Mostišeni maze

The area of ​​the Mostyschensky settlement is 2.3 hectares. During the excavations there were found the remains of defensive fortifications of the Scythian time on two capes. Here, on two headlands were found the remains of defensive fortifications (fortifications) of the Scythian time - the Mostischensky settlement and the Averinsky settlement , which appeared on Middle Don in the 6th century. BC e.

Mostischensky settlement of small size, archaeologists found the remains of only six residential buildings. The buildings of the Yurt type are located on the edges of the settlement, on the outskirts of the cape, and one of the buildings is on its very edge. All yurts are similar, up to 20 square meters, with rectangular bases and pillar-like pits in the center. In one of them traces of the hearth were found, and some wool fibers were found on the floor of the yurt. Archaeologists were able to determine the entrance to the room, it is directed towards the cape slope. Due to the fact that residential buildings were almost on a slope, residents had to deepen the place to level the floor. The same buildings were discovered by archaeologists and at the excavations of the Rossoshka 1 Settlement "Krutsy" . But on the Mostischensky settlement, the inhabitants did not use the central, almost flat part of the settlement for construction. Obviously that the choice of sites for the construction of dwellings were subordinate and similar to the security functions of the settlement. Around the central part of the settlement (including the ancient labyrinth) economic pits were found, there are more than 60 of them, half of them are grains. By all indications, the pits were not used at the same time (taking into account two periods in the life of the settlement), as were the dwellings themselves. Judging by the size of the dwellings, in each of them could live from 4 to 8 people, and in three, therefore, no more than 25 people. This figure can not correspond to the number of either the clan or the neighboring community.

A burial ground was found on the square of the Mostischensky settlement, which included five graves: three adults, a teenager and a baby. An iron akinak and a bone amulet were found from funeral things. The graves were made on the ancient horizon and overwhelmed with stones.

Most likely it is assumed that the inhabitants of the Mostyshchensky settlement were mainly carrying guard service here. In this case, the site could belong to representatives of the authorities - the leaders of the tribes or priests. Perhaps the inhabitants of the settlement were dependent people: tribesmen of the lower class, maybe slaves. Public meetings were held here and judging by the size of the remnants of the garishches (fires - hearths) outside of the fortification site (to the south) some festivals, rites of sacrifices or other ceremonies; Here inhabitants from nearby settlements could take cover in case of danger. As for the defensive fortifications, they were probably built by the efforts of several neighboring communities or with the hands of ... slaves or captives from other tribes. Perhaps the defenders of the Mostischensky settlement and the labyrinth did not succeed in repulsing the unexpected attack of the nomadic Scythians, who literally showered arrows from the settlement fortification and changed the way of life in the settlement during the attack and from which both old and small suffered. Residents should have expected new forays, and another wealth must urgently be saved - the grain placed in the pits. The survivors had to bury the dead, and quietly remove the grain. Naturally, they did not have time to dig graves and observe the funeral ceremonies. So, the most likely reason for the departure of people from the settlement is complications caused by the military situation.

Along with the usual finds for the Scythian time, fragments of Ivan-Ugorsky-type vessels and catacomb culture were found . On the upper platform of the cape on the background of the mainland, there are reliefs of circular stone masonry. The masonry was preserved only fragmentary, they were repeatedly destroyed both in the Bronze Age and in the early Iron Age . The layout of the settlement includes a round central platform of stone pavement and six concentric rings-ellipses surrounding it, between which, in some cases, bridges are fixed. Both rings and lintels consist of stones laid out without special fitting and without any binder solution. Their maximum height did not exceed half a meter in antiquity; the larger diameter of the outer ring along the west-east line reaches 40 meters. That is, only the ruins of the structure have survived, which in its original form was architecturally complex and systemic, which leaves no doubt: these are remnants of the “megalithic” structure of religious use. It can be called a sanctuary - a maze .

This is how archaeologists describe the valley of Lukodonye and the Mostischensky settlement of ancient settlement: “If you climb the middle of three high Cretaceous capes hanging in a semicircle over the farm and face it, you will see a rare panorama of the valley formed by the confluence of three rivers at once : Potudani, Maidens and Don . From here, in clear weather, one can observe open spaces to the north for tens of kilometers. Almost as wide an overview of the area in the western and eastern sides. The place is amazing, allowing to control a large area with beautiful pastures, hunting and fishing grounds, as well as waterways in all directions . ”

The oldest settlement originated in the early Bronze Age. Around the same time, a stone labyrinth was built - the sanctuary. And in 5-4 centuries. BC e. This area has already been inhabited by tribes of the Middle Don culture. The excavations showed that there was a break in the history of the Mostischensky settlement, though it was not very long by archaeological measures. Moreover, both the early and late periods of its functioning are associated with the same ethno-cultural world. After several generations, the Mostischensky mound once again found life. Representatives of the same ethnocultural world came here. They restored the defensive fortifications: they covered the old ditch, instead of the old shaft they built a new one, its foundation was laid out on the entire five-meter width with stone taken from the square of the settlement. Stone and overlaid the shaft line from the side of the new moat. The new fortification was erected literally in front of the old one and parallel to it, so that the area of ​​the settlement increased by only a few meters. Coordinates of the stone labyrinth 51.027100 C 39.103600 V

• travel.rambler.ru/ Mostyshy maze