Served on a Plate: A Late Medieval Ceramic Vessel with Sgraffito Decoration of a Sailing Ship from the Ropotamo Underwater Excavations, Black Sea, Bulgaria

We report on the interpretation of a late medieval Eastern Mediterranean glazed ceramic vessel with sgraffito decoration depicting a sailing ship. The artefact represents a chance find that was recovered outside the excavation area of the Ropotamo underwater archaeological excavations on the Southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast in 2017. Fragments of late medieval sgraffito-decorated ceramics with depictions of sailing ships are rare. Complete examples can be considered exceptional. The Ropotamo artefact is of particular interest due to the freehand execution of its decoration, which suggests some understanding of contemporary ship proportions and seafaring practices on behalf of the artisan. The specimen is analyzed against similar artefacts and discussed in the context of maritime graffiti from the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean regions. The aim is to establish its potential for studying archaeological ceramics and evaluate the extent to which the decoration reflects aspects of Eastern Mediterranean maritime culture of the late Byzantine and early post-Byzantine periods. More research is required to appreciate the full potential of the Ropotamo artefact. A hypothesis for origin, dating and significance has been proposed. However, due to a shortage of published parallels, it may be subject to further refinements in the future in case more stratified similis are identified.

MONEY CIRCULATION OF OLBIA PONTIUS AT THE FINAL STAGE OF CITY’S HISTORY

The aim of the study is to explain the unusually high for provincial city percentage of Roman denarii among the coins of ancient Olbia. Research methodology – principles of science, historicism, objectivity, generalization, historical-genetic and historical-typological. Scientific novelty. Some researchers of Olbia connected the final stage of its history with presence of barbarians, carriers of the Chernyakhiv culture (the second third of 3rd – the beginning of 5th c., the dominant population – the Goths). Other researchers believed that the material culture of the city retains its ancient character to the end. Modern analysis of finds from the late Roman layers of Olbia and its surroundings demonstrates undeniable Chernyakhiv analogies and shows the inclusion of the city in political and economic system of barbarians. The truth of this statement can be verified by comparing the numismatic materials of Chernyakhiv culture and Olbia of Roman times. In the area of this culture within the borders of former USSR, finds of more than 26 thousand Roman coins have been recorded. Coins modern to this culture (3rd – 4th c.) are a minority, and 78,7% are represented by earlier silver denarii of the 1st – 2nd c. The barbarians received these denarii from Rome as military contributions and subsidies or wage to military units. Some coins were put into circulation for internal payments. P. Karyshkovsky made statistical calculations of coins of the 1st – 4th c. from Olbia and found some local peculiarity. Unlike other ancient cities of Northern and Western Black Sea coast, among the Roman and provincial coins found in Olbia, the majority are denarii of the 1st – 2nd c.: 53,5% of finds. However, in Histria city (Western Black Sea Coast) denarii make only 17,3%. The peculiarity of Olbia collection can be explained by the history of this city. After the Gothic conquest (between the late 250s and early 270s), Olbia was reborn as small fortified town, a trade and craft center inhabited by Goth barbarians. The distribution of coin finds from the second half of 3rd to the beginning of 5th c. corresponds to the situation in Chernyakhiv culture. Issues of coins of that time came to its population in small quantities. However, the barbarians owned a large mass of old denarii of 1st – 2nd c. Some of them fall into the cultural layer of Olbia, which creates a false picture of money circulation of the city in early Roman times. The percentage of such denarii in Olbia without the participation of the later “Chernyakhiv” addition should be close to the percentage of denarii in Histria (17,3%). Conclusions. A feature of the money circulation of Olbia in Roman times is relatively large number of finds of denarii of the 1st – 2nd c. This can be explained by the fact that in the third quarter of 3rd c. the city was included into political and economic system of Chernyakhiv culture, where the main currency was the silver denarii of the 1st – 2nd c., which by that time were out of circulation in the Empire. The Olbia collection of Roman coins should be divided into the “Ancient” and “Chernyakhiv” (or “Late Antique”) periods, and the latter, in addition to coins of the second half of 3rd – 4th c., contains most of the denarii of the 1st – 2nd c.

DEMETRIOS CHOMATIANOS’ ACCOUNTS OF THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF BULGARIANS AND THE POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF THREE TOPONYMS FROM THE BULGARIAN NORTHERN BLACK SEA COAST

This article examines one of the latest and most controversial pieces of information about the origin of the Bulgars . In our attempt to establish its historical credibility, we compared the most important Greek and Old Bulgarian copies of St. Clement of Ohrid’s Life, and suggested a date and possible ideological motives behind the creation of so-called „Moesian legend”. Special attention is paid to the coincidence between the names of the modern Bulgarian cities and towns of Varna, Kavarna and Shabla and the toponyms registered in the Hittite inventory inscriptions of the 2nd millennium BCE.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE LOGISTIC SERVICE OF RAILWAY FERRY

Purpose. In modern conditions, Ukraine, having an extensive railway network and a developed infrastructure of seaports located on its Black Sea coast, is becoming a link in new goods delivery routes in the direction of the EU-China. Transportation of large consignments of goods in the direction is usually carried out in containers by sea transport. At the same time, such transportation is characterized, on the one hand, by a relatively low cost, and on the other hand, by rather long delivery times. An alternative case is transportation by mixed rail-water communication, which allows, with a moderate increase in cost, to achieve a significant reduction in the delivery time of goods. The economic attractiveness of such a transportation scheme depends significantly on the performance of ferry crossings in the Caspian and Black Seas. In this regard, the purpose of this work is to increase the efficiency of international ferry services by improving its logistics support on coastal ferry complexes. Methodology. To achieve the work purpose, methods of statistical analysis were used to determine the volume and structure of ferry traffic; simulation methods to determine effective options for loading ferries; theory of shunting work to optimize the car classification according to the cargo plan. Results. There were analyzed the requirements for ferry loading and developed a computer model that allows to create acceptable plans for the cars location on ferry decks (cargo plan). On the basis of the obtained variants of the cargo plan, the modeling of the multi-group trains forming by combinatorial and distribution methods has been carried out. Based on the simulation results, recommendations of choosing the effective method for train forming and the required number of cargo plan variants were given. Scientific novelty. The author has improved the method for determining the effective cargo plan of the ferry loading, which takes into account the process of forming the trains of cars to be supplied to the ferry. Practical significance. The obtained results can be used to improve the efficiency of international freight transportation management in mixed rail-water traffic.

Introduction and variety study of muscari on the Black Sea coast of Russia (Sochi)

Muscari are unpretentious, undemanding, at the same time highly ornamental plants that are widely spred and used in landscape design. Research on Muscari collection was conducted at the experimental base of Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2018-2021. The objects of research were: Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker and its varieties: ‘Early Giant’, ‘Fantasy Creation’, ‘Blue Spike’, ‘Touch of Snow’, ‘Dark Eyes’, ‘Peppermint’, Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten., Muscari comosum (L.) Mill (syn. Leopoldia comosa (L.) Parl.) ‘Plumosum’, Muscari racemosum Mill. and Muscari botryoides (L.) Mill. The research was carried out according to the developed methodology for studying low-growing flower crops. The characteristics of meteorological conditions were described based on the materials obtained from the weather archive of the Weather and Climate website. During the research, meteorological parameters differed both in the observation years and from the average long-term ones. Higher air temperatures with less precipitation were noted in almost all the research years during the rooting of bulbs (October-November). In the spring months, there was a significant reduction in the amount of precipitation in April and May, often at higher temperatures, which led to a reduction in the duration of the growing season. Phenological observations have shown that Muscari intensively vegetated, bloomed and bore fruit. Vegetation, depending on the variety and the condition of the year, began in late December — early January in early and medium varieties, while in early–mid February — in late varieties. Blooming of early varieties was noted in early–mid March; middle varieties bloomed in mid–late March, late varieties – in the early-mid April. As a result of the conducted research, the ornamental value of 11 Muscari species and varieties has been evaluated. The following varieties with high parameters of ornamental qualities were identified: M. neglectum (58), ‘Fantasy Creation’ (58), ‘Miss Vain’ (58), M. racemosum (58), M. botryoides (58), ‘Blue Spike’ (59). The study of the Muscari collection of Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences has shown that all varieties have high ornamental qualities and long blooming and can be used in landscaping.

Selecting anemona coronaria. The results of intervarietal crossing

Anemone coronaria is a promising flower crop for cultivation with the lowest energy costs in the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, since it does not require additional heating in winter. The aim of the research was to develop new Anemone coronaria varieties. The paper presents the results of 30 crossing combinations of Anemone coronaria L. Inheritance of ornamental features of a flower (flower diameter, height and strength of peduncle) by seedlings of the first generation was studied. When crossing varieties of the De Caen group, the highest percentage of seedlings with a different perianth diameter was found in the combination Sylphide×The Bride (82.3 %). A high percentage of seedlings inheriting the paternal size of the flower was found in the crosses The Bride×Mr. Fokker (33.3 %) and The Bride×Hollandia (43.5 %). From 2/3 to 4/5 of the studied seedlings did not inherit the parental size of the flower during intravarietal crosses in the De Caen group. In the crosses Hollandia×Hollandia, Sylphide×Sylphide, the propagules were showed an increase in the diameter of the perianth. Having studied the possibility of transferring certain features to the first generation by group of the St. Brigid varieties, the highest percentage of seedlings with a different perianth diameter was found in the combinations Admiral × Mount Everest (65.0 %), Admiral×The Governor (66.2 %) and Lord Lieutenant×Mount Everest (70.6 %). When crossing varieties with a semi-double perianth, the highest percentage of seedlings repeating the size of the mother variety in flower size was observed in the combination the Governor×Mount Everest (47.0 %). The highest percentage of seedlings with a perianth diameter characterized by the parent variety was observed in the combination Moynt Everest×Lord Lieutenant (66.7 %). When varieties with different perianth colors of the De Caen group were crossed, the habitus of the obtained seedlings of the Anemone coronaria was larger and the peduncle strength either remained parental or exceeded it. The peduncle diameter increased by 1-2 mm. The largest number of seedlings with a large perianth and a high, strong peduncle was obtained by hybridizing the following varieties: Sylphide×The Bride, Sylphide×Sylphide, The Governor×The Governor, Hollandia×The Bride, Mr. Fokker×Hollandia, Sylphide×Hollandia, Hollandia×The Governor, Sylphide×Admiral, The Bride×The Governor, Lord Lieutenant×Mount Everest.

Studying of Local Ancient Greek Pottery of Olbia and Borysthenes (Historiographical Aspect)

The article is devoted to the studying of antient Greek pottery on the example of the centers of the Lower Buh River region in the works of Ukrainian and foreign scholars. An analysis of publications on the production of local ceramics, production areas of Olbia and the settlement on Berezan island at different times is offered; the main tendencies of studying the raw material base of the region are considered. The article was prepared as a part of the Scientific and Research Work (SRW) of young researchers of the NAS of Ukraine 2021—2022: «Raw material base as a factor in the development of pottery of the antient centers of the North-Western Black Sea Coast (Olbia and Berezan)» (state registration No. 0121U112024).