Information potential of the cultural deposit destroyed by ploughing

The paper discusses some problems related to the information potential of the cultural deposits destroyed as a result of century-long ploughing. The attitude to the cultural layers affected by ploughing is discussed, since the latter are commonly regarded as archaeological sources of limited value, a kind of dump. Analysis of materials obtained in the course of investigation of dwelling and burial sites of the 9 th - 13 th cc. has led the author to the conclusion that the deposits destroyed by ploughing preserve significant body of valuable archaeological information, which gives grounds to suggest reliable interpretation of the sites.