This paper presents a detailed analysis of the collection of red clay glazed ceramic ware featuring images of birds from the excavations of Sudak and now residing in the Museum Preserve of Sudak Fortress. The publication comprises 45 open-shaped vessels and one ceramic tile. Imported artefacts mostly from the Byzantine circle comprise 22% of them and Crimean products form 78%. Many finds are published for the first time. The products of the Byzantine circle dating back from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries mostly show a bird of the Accipitridae (probably eagle) and Columbidae. The dove is often depicted with palm branches and/or bunches of grapes which also have important meaning in Christianity. The dove most often occurred on the fourteenth- and fifteenth-century glazed ware ring of Crimean manufacture, where its image was probably associated with Christian symbols and Byzantine tradition. Original drawings of the birds demonstrate individual creativity of local craftsmen since there are many variants of such images. Some drawings allow the one to determine the breed of bird depicted by ceramic painters. Additionally, at the products of Crimean workshops represent at least four other species of birds, presumably swan, bustard, goose or duck, and heron or crane. The research undertaken allowed us to identify a few stylistic decorative series showing bird-shaped images, to discover the origin of artefacts, and to clarify the directions of various cultural influence on local ceramic production.

В статье описаны децентрализованные автономные организации, как субъект экономических отношений, рассмотрены варианты их использования в период санкционного давления, раскрыты недостатки этой технологии на текущем этапе. The article describes decentralized autonomous organizations as a subject of economic relations, considers options for their use during the period of sanctions pressure, reveals the shortcomings of this technology at the current stage.

Introduction. The focus of this study is on the material culture of one of the major cities of south-eastern Taurika Sugdeja in the 12th and early 13th centuries, as well as archaeological sources that allow to highlight stratified archaeological complexes and horizons of that time. Special attention is paid to the justification of chronological indicators presented by household objects, decorations, objects of Christian cult and imported red clay glazed ceramics. The latter, based on modern chronological developments and the archaeological situation, is the most important indicator. It is common to combine this pottery into a group of Middle Byzantine Production (MBP). Methods. The standard methods, which are usually involved for the study of archaeological materials, are used in the work: stratigraphic, typological, and comparative. Analysis. The materials from decades of excavation in Sudak, which are stored in archives and museum repositories now, have been studied again. As a result, 5 sites with layers of the 12th – early / first half of the 13th centuries have been located in the different part of the medieval site, including the port area, as well as more than two dozen finds of the MBP were attributed. Results. The newly obtained data allowed us to conclude that Sugdeja occupied a rather large area during the studied period and the city continued to maintain contacts with the Central Byzantine lands during all this time. Moreover, the findings of different stylistic and chronological types of ceramics indicate the presence of such contacts both during the reign of the Komnenoi and Angeloi, and after the conquest of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204.

Крепость Фуна является одним из ключевых памятников для изучения фортификационного зодчества Северного Причерноморья XV в. Планомерные археологические раскопки памятника проводились с 1980 г. в течение 11 полевых сезонов. К настоящему времени в деталях изучена строительная история и воссоздан архитектурный облик крепостного ансамбля Фуны, однако полная публикация материалов его раскопок остаётся актуальной. Наиболее яркие археологические комплексы относятся к завершающему этапу жизни крепости — 1459—1475 гг. Среди прочих внимание привлекают два объекта инфраструктуры замка — резервуары для сбора нечистот из уборной донжона и общественного туалета близ казармы. Несмотря на своё специфическое предназначение, они оказались насыщенными керамическим материалом, среди которого встречается как простая кухонно- столовая посуда, так и красочно декорированные поливные изделия местного производства, в том числе с монограммой владельца замка принца Александра, а также импортные сосуды из Испании и предположительно Анатолии. Их детальному анализу посвящена настоящая статья. The Funa fortress is one of the key sites for the study of the 15th c. fortification architecture of the Northern Black Sea Region. The archaeological excavations were carried out there during 11 field seasons from 1980 till 1995. To date, the history of construction has been studied in detail and the architecture of the fortress ensemble has been recreated. However, the publication of materials from excavation of the site is still an actual question. The richest archaeological assemblages relate to the final stage of the fortress's life — 1459—1475. Cesspools of the donjon and of the public toilet near the barracks drew attention among others. They were full of ceramic material despite their specific functions. There are 1 two-handed jug, 3 kitchen pots, 2 of which are imported, 1 small goblet and 24 glazed bowls among the finds that were partially or fully reconstructed. The most of glazed ceramics are the local plain and sgraffito wares, two of which were decorated with the monogram of Prince Alexander, the owner of the castle. Three bowls are imported from Spain and, presumably, Anatolia. A detailed analysis of these findings is represented in the proposed study.

Introduction. Three exemplars of Middle Eastern fritware of the 12th–13th centuries, which were first discovered on the territory of a Byzantine town on the Eski-Kermen plateau during the excavations in 2018 and 2019, are presented in the article. They belong to the three different decorative groups, which had not been found in the Crimea before and are rather rare in the archaeological sites of Eastern Europe in general. Methods. The methods of archaeology and art history are involved in the study. First of all these are a stratigraphic method for the chronology of the contexts and artifacts, as well as a comparative method to identify the origin of finds. Analysis. The vessels under study belong to different decorative and stylistic groups of oriental ceramics. The plate and one jug find parallels among the products of the Raqqa workshops from the first half to mid 12th century and late 12th to mid 13th century. Another jug most likely comes from Iran and can be dated to the 12th–13th centuries. Results. These kinds of vessels were not very common outside the region of their production. At least we have very little information about these facts now. So the finds from Eski-Kermen are important for expanding the area of distribution of these types of fritwares. In addition, their presence in a small provincial Byzantine town indicates the residence there in the 12th–13th centuries of the local elites, who could get and own such expensive and quite rare things.