Comparative characteristics of ceramics sets from early medieval settlements of Gorodok 1 and Yuryevskaya gorka

The paper analyzes ceramics sets from the well-known unfortified settlements of Gorodok 1 and Yuryevskaya Gorka located in the Msta Upstream region, using the same classification scheme. Both settlements are dated to the third quarter of I millennium. Gorodok 1 is attributed to the Pskov long barrows culture. Not all researchers share the view that Yuryevskaya Gorka belongs to a different historical period. The present comparison provides an opportunity to reveal a lack of similarity between these two settlements based on frequent finds. Ceramic vessels of type 11 predominate at Gorodok 1, while Yuryevskaya Gorka has mostly yielded vessels of types 7 and 8. These results allow us to talk with fair confidence about differences in their cultural affiliation and, therefore, different population groups that left behind these settlements. Similar presence of ceramics of types 6, 10 and shapes 2 and 3 is apparently linked to common local background.