Sphero-conical Vessels from the Golden Horde Period Excavated at Solkhat and the Sites in Its Immediate Vicinity

Archaeological researches of the Crimean ulus of the Golden Horde discovered multitude of finds in the cultural layers from the late-thirteenth to the early fifteenth century, and particularly sphero-conical vessels. So far there existed no special studies addressing the sphero-conical vessels from Solkhat and its immediate vicinity. This article investigates the range of ware in question originating from 1978–2021archaeological researches. The materials in question reside in the State Hermitage Museum, Museum of Literature and Art of Staryi Krym, and the Crimean Tatar Museum of Cultural and Historical Heritage. At the moment, there is no information on the manufacture of this ware in the capital of the Crimean yurt of the Dzhuchi Ulus. The finds of sphero-conical vessels appeared at almost all the studied monuments in the fortified settlement of Solkhat. The most widespread are red-clay and grey-clay vessels decorated with “chain-mail” or “honeycomb” patterns. At this stage of the study, one can assume that the finds of sphero-conical vessels were related to the industries developed in the settlement. Moreover, the 2001 to 2008 archaeological research of the industrial settlement of Bokatash II did not uncover any fragment of sphero-conical vessel. The most part of sphero-conical vessels originate from excavation trench 46 located in the vicinity of the mediaeval bath in Georgievskaia ravine and researched in 2017. It could be indirect evidence that the vessels in question were transport containers for expensive and rapidly volatile liquids. An attempt has been made to systematize, analyse, and interpret this category of finds. The study addresses 50 finds total dated from the late thirteenth to the first half of the fifteenth centuries. The article includes the catalogue with detailed description of the ceramic finds and illustrations.