Ceramics from the Andriivka settlement : new approaches to the preservation of archaeological material

The paper presents general information about the Volodymyrivka local group of the Cucuteni-Trypillia Cultural Complex (CTCC) and its material culture, based on ceramic material from the Andriivka settlement. This settlement is one of the few that belong to this local group. The research history of the Volodymyrivka group sites is described. It is noted that, apart from the eponymous site, where full-scale excavations were conducted, other settlements of this group were investigated using surface collection and test-pitting methods. The same approach was applied to the Andriivka settlement, whose materials became the subject of this article. The settlement itself is located on the south-eastern outskirts of the village of Andriivka, in the Novomyrhorod district of Kirovohrad region. According to preliminary estimates, the area of the Trypillia settlement covers about 60 ha. The main focus of the paper is on ceramic production, which is one of the key criteria for distinguishing local groups within the CTCC. The ceramic complex from the Andriivka settlement, which is part of the collection of the Archaeological Museum of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, includes vessels and clay figurines. Despite the fragmented nature of the material, it supports previous conclusions about the settlement’s belonging to the Volodymyrivka group of Trypillia sites. Additionally, part of the artefacts from the Andriivka settlement has been digitized. The digitization of museum collections plays an important role in the popularization of archaeological heritage and makes it more accessible to a wider audience. The digitized objects allow not only researchers but also all interested individuals to access information about the Trypillia culture, its development, and the characteristics of its material culture, particularly ceramic production. Consequently, the study of the ceramic complex from the Andriivka settlement provides valuable insights into the local features of ceramic production within the Volodymyrivka group of the CTCC. Key words: Keywords: Cucuteni-Trypillia Cultural Complex, Middle Buh region, Volodymyrivka group, Andriivka, ceramic production, digitization of museum collections.