статии / Papers

The Population of the Medieval Settlement near

the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region, Bulgaria
(Based on Pottery Studies)
Rumyana Kolevaa
a
Department of Archaeology, Faculty of History, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, 5 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria;
[email protected]

ABSTRAC T
The archaeological excavations at the medieval settlement near the village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan munici-
pality, provided important information about the character of the pottery assemblage in Thrace in the Early
Medieval period. They provided evidence suggesting that the first inhabitants settled on the eastern part of the
excavated area. The pottery which can be related to the earliest structures in this part of the excavated area is
very uniform. The jars are of the most common shape. Most have marks indicating that the vessel were turned
on a slow wheel without centering and throwing. Two pots differ from the rest and their characteristics un-
doubtedly indicate that the vessels were made by throwing. Some of the pots are covered by a thin mica coating.
In contrast to the opinion that there were no such jars in the Byzantine pottery assemblages, a similarity to jars
discovered in present-day Greece and Turkey is found. Similar jars were found at other sites in Thrace as well.
The pottery group from Zlatna livada is dated to the 9th–10th century AD based on parallels and stratigraphic ob-
servations. The technological and formal characteristics of the pottery found at Zlatna livada provide evidence
that it was manufactured by people who had long adopted and assimilated the experience, the skills and the
technical competence of the Byzantine pottery makers. The presented pottery group, and in particular the ob-
served technological changes and some typical features of the later 11th–12th century AD pottery can be regarded
as an indicator of continuity between the pottery production of the Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages on the
territory to the south of the Balkan.

Keywords
Middle Byzantine pottery, continuity, Early Middle Ages, Thrace, Zlatna livada

Pottery is the most common artefact found at archaeological sites. It reflects the taste of the
population which was using it, the level of their technical skills, their production and trade
relations. However, it is questionable to what extent these artefacts provide information
about the ethnic affiliation of the related population and this is particularly relevant when
the historical and demographic development of Thrace in the Early Medieval period is
explored. The well-known Early Medieval pottery yielded by the excavated settlements
and cemeteries to the north of the Stara Planina Mountain, defined as Old Bulgarian, is not
very common in Thrace (Момчилов 2007, 60–101). The lack of such pottery and coins is
usually explained by a break inoccupation (Рашев 1993; Станев 2012). Another hypothesis
is that after settling in this area, the Slavs have accepted the Byzantine culture, which makes
it difficult to identify their material presence (Момчилов 2005, 306). It has to be pointed out
that the lack of coins in a period when the coin circulation in the Byzantine Empire itself
was extremely limited cannot be regarded a reliable indication for a gap in habitation (Ки-
рилов 2009, 357). Similarly, it is worth mentioning that the number of coins found within
the territory of the First Bulgarian Kingdom is even lower.

Be-JA Бе-СА vol. 5 (2015) 37–52

Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology Българско е-Списание за Археология http://be-ja.org
ISSN: 1314-5088
 Rumyana Koleva

The hypothesis about permanent depopulation and discontinuity between the

Byzantine and the Early Medieval culture (it is the right moment to ask what happened to those
Slavs who accepted the Byzantine material culture?! – my note) is reflected in the views for
the development of pottery production in the 11th–12th century. The most detailed study
so far has been provided by B. Borisov, who believes that the 11th–12th century pottery
found in present-day Southeast Bulgaria reflects the features of the Old Bulgarian pottery
and that the potter’s kick wheel was introduced in this area in the second half of the 10th
or the early 11th century. (Борисов 2002, 80). The potter’s kick wheel was introduced in
the territories to the north of the Stara Planina Mountain in the same period, during the
establishment of the Byzantine domination in the late 10th–the early 11th century (Дончева-
Петкова 1977, 25; Колева 2009, 281). However, the simultaneous use of a hand and a kick
wheel as early as the 9th century is documented in the excavated stronghold near the town
of Sredets (Balbolova-Ivanova 2000, 73–85). According to M. Balbolova-Ivanova, the find
includes common Byzantine pottery as well as local pottery, which was probably produced
with the participation of Bulgarian population. Identical wheel thrown Byzantine pots have
also been yielded by 9th century assemblages at the settlement near the village of Kapitan
Andreevo (Грозданова 2011, 125). These observations raise the question about the lower
chronological limit of the pottery made on kick wheel and the character of the pottery
assemblage in Thrace in the Early Medieval period.
The archaeological excavations at the medieval settlement near the village of Zlatna
livada, Chirpan municipality, provided important information about this problem (Ян-
ков, Колева 2002; 2003; Янков, Колева, Кирилов 2008; 2010; 2011; 2012). During the first
archaeological seasons, the site was dated according to the accepted date of the yielded
pottery and in consideration of the small finds and the coins. The accumulated information
during 2002 and especially in the following seasons provided grounds to believe that the
site was occupied for a longer period, which contradicted the chronology of the discovered
coins. The last two archaeological seasons were particularly important in terms of defining
the chronological frames of the site’s occupation. The results provided evidence to suggest
that the first inhabitants settled at the eastern part of the excavated area (Янков, Колева,
Кирилов 2012, 490). The pottery which can be related to the earliest features in this part of
the excavated area is very uniform1. There were few complete vessels as the settlement had
not suffered significant cataclysms. Five ceramic vessels were found at the bottom of a pit
1 in square R67 together with articulated animal bones, most likely a remnant of a piece of
meat placed there with the vessels (fig. 1; fig. 4.1, 3, 6, 10, 11). No other food remains were
found in the vessels, but it is not likely that they had been placed empty in the pit. The pit
has not been defined as a storage one, since it is rather shallow but there is no doubt that
the artefacts in it comprise a closed assemblage and can be dated to the same period. A
complete ceramic pot was found upright in a partially filled pit 3 in square М66. In the other
cases, the pottery represents a part of the artefacts used to fill in the structures, and from
chronological point of view, it is earlier or contemporary to these structures. The evidence
that the artefacts were deposited in the filling was provided by the presence of pottery
sherds dated to earlier periods: Late Neolithic and Early Iron Age. These early artefacts were
deposited together with the soil during excavating new medieval houses or pits which had
disturbed earlier archaeological levels. Among the highly fragmented pottery yielded by
the pit in-fill, a certain number of medieval sherds were found, which were used to restore

1  The pottery from the site is kept in the Chirpan Historical Museum depository.

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The Population of the Medieval Settlement near the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region ...

Fig. 1. Zlatna livada, pit 1, square R67 and the pots in it: 1 – pit in square R67; 2 – pot, inv.
number ZL 2011085; 3 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011082; 4, 5 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011083; 6 –
pot, inv. number ZL 2011084; 7 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011081 (photos and graphic design of the
pots – R. Koleva; photo of pit 1 in square R67 – Ch. Kirilov)
Обр. 1. Златна ливада, яма 1 в кв. R67 и съдовете в нея: 1 – яма 1 в кв. R67; 2 – съд, инв.
№ ZL 2011085; 3 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011082; 4, 5 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011083; 6 – съд, инв. №
ZL 2011084; 7 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011081 (снимки на съдовете и обработка на графичните
изображения – Р. Колева; снимка на яма 1 в кв. R67 – Ч. Кирилов)

39
 Rumyana Koleva

considerable parts of ceramic vessels. It can be suggested that the medieval pottery were
thrown away relatively soon after they had been broken, i.e. these sherds can be considered
chronologically closer to the time of filling the structures2.
The jars are of the most common shape. The typical shape has slanting shoulders,
rounded body, short neck and everted rim. The rim is slantwise cut and rounded and
sometimes profiled inside. Some of the jars have handles connecting the rim and the widest
part of the body. The number of body and handle fragments suggest that despite the lower
number of the handled jars, this shape was very popular. The shape of the body varies: it
is rounded, elongated, with a wider or narrower neck, larger or smaller base. The details
listed above do not affect the homogeneity of the group.
The ceramic vessels are made from clay tempered with fine sand. The outer surface of
the base is smoothed; often uneven spots can be seen resembling pearl surface imprint and
the edge is sometimes slightly protruding (fig. 2.2). A relief mark (a circle) is visible on one of
the bases (fig. 1.4; fig. 4.10). These macroscopic features can be defined as marks indicating
that the vessels were turned on a slow wheel with no centering and throwing. The walls are
nicely made and evenly thick, a fact indicating a precise workmanship. One of the vessels
had clear marks on the outer surface of the base (fig. 3.2) from cutting by a thread, and the
walls were slightly furrowed on the interior as well as on the exterior. These characteristics
undoubtedly indicate that the vessel was made by throwing. The decoration consisting of
incised straight lines on the shoulders is not very precise, most probably because of the
slow wheel rotation which cannot affect the observations on the throwing technique. The
grooves which can be related to the same technique are detectable on the interior surface of
the walls and base of another vessel (fig. 3.5).
The exterior surface is often undecorated apart from the smoothing during the
throwing, which has not only aesthetical but also technological reasons. There are bands
of incised lines on the shoulders of the vessel. Some of the pots are covered by a thin mica
coating (fig. 2.7) which is most likely intentional and not an effect of the mica inclusions in
the diluted clay used for smoothing and finishing the external surface. This slip differs from
the thicker slip covering the vessels deriving from the later structures at the site. It strongly
resembles the slip on the Late Antique mica coated ware.
This ware is represented by sherds and restored ceramic vessels yielded by houses
and pits situated in the earliest east end of the site. To the west, such sherds cover the
floor of an oven in square X43/X44, which is stratigraphically the earliest; the oven was
damaged by a house and a pit, and another building was constructed on top of the house.
The enclosure wall of Cemetery 2 was documented over the remains of the building in
the period following its destruction. The eastern area is characterized by several features,
such as dug-in houses with stone ovens and lack of coins. It has to be noted that among
the pottery found in these structures there are no fragments of red slipped ware, sgraffito
ware, sherds with burnished lines, glazed ware, thick mica-dusted ware and sherds with
highly shaped rims. Single small-sized sherds were found in the surface layer only and
since they were probably laying on the ancient walking surface of the later structures, it can
be suggested that they were probably brought to the surface during the cultivation of the
soil. These observations allow to date the structures of the Eastern Sector together with the
studied group of vessels to the period before the 11th century. No fragments of lids are found
among the pottery sherds. This points to a date before the end of the 10th century since this

2  The observation takes into consideration the brittleness of the pots and their original size.

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The Population of the Medieval Settlement near the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region ...

Fig. 2. Zlatna livada, pots turned on a potters’ wheel: 1 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011066; 2, 3 – pot,
inv. number ZL 2011086; 4 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011056; 5 – pot, inv. number ZL 2012001;
6 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011044; 7 – sherd from the oven’s foundation, square X43 (photos and
graphic design of the pots – R. Koleva)
Обр. 2. Златна ливада, съдове дооформени на грънчарско колело: 1 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011066;
2, 3 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011086; 4 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011056; 5 – съд, инв. № ZL 2012001; 6
– съд, инв. № ZL 2011044; 7 – кв. X43, фрагмент от пода на домакинска пещ (снимки на
съдовете и обработка на графичните изображения – Р. Колева)

41
 Rumyana Koleva

Fig. 3. Zlatna livada, pots thrown on a potters’ kick wheel: 1-2 – ZL 2011087; 3 – ZL 2011079; 4,
5 – ZL 2011033 (photos and graphic design of the pots – R. Koleva)
Обр. 3. Златна ливада, съдове източени на грънчарско колело: 1-2 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011087;
3 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011079; 4, 5 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011033 (снимки на съдовете и обработка
на графичните изображения – Р. Колева)

42
The Population of the Medieval Settlement near the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region ...

shape was distributed in the present-day Northeastern Bulgaria from the beginning of the
11th century onwards (Дончева-Петкова 1977, 63–64). The lower chronological limit of the
distribution of this shape to the south of the Balkan has not been defined more precisely,
since it is dated only according to published parallels (Борисов 2002, 136). Lids were found
in layers dated to the end of the 10th–13th century in Plovdiv (Станев, Божинова 2013, 326).
Jars similar to the discussed above are found in the structures dated to the latest phase of
the Early Medieval settlement in the village of Kapitan Andreevo (Грозданова 2011, 132),
i.e. the early 9th century. There is a close similarity with the jars from the second group
yielded by house 1 (dated to the 9th century) in the Early Medieval settlement near the
village of Izvorovo (the Early Medieval fortress of Castra Rubra) (Борисов 2009, 247-248,
Обр. 3). A similar jar was found in the medieval level over the Early Byzantine fortress in
the Gradishteto locality near the village of Polski Gradets (Shejleva 2001, 145, Fig. 12, d)
and was dated to the 9th – 10th century based on parallels (Шейлева 1997, 84). The metrical
proportions of the pots from Zlatna livada allow to put them in types Г-ІІ and Г-V after B.
Borisov’s typology (Борисов 2002, 130–134, Обр. 12а, 13а-в) (table 1). The rims match type
Г-1 В1, 3 of the sherds’ typology (Борисов 2002, Обр. 5). These are types of jars and rims
of turned pots (Борисов 2002, 64). Two pots (fig. 3.1–2, 4–5; fig. 4.8–9) from the pottery
discussed here differ from these characteristics; they are thrown although their rims match
type Г-1 В1, 3. As for the formation technology, it has to be pointed out that the pots from
Zlatna livada were more carefully made and the clay temper is less prominent. Only two
of the clay vessels presented here are close to the early medieval pots made from sandy
clay on a slow potter’s wheel and decorated with incised ornaments (fig. 2.4, 6). The body
of the thrown jars does not differ from the body of the other jars, which do not have string-
cut marks on their bases. In the whole group, most of the bases lack signs, even partially
preserved, of string cutting. The manufacture technique is difficult to reconstruct based on
body and rim sherds. The reason is that the body sherds are thinner with even thickness,
and the rim shape should not be regarded as an undisputable mark since this type has
been found among the thrown pots too. The simultaneous manufacturing and use of clay
vessels made on slow potter’s wheel and potter’s kick wheel in the 9th century, as already
mentioned, was a rare but not unknown phenomenon.
B. Borisov dates the analogous types to the late 10th–11th century (Борисов 2002, 30,
34). However, using the formal similarities with vessels dated to the 10th – 11th century by
L. Doncheva-Petkova to identify a direct link with the pottery from the First Bulgarian
Kingdom is not entirely justified. Parallels of the shape are also available from other sites.
Jars whose main indices match the types defined by B. Borisov and the referred analogous
types after L. Doncheva-Prtkova can be found among the Byzantine pottery as well (table
1). They were used in Constantinople and were yielded by assemblages from the 9th until
the 12th–13th century (Hayes 1992, 116, Fig. 61, 38.14; 117, Fig. 63, 39.4; 133, Fig. 76, 50.32;
57, Fig. 20.7; Striker, Kuban 2007, 96-97, Fig. 57). Fragments of such vessels found in Sparta
are dated to the second half of the 9th – 10th century (Sanders 1995, 453, Fig 69, 12). Jars with
rounded body and flat base covered with a thick mica coat are found also in Pergamon and
are dated back to the third quarter of the 12th century (Spieser 1996, 44, Taf. 41418, 419, 420, 421). The
distribution of such vessels confirms the conclusion that the mid-Byzantine unglazed ware
continued the traditions of the Early Byzantine ware (Dark 2001, 43, Fig. 17D, E, F). Similar
shapes have been found among the Early Byzantine pottery found in present-day Bulgaria
(Кузманов 1985, 47–48, Табло 28; Найденова 1985, 68, 70, Табло 36148, 150, 111; Табло 41148,
150
; Табло 38111). A 6th century one-handled jar discovered in grave 30 of the cemetery near

43
 Rumyana Koleva

Fig. 4. Zlatna livada, pots: 1 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011082; 2 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011056;
3 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011081; 4 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011044; 5 – pot, inv. number ZL
2012001; 6 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011085; 7 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011066; 8 – pot, inv. number
ZL 2011087; 9 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011033; 10 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011083; 11 – pot,
inv. number ZL 2011084; 12 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011086; 13 – pot, inv. number ZL 2011079
(photos and graphic design of the pots – R. Koleva)
Обр. 4. Златна ливада, гърнета: 1 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011082; 2 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011056;
3 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011081; 4 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011044; 5 – съд, инв. № ZL 2012001; 6 – съд,
инв. № ZL 2011085; 7 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011066; 8 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011087; 9 – съд, инв.
№ ZL 2011033; 10 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011083; 11 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011084; 12 – съд, инв. №
ZL 2011086; 13 – съд, инв. № ZL 2011079 (снимки на съдовете и обработка на графичните
изображения – Р. Колева)

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The Population of the Medieval Settlement near the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region ...

the village of Rupkite (the Late Antique Karrassura), Chirpan region, is very similar in
shape (Даскалов 2005, 325). Therefore, based on the proportions of the main parameters,
it is also possible to seek the origin of the shape in the local pottery traditions. It has to be
emphasized that complete match of the characteristics and identical shape should not to be
expected; the expectation should be to find a considerable level of similarity, indicating the
distribution of ceramic vessels of similar shape. Another important argument that should
not be forgotten is that the proportions calculated today were hardly that significant for
the potter who made these vessels; he was more focused on the general appearance and
the tradition of shaping particular elements, such as the rim, handle, surface treatment,
ornamentation.
At first glance, the technique of turning makes the pots appear similar to the Early
Bulgarian pottery. However, at the same time, they differ considerably in terms of precise
shape, clay processing, smoothed surface, decoration and the thin mica-dusted coat, which
is identical to that used in the Late Antiquity. Based on these characteristics, the vessels
from Zlatna livada resemble more the 9th century pottery found in Sredets and Kapitan
Andreevo than the Early Bulgarian pottery. The date 9th century corresponds also to the
date of the personal ornaments found in grave 1/square А48, supporting the assumption
that the settlement could have been inhabited in this period (Янков, Колева, Кирилов
2011, 515).
As far as the predominant formation technique is concerned, it has to be pointed out
that foreign publications on the Byzantine pottery rarely specify the type of potter’s wheel
which was used. The turned pots are noted mainly in the publication of a ceramic group
foreign to the Byzantine pottery traditions and sometimes defined as “Slavic”, based on
their general outlook and the known parallels (Lambopoulou 2009, 199). As for the rest of
the pottery, two main techniques are mentioned most often – handmade and on a potter’s
wheel. Recent studies note that some of the kitchen pots dated to “the dark centuries”
are handmade and turned, and they were produced by the local population for its own
needs. However, without additional data and analyses the observation of the technological
characteristics should not influence the conclusions on the presence or absence of Slavic
population (Haldon 2001, 461). Therefore, it cannot be stated firmly that turned pottery was
not manufactured within the boundaries of the Byzantine Empire in “the dark centuries”. It
does not seem impossible that some of the ceramic vessels characterized by features typical
for the Byzantine tradition, such as smoothed surface and discreet decoration of incised
lines, bear traces of turning.
Insufficient information makes it difficult to determine the extent to which the
manufacturing skills of the Slavic population, which settled in Thrace after the late 6th
century, are related to the technique used for the manufacturing of the afore-mentioned
jars. An explanation can be sought in analogous activities registered on the Balkans. Similar
undecorated rounded pots but with a high neck were found in Tonovcov grad and were
dated to the 7th and the 8th–9th century. They were interpreted as evidence of contacts between
the local Romanized population and Slavs from the Central and Eastern Slovenia (Modrijan
2010, 68, fig. 4, fig. 6). It is possible that the ceramic vessels from Thrace reflected “the adoption
of the Byzantine culture by the Slavs” and their inferior technical skills or a deterioration
of the manufacture technique of the local population due to economic reasons, or even
both. Similar technological changes manifested by the appearance of poorly made pots
with different decoration are known from Italy. However, their presence is not attributed to
ethnic but to economic changes, namely the disappearance of the “industrial” production

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 Rumyana Koleva

Pot type according metric ratios (D1+D3)/ (D1-D3)/ (D-D3)/ (D-D2)/

H/D H/H3 H4/D H2/H1
(Борисов 2002, 20 – 52) 2D H3 H2 H1

0,81- 0,51- 0,26- 0,51- 0,50-

type ГІ 8,01-10 0,66-1 1-1,30
1,20 0,85 0,60 1,14 1,16
Polski Gradetz
0,93 8,55 0,79 1,00 0,82 0,57 0,90 0,74
(Shejleva, 2001, 145, fig. 12, d)
Saraçhane
0,79 11,75 0,76 1,25 0,72 0,59 1,03 0,98
(Hayes 1992, fig. 63, 39.4)
0,81- 0,58- 0,86- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГІІ 8,01-10 0,66-1
1,20 0,99 1,09 0,99 1,14 1,16
ZL 2011082 1,05 8,84 0,74 0,52 0,93 0,64 0,80 0,88
Iskritza
0,98 8,14 0,82 1,00 0,86 0,56 0,78 0,59
(Борисов, 2002, 238-10, обр.12а)
0,81- 0,58- 0,51- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГVА > 10 0,66-1
1,20 0,99 0,85 0,99 1,14 1,16
Saraçhane
0,87 11,54 0,75 0,86 0,79 0,63 0,92 1,02
(Hayes 1992, fig. 61, 38.14)
0,81- 0,58- 0,51- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГVБ 8,01-10 0,66-1
1,20 0,99 0,85 0,99 1,14 1,16
ZL 2011085 0,96 8,56 0,75 0,96 0,85 0,66 0,91 0,98
ZL 2011087 0,95 8,60 0,71 0,90 0,84 0,88 0,87 0,89
ZL 2012001 0,95 8,04 0,74 0,64 0,83 0,89 0,77 0,80
ZL 2011081 0,92 10,76 0,71 0,64 0,84 0,71 0,91 0,95
Kalenderhane
0,88 9,88 0,73 1,00 0,79 0,87 0,85 0,97
(Striker, Kuban, 2007, fig. 57, 264)
Pernik, Krakra
0,86 9,60 0,69 0,70 0,77 0,79 1,00 1,13
(Кузманов1985, Табл. 28, Г7)
Thassos
0,85 8,12 0,65 0,61 0,75 0,96 1,04 0,67
(Dark 2001, 43, fig. 17F)
0,81- 0,58- 0,51- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГVВ 4,75-8 0,66-1
1,20 0,99 0,85 0,99 1,14 1,16
ZL 2011033 1,09 7,33 0,76 0,59 0,94 0,71 0,73 0,64
ZL 2011044 1,01 5,75 0,82 0,75 0,84 0,93 0,62 0,98
ZL 2011056 0,93 7,40 0,79 0,93 0,80 0,81 0,74 0,94
ZL 2011084 1,03 7,11 0,76 0,67 0,89 0,64 0,84 0,87
ZL 2011086 1,11 7,83 0,65 0,75 0,96 0,86 0,89 0,70
ZL 2011066 0,94 5,65 0,77 0,70 0,78 0,84 0,82 0,90
ZL 2011083 1,00 7,62 0,80 0,76 0,87 0,73 0,67 0,90
Pernik, Bela voda
0,99 7,60 0,72 0,73 0,86 0,60 1,03 0,82
(Кузманов 1985, Табл. 28, Г10)
Rupkite (Даскалов 2005, 325;
0,82 9,38 0,77 1,25 0,74 0,76 0,90 1,47
drawing Грозданова 2011, T9-1)
0,81- 0,51- 0,27- 0,86- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГХVІ 4,75-8 1-1,99
1,20 0,65 0,57 0,99 1,14 1,16
Argos
0,89 8,50 0,58 0,33 0,79 1,14 1,04 1,00
(Dark 2001, 43, fig. 17E)
0,81- 0,51- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГХVІІ над 10 0,66-1 1-1,30
1,20 0,85 0,99 1,14 1,16
Serçe Limanı
0,93 13,39 0,73 1,11 0,86 0,78 0,82 0,80
(Dark 2001, 43, fig. 17D)
Rupkite (Калчев, Янков 2005, 49;
0,74 10,43 0,76 1,14 0,67 0,69 1,04 1,26
drawing Грозданова 2011, Т10-3)
0,81- 0,27- 0,51- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГХХІІБ 4,75-8 0,66-1
1,20 0,57 0,85 0,99 1,14 1,16

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The Population of the Medieval Settlement near the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region ...

Koprivlen (Кацарова, Хаджианге-

1,00 5,94 0,70 0,50 0,83 0,78 0,95 0,84
лов 2002, 215–243, фиг. 223,3)
0,81- 0,27- 0,51- 0,61- 0,51- 0,50-
type ГХХІІІ 4,75-8 0,66-1
1,20 0,57 0,85 0,99 1,14 1,16
Kapitan Andreevo
(Попов, Грозданова 2008, 163– 0,81 6,29 0,77 0,36 0,68 0,64 0,97 0,89
167, обр. 3.16)

Table 1. Comparrison between the jars from Zlatna livada and Byzantine jars based on the
proportions of the main parameters used by Borisov (Борисов 2002, 20–52)
Таблица 1. Сравнение на гърнетата от Златна ливада с други византийски гърнета по
основните параметри, използвани в типологията на Борисов (Борисов 2002, 20–52)

of the Late Roman world and the emergence of a small scale craftsman production (Blake
1978, 440). It is worth mentioning the observation made in this study that there was a
connection between the production of these workshops and the Italic and provincial Roman
pottery tradition and their technical superiority over the contemporary pottery used to the
north of the Alps. Such observations are very similar to what we find in the areas to the
north and to the south of the Stara Planina Mountain. In any case, the technological and
formal characteristics of the pottery found at Zlatna livada provide evidence that it was
manufactured by people who had long adopted and assimilated the experience, the skills
and the technical competence of the Byzantine pottery makers. Maybe it was this population
that has left behind the ceramic vessels with shape and features characteristic of the Early
Byzantine jars: they were made from sandy clay and had a specific shape of the base and
handles. This pottery group is represented by a small number of sherds which allowed the
restoration of several large parts of pots (fig. 3.3; fig. 4.13). Due to the lack of other signs
of occupation on this site in the Early Byzantine period, this pottery should be interpreted,
with a great deal of caution for the time being, as evidence of the earliest occupation of the
site in the medieval period.
Regardless of the fact whether the turned pottery reflected ethnic or economic processes,
it was abandoned, and the throwing technique became the dominant one in the following
period. The 11th–12th century thrown jars are similar in shape to the Early Byzantine handled
pots. The Byzantine shape and technology can be seen in a ready-to-be-applied mode in the
introduction of similar pottery in assemblages to the north of the Balkan in the late 10th –
11th century. The two pottery groups (turned and thrown pots) were produced and used
simultaneously here for a certain period of time. The shift in technology finally took place
during the period of Byzantine domination over the Bulgarian Kingdom and reflected the
integration of Bulgarian territories through Byzantine trade and economic relations. The
turned pottery continued to be in use in the neighbouring regions where this process was
not that intensive and thrown pots were introduced much later. The technological shift in
this case, although related to political events, should not be interpreted as an ethnic change.
Similarly, it is difficult to accept unequivocally that the functioning of the Byzantine pottery
tradition survived in Thrace due to lack of ethnic changes. Nevertheless, it is important to
remember that „pots are pots, not people” (Cruz 2011, 336–357) and that the production
methods were influence by a number of other factors. Technology is related to traditions,
but it also reflects certain economic relations. For the adoption and the introduction of a
particular style, it is very important who the craft was learnt from, i.e. it requires the existence
of viable Byzantine production. Similarly, the craft had to be practiced to maintain the

47
 Rumyana Koleva

newly acquired skills. The technique of throwing is much more productive but it requires
(Roux, Corbetta, 1989, 69–70) a longer period of learning and practicing, which makes it
more appropriate for a better developed market. A shrinking market and a limited scale
of production can result in degradation of the production quality and even deterioration
of the technique as evidenced by the pottery found at Zlatna livada. It is possible that the
throwing technique was not completely abandoned at the site and in the region as suggested
by the pot found at square М66. The arrival of new population who was not familiar with
the standards of a large-scale production and did not need to adopt the technique of
throwing could have also contributed to the “deterioration”. The development of economic
relations required higher standards and the technique of throwing became dominant again,
replacing completely the more inefficient turning technique. This could not have happened
without the participation of people who were able to preserve the skill or at least to pass
it on to another group of people. For the transfer of pottery-making skills between the two
groups, it was necessary for them to have contact or to live together for a long period of
time since the teaching-learning process required time. The presented pottery group, the
observed technological changes and some typical features of the 11th–12th century pottery
can be regarded as an indicator of continuity between the pottery production of the Late
Antiquity and the Middle Ages on the territory to the south of the Balkan.

Acknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to D. Yankov, M. Daskalov and G. Grozdanova
who provided additional information and unpublished drawings of pottery from Karassura
and Kapitan Andreevo and to Tatiana Stefanova who translated the text into English.

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The Population of the Medieval Settlement near the Village of Zlatna livada, Chirpan Region ...

Населението на средновековното селище

до с. Златна ливада, Чирпанско
(по данни на керамичния материал)

Румяна Колева

(резюме)

Статията разглежда керамичния комплекс на най-ранния етап от обитаването

на средновековното селище при с. Златна ливада, община Чирпан. Представен е из-
ключително от гърнета с полегати плещи, заоблено тяло, къса шийка и извито навън
устие. Характерно е оформянето на устийния ръб – косо срязан и заоблен, поняко-
га изразително подчертан отвътре. Някои от съдовете имат дръжка, която излиза
от устието и завършва върху най-издутата част на тялото. Съдовете са изработени от
слюдеста глина с малко ситни примеси, сред които единични с по-големи размери.
Външната повърхност на дъното е загладена, често се виждат неравности, прилича-
щи на остатъчен отпечатък от неравна зърнеста повърхност, понякога ръбът е слабо
издаден (обр. 2.2). Върху едно от дъната личи релефен знак (обр. 1.4; обр. 4.10). Тези
макроскопски черти могат да се определят като белези за изработка при по-бавно
въртене без източване. Стените са прецизно оформени и равномерно дебели, което
е белег за прецизна изработка. Един съд от разглежданата група има ясни следи от
срязване с нишка върху външната повърхност на дъното (обр. 3.2), а стените са леко
набраздени отвън и отвътре. Характеристиките недвусмислено доказват, че съдът е
изработен с източване. Набраздяване, което може да се свърже със същата техника, се
вижда върху вътрешната повърхност на стените и дъното на друг съд (обр. 3.4).
Външната повърхност често е без допълнителна украса, освен заглаждане на по-
върхността, понякога хоризонтални линии са врязани в пояс върху плещите на съда.
При някои от съдовете се наблюдава тънък слой от покритие със златиста ангоба (обр.
2. 7).
Гърнетата от тази група намират близки паралели в съдове от Тракия, датирани
в ІХ – Х в. Датата ІХ в. е в синхрон и с датата на намерените в гроб 1/кв. А48 накити,
които подкрепят възможността селището да е обитавано в това време (Янков, Колева,
Кирилов 2011, 515). Сходни керамични форми са известни от синхронни комплекси
в Константинопол и други средновизантийски центрове. Близки по своите метрични
съотношения гърнета се откриват в ранновизантийски комплекси от територията на
днешна България.
На пръв поглед разликата в техниката на изработка доближава съдовете до ста-
робългарската керамика, но в същото време те са ясно различими по глина, форма
и украса, както и по-прецизната им изработка. Променената техника на изработка
може да отразява както етнически, така и икономическите процеси, а дори и двете.
При всички случаи формирането на керамичния комплекс не е станало без осезаемо-
то участие на местното население. На този етап на изследване не могат да се напра-
вят достоверни изводи за етническия състав на населението на селището при Златна
ливада, но струва ми се има достатъчно данни, подкрепящи извода за запазване на

51
 Rumyana Koleva

местната византийска традиция в керамичното производство. Усвояването на тази

традиция от друга група обитатели (славянска или старобългарска, ако е имало та-
кава) може да се осъществи единствено чрез тесни и постоянни контакти с нейните
носители, т.е. завареното местно население.
Представената керамична група, наблюдаваните технологични промени и ня-
кои характеристики на по-късната керамика от ХІ – ХІІ в. могат да се разглеждат като
индикатор за наличие на приемственост в керамичното производство между късната
античност и средните векове в територията на юг от Стара планина.

52