#Exhibit of the Month

The grapevine plant, now widespread across the globe, traces its origins back to the Upper Cretaceous geological period, when species of Vitis Linn appeared on Earth (Mesozoic era), followed later by Vitis vinifera L., the latter already classified among cultivated agricultural plants. Most researchers link the origin of the cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) to the wild forest species Vitis sylvestris Gmel. Thickets of Vitis sylvestris Gmel. can still sporadically be found in the groves along the Prut and Dniester floodplains.

During the Precucuteni III - Trypillia A period (ca. 4750-4600 BC), the presence of cultivated grape seeds was clearly documented on pottery from the settlement of Ruseştii Noi I, layer I, kiln A, consisting of a seed impression on a ceramic fragment, with the elongated beak characteristic of the domesticated species Vitis vinifera L. Another seed impression of Vitis vinifera L. was recorded at the settlement of Vărvăreuca VIII, identified on the wall of a painted vessel from the Cucuteni B - Trypillia CI stage (3800-3500/3300 BC).
In October, on the occasion of the National Wine Day, the National Museum of History of Moldova presents to your attention a unique relic in Southeastern Europe. The exhibit originates from the settlement Brînzeni VIII "Sâiece," belonging to the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture and dated to the Cucuteni AB2 - Trypillia B2 phase (ca. 4050-3800 BC), located in Brînzeni village, Edineț district. The site lies 2 km southwest of the locality, in a triangle formed by the confluence of the Racovăț and Drobiște streams and the local road L36 Bădragii Vechi-Brînzeni. Positioned on land 25-30 meters above the valley, it was discovered in 1966 by archaeologist Nicolaie Chetraru and investigated through excavations between 1978-1980 by Vsevolod Marchevici.
The October exhibit is a grapevine leaf impression discovered in 1980. It comes from pit no. 5, partially investigated, with a maximum depth of 155 cm. From the same archaeological complex near dwelling no. 1, several grape seeds were also recovered, as noted in the excavation report. The grapevine leaf impression appears on a coarse clay lump, fired and vitrified due to secondary burning, reddish in color, with an irregular rectangular, flattened shape. The outer surface is uneven and rough. The impression surface is smoothed, with the leaf veins clearly highlighted. Measuring 99 mm in length, 110 mm in width, and 28-31 mm in thickness, the exhibit presents in full splendor an authentic grapevine leaf impression. Some researchers attribute it to the domesticated grapevine Vitis vinifera L., while others, more skeptical, consider it a wild species. Nevertheless, being discovered in a well-documented archaeological context, together with grape seeds near a dwelling, it provides evidence that grapevine was part of Cucuteni community life 6,000 years ago. These findings allow us to affirm that the process of domestication and the creation of table grapes was already underway. The diversity of Cucuteni ceramic forms, as well as the painting on some vessels, undoubtedly suggests their use as containers for various liquids. Accordingly, the emergence of wine among Cucuteni communities can be taken into consideration.

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Publications

Journal „Tyragetia"

vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1

Research of a tumulus near the Bandyshovka village

ISSN 1857-0240
E-ISSN 2537-6330

Юрий Бойко

Research of a tumulus near the Bandyshovka village

Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015

Abstract

The article is devoted to analysis of the results of archaeological investigations undertaken in one of the barrows (in all there were discovered ﬁ ve tumuli) near the village of Bandyshovka, Vinnytsia region. The grave was robbed for several times, it was also partially destroyed as a result of extracting stones from its mound. Despite these interventions, it was possible to reconstruct the burial rite. Few ﬁnds indicate the development of intercultural relations between nomadic communities in the northern Black Sea region and forrest-steppe at the turn of the 9th - 8th centuries BC.

List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Geographical and situational location of barrows near the Bandyshovka village. Fig. 2. Bandyshovka: 1 - general plan; 2 - plan of the central part; 3 - stratigraphy by control edges. Legend: 1 - mainland clay ejections; 2 - black earth of the mound; 3 - soil from the ﬁ rst predatory excavation; 4 - buried soil; 5 - mainland clay; 6 - charred wood; 7 - soil from the second predatory excavation; 8 - animal bones; 9 - human bones; 10 - stones. Fig. 3. Bandyshovka: 1 - remains of an animal sacriﬁ ce; 2 - remains of the stone cover. Fig. 4. Bandyshovka. General plan of the central part: 1 - bronze buckle “lunnitsa”; 2 - bronze beads; 3 - fragments of bronze vessel; 4 - clay spindle whorl. Legend: 1 - mainland clay ejections; 2 - wood of the ceiling; 3 - stone (sandstone); 4 - animal bones (grave goods in the mound); 5 - animal bones; 6 - human skull. Fig. 5. Bandyshovka. Proﬁ les of the burial chamber: 1 - the proﬁ le by the line А-А1; 2 - the proﬁ le by the line Б-Б1; 3 - scheme of the vertical sections. Legend: 1 - mound; 2 - outburst; 3 - remains of wood; 4 - stone (sandstone). Fig. 6. Bandyshovka. Remains of stone structures. Legend: 1 - stones at a depth of 20-160 cm; 2 - stones in the ﬁ lling of the burial chamber at a depth of 170-360 cm; 3 - vertically set stones as wall cladding. Fig. 7. Bandyshovka. Arrangement of the burial chamber: 1, 2 - horizontal section; 3 - vertical section. Legend: 1 - stones that were lying horizontally; 2 - stones that were arranged vertically; 3 - charcoals. Fig. 8. Bandyshovka. Findings from the ﬁ lling of the burial chamber and from a predatory manhole: 1-8 - bronze beads; 9 - clay spindle whorl; 10-12 - fragments of the handles and lip of a bronze vessel; 13 - bronze buckle “lunnitsa”.