Shifts in the Genetic Landscape of the Western Eurasian Steppe Associated with the Beginning and End of the Scythian Dominance Highlights d 31 new ancient genomes help compare the Scythians to preand postdating cultures d Scythian dominance brought along an increase of eastern ancestry across the steppe d Results imply some demic diffusion in the spread of the Scythian culture d Genetic makeup agrees with the Gothic source of post-Scythian Chernyakhiv culture
At the present stage of the study of the famous Bilsk hill fortress, it is important to analyze the information gathered in extensive scientific literature reflecting the development of scientific views on the designation and organization of the defense system of one of its most important component parts, followed by the name «Eastern Fortification» in historiography. Consideration of various points of view of scientists and their arguments in defense of certain versions of the time of construction, the nature of use, the principles of construction and location in the general defense system of the Bilsk fortified settlement makes it possible to conclude that there are still many unresolved issues in this problem. In this regard, new directions for strengthening research are proposed, combining scientific tasks with protection measures and the inclusion of a defensive shaft in the program of the museumification of a well-known monument of archeology.
For burial complexes of the 7 th -6 th c. BC on the territory of Forest-Steppe Scythia some types of beads are quite common. These are usually referred to as being made of "Egyptian" faience. They are mainly represented by beads of various shapes, as well as less common conical-shaped "beadsrosettes". The site of production of the former is difficult to establish, but for the latter, the territory of Transcaucasia is determined. Their appearance and wide distribution in the Northern Black Sea region is associated with the nomadic Scythians, who advanced in the late 7 th c. BC -first half of the 6 th c. BC to the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe through the Caucasus after the completion of the Asiatic campaigns. Exceptionally important finds for this period objects imported from Egypt of rare types for the territory of Scythia. They were found in Skorobir -in one of the biggist burial grounds of the Bilsk fortefied settlement (Vorskla basin), as well as material excavated from of the Lyubotyn fortified settlement (Siversky Donets basin). Among them are Egyptian necklaces -amulets and a bead of the 6 th c. BC. Some objects could have come to the Forest-Steppe from Greek centres, while others probably belonged to Scythian warriors who received them as a military trophy. At present, these are the only such early finds in the Northern Black Sea region, complementing the set of imported pieces that ended up in the Dnipro Left Bank during the Scythian Archaic Period. Discovered in female burials of the 6 th c. BC, Egyptian amulets prove that already in this period they were perceived by the population of Scythia as sacred symbol -an attribute of priests, whose functions in barbarian society were most likely performed by women -representatives of the social elite.
The article considers one of the aspects of adaptation of the population to the natural conditions and landscape of the developed territory of the left-bank forest-steppe, taking into account social and household needs and occupations. For the first time ever, a comprehensive study of the available materials from the excavation of ashhill 28 from the Western Bilsk fortified settlement and application of layout and spatial modeling method have offered various options for the scientific reconstruction of a dugout as a residential center of sedentary population. The volumetric-spatial construction of a residential building is based on planigraphic, stratigraphic observations, and the conclusions of researchers about the climatic, topographic features of the microregion. The manor existed in the first quarter of the 6 th century BC.
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