Savelieva K. Terracotta Figurines in the Context of the History and Spiritual Culture of the Population of the Lower Dnіestеr Region in Ancient Times

This dissertation is devoted to the study of terracotta figurines from the ancient poleis and rural settlements of the Lower Dniester region. Nowadays, as a result of the systematic excavations of Nikonion and Tyras, considerable material has been accumulated that needs to be introduced to scientific circulation. The source base of the study totals more than four hundred units and covers the period from the last third of the 6th century BCE to the middle of the 3rd century CE. Studying the stratigraphy of the findings made it possible to create a typology of figurines, which is based both on a chronological principle and on the definitions of its iconography. The most justified principle is the distribution of items first in chronology, and only then in iconography and form. The studied materials are divided into four chronological groups (1 — Late Archaic, 2 — Classical, 3 — Hellenistic, 4 — Provincial-Roman periods). This approach made it possible to trace the quantitative and qualitative changes that have taken place in the terracotta figurines of the Lower Dniester region throughout its history. The analysis of Nikonion and Tyras terracotta figurines, which have archeologically based dating, allowed us to establish the main tendencies of appearance, distribution and dynamics of the use of products of the coroplastic art of these cities at different historical stages.