- Ukraine
- Neolithic & Chalcolithic Archaeology, House Models, Prehistory of Architecture, Prehistoric Archaeology, Balkan prehistory, Balkan Prehistory (Archaeology), and 12 morePrehistory in the Balkans and eastern mediterranean, Aegean Prehistory (Archaeology), Pottery (Archaeology), Prehistory, Aegean Archaeology, Neolithic Archaeology, Cucuteni-Tripolye culture, Mesolithic/Neolithic, Neolithic of the Balkans, Prehistoric Macedonia, Homage to Milutin Garasanin, and Village Studiesedit
Research Interests:
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... 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?
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?
Research Interests:
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... 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.
Research Interests:
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 –... 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.
Research Interests:
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... 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.
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.
Research Interests:
Sztancs, Beldimann, Buzea, Briewig: Symbolic Behaviour and Artefacts in the Enolithic. Beads made of Osseous Materials. Discovered in Eastern Transylvania, Romania. In: Cucuteni Culture within the European Neo-Eneolithic Context. International Colloquium Piatra Neamt 2014. Cucuteni 130, p. 59-61.more
Research Interests:
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... 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.
Research Interests:
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... 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.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
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... 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.
Research Interests:
In this session we would like to discuss the question, if different mound building practices of the 4th millennium BCE in Northern, Western and Eastern Europe occurred synchronously as a reaction to the same or similar processes or if... more
In this session we would like to discuss the question, if different mound building practices of the 4th millennium BCE in Northern, Western and Eastern Europe occurred synchronously as a reaction to the same or similar processes or if those barrows represent different, unconnected stories and independent ideas. We would like to invite colleagues who are willing to engage in a transregional discussion about this large-scale European phenomenon.