soviet era, and its analysis continues in our days. Chernyakhovsky House of Culture, for example, periodically conducts activities to preserve traditional folk cultural traditions, which should maintain interest in antiquity.