Material Culture of Byzantine Sugdeja in the 12th – Early 13th Centuries (To the Question of Chronological Indicators)

Abstract

Introduction. The focus of this study is on the material culture of one of the major cities of south-eastern Taurika Sugdeja in the 12th and early 13th centuries, as well as archaeological sources that allow to highlight stratified archaeological complexes and horizons of that time. Special attention is paid to the justification of chronological indicators presented by household objects, decorations, objects of Christian cult and imported red clay glazed ceramics. The latter, based on modern chronological developments and the archaeological situation, is the most important indicator. It is common to combine this pottery into a group of Middle Byzantine Production (MBP). Methods. The standard methods, which are usually involved for the study of archaeological materials, are used in the work: stratigraphic, typological, and comparative. Analysis. The materials from decades of excavation in Sudak, which are stored in archives and museum repositories now, have been studied again. As a result, 5 sites with layers of the 12th – early / first half of the 13th centuries have been located in the different part of the medieval site, including the port area, as well as more than two dozen finds of the MBP were attributed. Results. The newly obtained data allowed us to conclude that Sugdeja occupied a rather large area during the studied period and the city continued to maintain contacts with the Central Byzantine lands during all this time. Moreover, the findings of different stylistic and chronological types of ceramics indicate the presence of such contacts both during the reign of the Komnenoi and Angeloi, and after the conquest of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204.