The epigraphic culture of the Armenian Highlands is noteworthy for its distinctive manifestations, among which the structure of the text stands out with a number of specific features. The phenomenon becomes especially intriguing when studied diachronically, through a comparison of pre-Christian and Christian written heritage. A comprehensive study of stable epigraphic formulae – examined here for the first time on the basis of the cuneiform inscriptions of the Kingdom of Van, the Aramaic inscriptions of Classical Armenia, and Armenian medieval epigraphic inscriptions – reveals that the tradition of composing inscriptions in the Armenian Highlands follows a unified canonical system. Within this system, the introductory, occasion-event, purpose-expectation, and concluding (curse-blessing) formulae of the text are clearly distinguished.
In this scientific work, national samples of local clothes as the wares of weaving trades of the medieval period of the city of Ganja were studied as examples of intercultural significance of the Medieval period. Also, the main characteristic features of these handicrafts were identified as an indicator of the centuries-old multicultural values of the Azerbaijani people. Based on the study of individual historical written sources, material products, the above examples of folk crafts are involved in the study as examples of the multicultural spiritual heritage of both the city of Ganja and the entire Caucasus region as the integral part of the Medieval culture space. Various examples of local clothing of Ganja and the entire Western region of Azerbaijan are studied in the form of samples of both material and spiritual heritage of the medieval era for the traditional culture. Also, in article have been considered the number, structure and characteristics of its many historical samples, which are evidence of the cultural heritage of Ganja, along with the immovable archtefacts found in areas of city, handicrafts belonging to different stages were studied. Based on various local and international archaeological and ethnographic expeditions and excavations conducted by local and foreign researchers and archaeologists in the territory of city over the past two centuries, the historical significance of traditional weaving samples of Ganja for the Medieval period were studied with reference to scientific data.
In July 2024, the National Archaeological Agency carried out a rescue excavation at Dubna, Soroca District, in a site previously unknown to specialists and attributed to the Sântana de Mureș-Černjachov culture. The intervention was initiated after a local resident reported the presence of human bones and archaeological fragments on the surface, brought to light by deep ploughing. At the site, numerous artefacts were identified, including ceramic fragments, bronze and iron objects, a spindle whorl, a bronze ring, pieces of fired clay, animal bones, and two human skeletons. These belong both to a settlement from the period of the Gothic migrations and to a double inhumation burial that had been entirely destroyed by agricultural work. A 2x2 m test trench confirmed the presence of a funerary complex through the discovery of a bone comb and other artefacts. Based on the typology of the comb, the burial can be dated to the second half of the 4th century AD, while the settlement appears to be earlier, likely from the first half of the same century or even from the end of the previous one.
The article examines ceramic vessels discovered at a burial ground dating to the second half of the 2nd century AD at Kariv-I, located in the Sheptytskyi District of Lviv Region in Western Ukraine. The site was accidentally discovered in 2017, and during subsequent archaeological investigations, twelve cremation burials were uncovered. Among the burial inventory, ceramics form a significant group of finds, comprising approximately 30 items. These include both imported wares (fragments of Roman amphorae, red- and black-glazed pottery) and locally produced items (pots, bowls). The site was left by a population that migrated to the Western Bug region from the Middle Danube area during the Marcomannic Wars.
The present study offers a historiographical analysis of research dedicated to the early Middle Ages (6th-13th centuries) in the Prut-Dniester region. The Soviet regime imposed the development of early medieval archaeology in the Moldavian SSR. This doctrinal framework generated distorted interpretations, constructed within a Slavo-centric paradigm that consistently minimised the contributions of the Romanised autochthonous population and reduced the region's ethnocultural diversity. The study examines the evolution of archaeological research by identifying its main stages, institutional control mechanisms, methodological tensions, and the strategies through which history was rewritten for ideological purposes. It analyses both the official lines of interpretation and the critical responses of scholars who were marginalised for their autonomous positions. Through the reassessment of archival documents, Soviet-period publications, and contributions that emerged after 1991, the study reconstructs the dynamics of archaeological research of the Prut-Dniester region during the Soviet period. Following the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Moldova, the release of the academic environment from ideological pressure enabled the restoration of an independent, interdisciplinary and de-ideologised interpretative framework. The paper reflects this effort of epistemological reconstruction, offering a coherent interpretative model aligned with contemporary academic standards.
The article deals with an ancient ceramic specimen - a fragment of an incense-burner body discovered during ar-chaeological excavations at the Vilashchai settlement (Yardimly district, Azerbaijan Republic) in July 2025. The Vilashchai settlement mainly dates back to the Early Iron Age, although archaeological materials from the Late Bronze Age were also found there. The fragment of the incense-burner body in question was discovered in square 1, at a depth of approximately 50 cm. Preserved dimensions: length: 7-7.4 cm; height: 4-4.5 cm; diameter of the holes: 0.7-0.8 cm. The artifact is brown in color, well-fired, and has traces of soot inside. The clay is pure and the pottery was handmade. Before firing, circular holes were made with a metal or bone awl. This type of incense-burner was widespread in the South Caspian region - in archaeological sites in northeastern Iran (Tepe Hissar, Shah Tepe, Tureng Tepe, Gohar Tappe and Tappe Narges) and one example was found in the Madau-depe settlement in southwestern Turkmenistan. These vessels were widespread from the late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. The Vilashchai incense burner fragment bears similarities to artifacts found at Gohar Tappe and Shah Tepe. The Vilashchai artifact was likely imported from northeastern Iran. Given the paucity of archaeological sites from this period in the region, it is possible that similar objects exist in southeast of Azerbaijan, and that vessels of this type can be discovered in the future.
This article presents the results of partial research on a dwelling identified within the fortified settlement of Ibăneşti (Botoşani County, Romania). The importance of the dwelling stems from the fact that it is the first habitat structure identified on the territory of this site. In terms of shape and inventory, this dwelling finds analogies in other settlements dating from the beginning of the second Iron Age. In addition, the authors highlight the most important moments in the history of research on the settlement at Ibăneşti, providing some new details about the shape and components of the defensive system.
The Dnieper trade route in the 9th-13th centuries was a meeting place for different peoples and their cultures. A prominent place among them was occupied by varangians, people from Scandinavia. It is now clear that the process of collecting information about finds related to this era is far from complete. The publication offers the results of a similar study of 14 products made of non-ferrous metals, including fragmented ones. They were selected from the Kyiv Regional Archaeological Museum in Trypillya. The dating of most of the analyzed products falls on the 10th century, the period of the formation of the state with its center in Kyiv. The concentration of finds around the Dnieper route confirms the information of chronicles and other sources about trade activity and its participants in the region during this period. The samples contains elements of both men's and women's costumes, which stood out noticeably against the background of local traditions. These things have analogues both in Scandinavia and on the Baltic Sea coast. The presence of natural impurities of As and Sb, which distinguishes these samples from the metal used in northern Rus, is interesting. The main result is obtaining information to supplement the database on the chemical composition of products from the Rus period.
The article examines the current state of historiography on the study of ancient numismatics in the Ukrainian lands during the 6th - 1st centuries BC, outlining its main directions, achievements, challenges, and prospects for further development. It has been established that, despite a significant increase in the number of scholarly works in recent decades, historiographical studies in this field remain limited, which underscores the need for their synthesis and reinterpretation. The diversity, methodological innovation, and thematic breadth of current research are highlighted. Four key areas are identified: the application of digital technologies and interdisciplinary approaches; the study of the coinage of the Greek colonies in the Northern Black Sea region, including analyses of technology, iconography, and cultural-political influences; the investigation of single finds and hoards in order to refine our understanding of monetary circulation; and the exploration of museum and private collections for cataloguing and systematization purposes. The scholarly novelty of the article lies in the absence of specialized historiographical works on this topic, as well as in the fact that, for the first time, the research legacy of contemporary - primarily Ukrainian - scholars has been systematized and synthesize
According to the Pisanie (stoneinscription) of 1821, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at the Căpriana Monastery was "rebuilt" by the voivodes Petru and Ștefan in 1542, and in 1819-1820 it was repaired by Metropolitan Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni. Archaeological research confirms the inscriptions in the Pisanie, while providing new data on the history of the church. During the archaeological excavations, 109 stratigraphic profiles were documented, based on which 109 cultural deposits were delimited. Following the correlation of these data, 12 stages in the evolution of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary were highlighted: the prehistoric stage (layer no. 109), the stage of the formation of the monastic space (cca. 1490) (layer no. 108, the stage of the construction of Church I (1491-1496) (layers no. 89-107), the stage of the demolition of Church I (cca. 1540) (Layer no. 88), stage I of Church II (1541 - cca. 1560) (layers no. 74-87), stage II of Church II (cca. 1560 - cca. 1600) (layers no. 68-73), stage III of Church II (cca. 1600 - cca. 1620) (layers no. 57-67), stage IV of Church II (cca. 1620 - cca. 1640) (layers no. 49-56), stage V of Church II (cca. 1640 - cca. 1700) (no. 39-48), stage VI of Church II (cca. 1700 - cca. 1818) (no. 21-38), stage VII of Church II (1819-1820) (no. 6-20), stage VIII of Church II (1821-2003) (layers no. 1-5
By integrating analyses of material culture with available radiocarbon data, the study seeks to clarify the temporal positioning of this group in relation to neighboring Eneolithic and/or Early Bronze Age communities. Particular attention is paid to the relationships between Horodiștea-Gordinești and contemporaneous cultural entities and related groups from the Carpathian Basin, Volynia and Pontic regions. The analysis highlights both shared features and regional specificities, reflecting complex processes of interaction, adaptation, and cultural transformation at the end of the 4th millennium BC. The paper also addresses the persistent terminological ambiguities surrounding the Late Eneolithic and the transition rom Eneolithic to Early Bronze Age, emphasizing how differing chronological frameworks have influenced interpretations of synchronism and cultural affiliation. Ultimately, the reflection proposes that the Horodiștea-Gordinești group represents a dynamic component of a wider network of Late Eneolithic communities, characterized by both continuity and innovation. Its synchronisms with other regional groups illustrate broader patterns of socio-economic change and cultural reorganization in Southeast Europe on the beginning of the Bronze Age.
The problem of the emergence of early production traditions in the South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, located on the periphery of the ancient Near Eastern cultures, is one of the main research areas of archaeologists. Excavations of monuments related to agricultural cultures of the Neolithic period in the territory of Azerbaijan began as early as the 1950s. In the western region of Azerbaijan, in the middle basin of the Kura River, archaeological excavations have been carried out at about 15 Neolithic settlements to date. All these monuments, taking into account common features, were united under the name of the Shomutepe culture, named after the first extensively excavated settlement in Agstafa district in the 1960s. The Chagritepe settlement presented in this article also belongs to this culture. The constructions discovered at the monument during excavations have a circular, rarely oval plan. The labor tools were made of various types of stone, obsidian, flint, and bone. These include grinderss, sickle teeth, curry-combs, bone punchers, and other tools. People who led a sedentary life in Chagritepe were engaged in cattle-breeding. A grave was discovered at the settlement during the excavation.
Trepol on the Dnieper, located between Kyiv and Vytachyov, is mentioned in the chronicles since the 11th century. At that time, Trepol was the largest city on the Dnieper trade route between Kyiv and Pereyaslav. Near Trepol there was a crossing over the Dnieper and a junction of important roads. We owe many ideas about the city in the chronicles to this circumstance. However, systematic archaeological research of this city was not carried out. Our goal is to fill this gap by collecting available information about its topography and archeology. The ancient city is located on the territory of the modern village of Trypillia, Obukhiv district, Kyiv region. Remains of buildings, fragments of ceramics, metal and other products that can be dated to the 10th-13th centuries have been found here. During its heyday in the 11th-13th centuries, the city occupied an area of 25 to 29 hectares, half of which had powerful fortifications in two parts. A separate small fortification could have served as a princely residence. Finds of Byzantine amphorae, pyrophyllite spinning wheels, and metal products indicate the presence of intensive trade here between the 11th
The archaeological and numismatic finds highlight to a considerable extent the level of development of the Romanian medieval communities of the end of the 1st millennium - the beginning of the 2nd millennium. Of special importance for assessing the economic condition of the region are hoards of tools and weapons, as well as monetary or mixed hoards. Their composition offers special possibilities for the reconstruction of the socio-economic, political and cultural realities of the period when they were hidden. One of the features of the European economy of the 9th-11th centuries was the use of money made from precious metals as a means of exchange. Coins, ingots, collars or silver jewelry served as money. The main factor was the weight of the objects, which was tested on small scales. This is confirmed by the discovery of segmented artefacts in the so-called cut silver hoards (silver objects divided into pieces of a certain weight) (Hacksilver). An economic system in which the function of money as an equivalent in trade transactions was performed by coins, ingots, collars, and jewelry made of precious metals, which were weighed during the exchange process, researchers call a money-weight economy (Gewichtsgeldwirtschaft). Archaeological sources allow us to trace the transition of Romanian communities from a natural economy of the autarkic household to the monetary economy of commodity-money relations, when silver acted as a medium of exchange. To the south and east of the Carpathians, artefacts related to commodity-money exchange (Islamic and/or Byzantine coins, ingots, silver collars, some of which were cut into pieces, weights and scales) were discovered in settlements, in hoards or as isolated finds at the sites of Bucov, Slon, Alcedar, Cunicea, Cureșnița, Echimăuți.
The aim of this paper is to summarize and consolidate information on private cult practices based on sources found in the residential houses of the ancient city of Tyras. Over years of investigation, several rooms from different houses dating to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD have been excavated. Some of these rooms may have served as home shrines - spaces where families performed religious rituals and made offerings to the gods. Evidence for this includes the discovery of objects associated with cult practices, such as sculptures of deities, votive reliefs, terracotta figurines, ritual vessels, and lamps. In one case, a herm of Dionysus, a votive relief depicting seated goddesses, and a statue of an unidentified male deity were found in the northeastern corner of a room, alongside inscribed cups likely used for ritual purposes. In another house, two votive slabs with relief depictions of the Thracian Horseman were discovered, presumably installed in a niche in the southeastern corner of the room. Beyond images of deities, other religious objects found throughout the residential areas of Tyras further attest to the practice of domestic cults. Interpreting these finds is one of the key objectives of this research.
This article presents the results of an archaeological investigation of Bronze Age burial mounds 11 and 12, which were excavated on Husykova Hill, the highest point of the Tovtry mountain ridge in the Zbruch River region. Each of the examined mounds contained several burials. One of them was located in a natural deepening, while the other burials were made in pits. It is recorded that the walls of the graves were covered with stone slabs. The bodies were buried in a flexed position on the side, with diverse orientations. A separate burial of a skull was also discovered during excavations. The accompanying burial goods were not numerous: hand-made ceramics, stone axe, flint tools. The details of the funeral rite and the burial goods share numerous similarities with the Subcarpathian Corded Ware culture and Komariv culture. Bone samples dated by the radiocarbon method also belong to the Komariv period. The funerary traditions recorded in the mounds on Husykova Hill were developed in the kurgan and flat burial grounds of the Middle Dniester region during the Pre-Scythian and Scythian periods.
The tradition of creating inscriptions for various events and occasions was widespread across different civilizations of the ancient world - Egyptian, Assyrian, Urartian, Iranian, and Greco-Roman - during the second and first millennia BCE. The Armenian Highlands were no exception. Here, the establishment of the Kingdom of Van in the mid-9th century BCE led to the creation of Urartian cuneiform writing as one of its strategic state elements, resulting in nearly two centuries of inscription creation. Over time, influenced by the military and political developments in the Armenian Highlands, writing developed its own characteristic features, becoming a unique tool in Armenian state strategy throughout the post-Urartian, Classical, and all phases of medieval Armenia. Moreover, the tradition of epigraphy in the Armenian Highlands emerged as a
