Yuri D. Razuvaev

Voronezh State Pedagogical University, Voronezh, Russia (razuvaevyd@mail.ru)

Keywords: Upper Don, Early Scythian period, fortified settlement, fortifications, long building, well, textile pottery.

The article presents the results of recent excavations at an Upper Don fortified settlement near Verkhnee Kazachye village in Lipetsk oblast’. The materials from the site (bone and clay tools, bone pieces of horse harness, textile and smooth-surface pottery) can be preliminarily dated to the 7th – 6th cc. BC. We have investigated the domestic buildings and the defensive structures, including the long above-ground building along the perimeter of the settlement, and the well. The building will have functioned as a defensive structure and as living quarters. After it had been destroyed by fire the defenses were rebuilt and reinforced.