Polivaniv Yar
Поліванів Яр · Polivaniv Yar III · Polivanov Yar · Polivanov Yar Cucuteni A
Eneolithic Precucuteni → Cucuteni A (5100–4500 BCE) Western·Precucuteni–Cucuteni A (Western Cucuteni-Trypillia earliest)·🇺🇦 Chernivtsi Oblast, Dnistrovskyi Raion, Polivaniv Yar cape on Dniester right bank near Khotyn (Dniester middle, Bessarabia), Ukraine
About
About Polivaniv Yar
Polivaniv Yar III (Polivanov Yar) — Precucuteni → Cucuteni A stratified tell (c.5100–4500 BCE, 2 ha, 6 horizons) on Dniester cape at Khotyn, Chernivtsi, Bessarabia border. Key Western Trypillia early phase with Boian–Precucuteni imports, red-white painted ware, fortified ditch 2.5 m, 40 houses per horizon, painted anthropomorphic vessels. Distribution map marker #13 linking Cucuteni core to Dniester. Excavated T. Popova, V. Sorokin: transition Precucuteni II to Cucuteni A1–A2. Links Romanian Cucuteni type site to Buh–Dniester Trypillia A. Abandoned 4500 with Cucuteni A shift north.
Why it mattersDniester cape 2 ha bridging Precucuteni II → Cucuteni A (5100–4500) #13 map
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01A1 trichrome origin local or Cucuteni import?
Theories
- 01Dniester as Precucuteni–Cucuteni bridge
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.5100 BCE Precucuteni II; 4800–4500 Cucuteni A peak
- Period
- Eneolithic Precucuteni → Cucuteni A (5100–4500 BCE) Western
- Culture
- Precucuteni–Cucuteni A (Western Cucuteni-Trypillia earliest)
- Builders
- Precucuteni farmers (Dniester cape ditch builders)
- Purpose
- Dniester cape stratified tell bridging Precucuteni to Cucuteni A on Bessarabian Dniester
- Abandoned
- c.4500 BCE (Cucuteni A2 northward)
- Rediscovered
- 1960s T. Popova Dniester survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
5100 BCE
Precucuteni II cape ditch 2.5 m
4800 BCE
Cucuteni A1 trichrome 40 houses horizon
1960s
Popova Dniester survey 6 horizons
On the ground
Structures & features
48.5200° N · 26.6500° E · 190 m · 3 mapped features
Cape Ditch 2.5 m
earthworkDniester cape ditch 2.5 m wide enclosing Precucuteni horizon 5100 BCE
48.5205° N · 26.6505° EHorizon Cucuteni A1 House Cluster
house cluster40 houses Cucuteni A1 horizon with trichrome start and anthropomorphic vessels
48.5195° N · 26.6490° EDniester Cape Edge
cliffDniester right-bank cliff 190 m a.s.l. above Khotyn bend
48.5210° N · 26.6510° E