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18. The Tripillian Settlement

The Tripillian Settlement dates from the period of Late Stone Age. It belonged to the tribes of the Tripillian Culture. The Settlement was a significant centre of pottery in Middle Podnistrovya. The unique complex of pottery furnaces was found in the Settlement. It shows that the crockery was produced not only for the personal use but also served for exchange with other tribes. It is the evidence of the rise of two important elements of the future class society, i.e. craft and trade.

In 1962, the Settlement was investigated by archaeologist of Kyiv Historical museum, T.H.Movsha. In 1966, 7 unique pottery furnaces, opened over the cuts of quarries, were found in the Settlement by the researcher mentioned above. The diaries, reports and geographical material are kept in the Kyiv Historical museum and in the Institute of Archaeology of Academy of Science of Ukraine.

The Settlement is a kind of cape Tripillian Settlement, which is naturally and artificially fortified. The pottery goods, dug out in clay slates. This fact explains their good condition, especially of the furnace #2.
All furnaces are pise-walled and two-tiered. There is a fire-chamber in the lower layer, and a kiln in the higher one. The kiln is separated from the fire-chamber by the baffle with holes for blowing through. Heat and fire went trough them from the fire-chamber to the kiln where the crockery was set on the baffle. The baffle leant against the clay grate, that consisted of two rows of quoins, which formed difficult interlacing. The quoins were leant against the top of the vaulted walls. The vault of kilns was copula-shaped. The remnants of the base of the walls were left to the height of about 40-50 cm. The crockery only of the Trypillian Culture was found in all furnaces. It is painted and kitchen ceramics and ceramic spoilage. Separate fragments were found in the furnaces #1 and #3, crushed crockery was found in the baffle #2. The pottery furnaces are conserved and stay in their original position.

According to the Order of the Executive Committee of Khmel'nyts'ka Oblast' Council from 5.05.1974, No.143, a border of the reserved area was established in radius of 50 m there. It is the territory, protected by the Dnister River in the south-west, by the stream - in the south-east, and collective farm's fields in the north-east.

Translated by Yana Anufriyeva
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