Regarding about the Cultural Attribution of Hill Forts in Braslav Poozerye

Abstract

Braslav Poozerye is situated in the northwestern part of Belarus. Here hill forts mainly of hill type, at least – fortified settlements located on the eskers ridges have spread since the Late Bronze Age. The most part of hill forts in this region has been known since the end of the 19th century. Information about it is included in “Archaeological maps” created by F. Pokrovsky, but excavation of these settlements hasn’t carried out till 1970’s. Purposeful research of early hill forts in Braslav Poozerye has been carried out by the author since 1992. During this period he has undertaken extensive excavations at the sites of Tarilovo (Uklja), Zazony, Ratjunki, Podvarinka. Last years A. Medvedev and Z. Haritonovich announced thesis about attribution of these settlements to Dnieper-Dvina culture. But research of hill forts in this region showed that they had passed under the control of Late Hatched Ware Culture by the beginning of the 1st century AD.