Стаття присвячена райковецькій культурі в Середньому Подніпров’ї. Враховуючи досягнення вітчизняної археології у розвитку питання, визначено
основні проблеми та можливі шляхи їх вирішення. Розглянуто ґенезис, хронологію й особливості
розвитку матеріальної культури райковецьких
пам’яток VIII—IX ст. правобережної частини долини Дніпра.
The paper is devoted to the Raiky culture in the
Middle Dnieper. It reveals major issues of the phenomenon
of Raiky culture and their possible solutions
considering the achievements of Ukrainian archeologists
in this field. The genesis, chronology and features
of the development of material culture of the Raiky
sites in the 8th—9th centuries of the right-bank of the
Dnieper are analyzed. In general the existence of the
Raiky culture in the Middle Dnieper region can be described
as follows. It was formed in first half of the 8th
century in the Tiasmyn basin. The first wheel-made
pottery has begun to manufacture quite early, from the
mid-8th century (probably at the beginning of the third
quarter). At the first stage, the early vessels have imitated
the hand-made Raiky forms as well as the Saltovo-
Mayaki imported vessels. Significant development
of the material culture occurs during the second half
of the 8th century. At the same time, the movement of
the people of Raiky culture and the population of the
sites of Sаkhnivka type has begun in the northern direction
which was marked by the appearance of the
Kaniv settlement, Monastyrok, and possibly Buchak.
This stage is characterized by the syncretism both in
the ceramic complex and in the features of design of
the heating structures. Numerous influences of the
people of Volyntsevo culture (and through them – of
Saltovo-Mayaki one) are recorded in the Raiky culture.
It is observed not only in direct imports but also in the
efforts of the Raiky population to imitate the pottery
of Volyntsevo and Saltovo-Mayaki cultures, however,
based on their own technological capabilities.
The nature of the relationship between the bearers
of these cultures is still interesting. The population of
Raiky accepts the imported items of Saltovo-Mayaki
and Volyntsevo cultures, tries to imitate high-quality
pottery of them, and even one can see the peaceful coexistence
of two cultures in one settlement — Monastyrok,
Buchak, Stovpyagy. However, the reverse pulses
are absent. There are no tendencies to assimilate each
other. Although, given the number and size of the sites,
the numerical advantage of the Volyntsevo population
in the region seems obvious. There is currently no answer
to this question.
The first third of the 9th century became the watershed.
The destruction of the Bytytsia hill-fort and
the charred ruins to which most of the settlements of
the Volyntsevo culture has turned, is explained in the
literature by the early penetration of Scandinavians
into the region or as result of the resettlement of Magyars
to the Northern Pontic region. In any case, this
led to a change in the ethnic and cultural situation in
the Dnieper basin. According to some researchers, the
surviving part of the population of Volyntsevo culture
migrated to the Oka and Don interfluve.
For some time, but not for long, the settlements of
Raiky culture remained abandoned. Apparently, after
the stabilization of situation, the residents have returned
which is reflected by the reconstruction of the
Kaniv settlement and Monastyrok; in addition, on the
latter the fortifications have been erected. The final
stage of the existence of culture is characterized by
contacts with the area of the left bank of Dnieper, the
influx of the items of the «Danube circle», as well as the
rapid development of the forms of early wheel-made
pottery. The general profiling of vessels and design of
the rim became more complicated, the rich linear-wavy
ornament which covers practically all surface of the
item became characteristic. This suggests the use of a
quick hand wheel which has improved the symmetry
of the vessels, as well as permitted to create the larger
specimens. The evolution of the early wheel-made ceramic
complex took place only by a variety of forms,
however, technological indicators (dough composition,
firing, density and thickness of vessel walls) indicate
the actual invariability and sustainability of the manufacture
tradition. The discontinuance of the functioning
of the latest Raiky sites (Monastyrok and Kaniv
settlements) can be attributed as the consequences of
the first stages of consolidation of the Rus people in the
Middle Dnieper dating to the late 9th — the turn of the
9th—10th centuries.
