Pages: 27-100

According to author’s research of building remains of Cucuteni-Tripolye dwellings, it can be asserted that layers of burnt clay with wooden imprints which are termed “ploshchadka” represent covers of two- or even three-storey surface houses which were destroyed by conflagration. It is in the Cucuteni-Tripolye culture that along with multi-storey houses one-floor dwellings also existed. Their ruins are preserved as one-layer “ploshchadka” with various finds above and below the layer of burnt clay. Walls of the houses had adobe construction. In course of excavation of houses remains of the walls are usually not found because they are burnt much weaker than inter-storey covers or roofs. Some insignificant fragments of walls can be preserved in form of small pieces of burnt clay distributed on the edge of “ploshchadka”. Main parts of walls were destroyed due to atmospheric impact and they cannot be traced as a result of excavation. Roofs of Cucuteni-Tripolye houses were probably made of reed covered with wet clay. This conclusion can be supported by finds of pieces of burnt clay with reed and rod imprints. It is very oſten that dwellings had several rooms on different levels. They had different functions. There were rooms for living, economic activities, storage of supplies and ritual inventory. Reason for conflagration in Cucuteni-Tripolye settlements should be looked for in religious domain.

Keywords: Copper Age, Cucuteni-Tripolye culture, settlements, construction of houses, dwellings, ritual firing of the settlement

Information about author:

Konstantin Zinkovsky (†)