Селище 1 – нова пам’ятка доби первісності в басейні р. Рихта

In the spring of 2024, a detachment of the SE «SRC «Protective Archaeology Service of Ukraine» and the Ovruch Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS of Ukraine carried out reconnaissance work within the Korosten district of Zhytomyr region in the interfluve of the Irsha and Rychta rivers in the subsoil area of the Selyshchanske titanium ore deposit.

Particularly detailed explorations were carried out in the middle reaches of the Rykhta river. The micro region was of interest due to two circumstances: the proximity of the Mousterian site of Rykhta and evidence of an ancient fortification near the village of Selyshche.

The cape-type hillfort, 60×50 m in size, surrounded by a ditch and a barely visible rampart on the left bank of the Rychta river was recorded in 1983 by R. Orlov. Surveys in 2024 did not confirm the presence of a fortified archaeological site in this micro region. Presumably, R. Orlov trusted a local legend and mistook the bunding of an ancient cemetery for the remains of the fortifications.

Instead, in 2024, seven new archaeological sites of different periods were discovered and examined in the micro region. The article provides their brief characteristics. Five sites contain materials from the Final Paleolithic-Mesolithic period. The high concentration of prehistoric site indicates the existence of a center of campsites and workshops in the micro region, formed by related groups of primitive hunters who were guided by flint deposits. Areas with preserved cultural layers were recorded at the Selyshche 1 and Selyshche 4 sites. This feature distinguishes them from the known Final Paleolithic sites of the Zhytomyr region.

Exploratory excavations over an area of 5 m² were carried out at the site Selyshche 1. A representative collection of flint products has been formed, which includes 1 611 artifacts. The article describes in detail the methodology of the excavations; the stratigraphy of the layers and the planigraphy of the finds within the excavation are considered; each category of artifacts is analyzed, among which a series of hunting tools stands out, represented by a massive trapezoid and three fragments of tanged points; the sequence of stages and technology of the process of splitting flint raw materials are traced; considerations are given as to its cultural and chronological affiliation of the site.

The authors come to the conclusion that the flint complex of the Selyshche 1 site correlates with the materials of the Krasnosillya culture of the Final Paleolithic period, but at the same time has certain common features with the complexes of the Pisochnyi Riv culture.