Vikentii Khvoika
Discover the Ukrainian archaeologist whose pioneering work on the Trypillia culture helped to shed light on the early history of Ukraine
Vikentii Khvoilka by Vikenty Khvoyka is the discoverer of Trypilsk, Zarubynetsk, and Chernyakhiv cultures Marysia Tyshkevich for Ukrainian interestCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Working in over 50 sites around Ukraine, Vikentii Khvoika became the founder and pioneer of Ukrainian archaeology.
Vikentii Khvoika had been exploring big areas, finding flint tools and mammoth bones. He determined that the area covered 9,000 square meters and that his finds can be dated back to as early as the Paleolithic era. This way, Khvoika opened the Kyrylivska archeological site, one of the unique signs of ancient people on the territory of Ukraine.
Vikentii Khvoilka by Vikenty Khvoyka is the discoverer of Trypilsk, Zarubynetsk, and Chernyakhiv cultures Marysia Tyshkevich for Ukrainian interestCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Later on, Vikentii Khvoika made one of the most important discoveries that would fix his name in Ukrainian history. The archeologist uncovered the Trypillian culture, opening to the world one of the first Neolithic farming cultures on the territory of modern Ukraine.
The Trypillian culture emerged in the second half of the 6th millennium BC and functioned for more than 2,500 years. The overall living area of the representatives of Trypillian culture encompassed territories within the forest-steppe zone, from the Carpathians in the west to the Dnipro Valley in the east, extending into the steppe to the north-west.
Tripillya plateCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
The Trypillian culture is characterized by a rich variety of ceramic pieces used in everyday life. Its typical features include the presence of painted elements and different types of peculiar patterns. Here you can see the Trypillian plate with such decorations.
Tripillya Jug lightCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Another feature of the Trypillian ceramic pieces lies in their notable carved patterns, which can be observed on this Trypillian dark jug. Anthropomorphic and zoomorphic plasticity were also popular among the Trypillians. Ceramic art was one of the culture's major achievements.
Vikentii Khvoilka by The cover of the Radio First podcastCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Apart from the Trypillia, Vikentii Khvoika played an important role in establishing the Kyiv Museum of Antiquities and Arts, today known as the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. Overall, the scientist made an invaluable contribution to understanding Ukrainian culture.
Text: based on text by Kateryna Nosko
Original text from the album of the Prominent Ukrainians project, published jointly by Pictoric Illustrators Club, Pavlo Gudimov Ya Gallery Art Center, Artbook Publishing House and Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Photo:
Marysia Tyshkevich for Ukrainian interest
