Features of dwelling construction in the Saltovo-Mayaki cultural and historical community

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to define and analyze the structural features of residential buildings belonging to the Saltovo-Mayaki cultural and historical community (SMCHC) in the forest-steppe zone of Eastern Europe, to develop potential reconstructive characteristics for recreating their external appearance.

During the study, the authors used a comprehensive approach, combining: archaeological analysis, ethnographic parallels, and comparative analysis.

The work analyzes the reconstructive features of Saltovo residential buildings, focusing on the construction of walls, roofs, entrances, and annexes. Dwellings are divided into sunken and surface types. Most finds are sunken structures, which have better preservation. Depending on the construction, building walls are divided into: post-supported, wattle-and-daub, and post-less. An important issue is the placement of walls relative to the foundation pit. Although it is traditionally believed that the walls coincided with its boundaries, in some cases they could be built outside the pit, which expanded the living area.

For wall insulation, the Saltovo population used clay, moss, and other materials. For example, walls could be covered with sod, straw, or brushwood. It is not excluded that felt or animal hides were used.

Outbuildings or entrance corridors were often added to the main dwelling. They were built with light, most often wattle-and-daub, constructions.

Roof reconstruction remains quite hypothetical. Archaeological data allow for the assumption of a gable roof on post-supports or a hipped roof on a central post. Ethnographic parallels indicate the use of gable or hipped roofs, covered with soil, clay, straw, or reeds.

The building techniques used by ancient builders were quite diverse. This is primarily due to the manifestation of the building traditions of the multi-ethnic population of the Saltovo forest-steppe. The choice of a particular building structure for residential buildings also largely depended on access to specific building materials available in the area. Despite the fragmentary nature of the archaeological data, the accumulated material makes it possible to identify key features for reconstructing the external appearance of the dwellings.