Afanasyev G.E.

Key words: Saltovo-Mayatsk culture, Bulgarians, Khazarians, Alans, kitchenware, pots, cauldrons, Central Caucasus, Middle Don.
The article covers the topic of Saltovo-Mayatsk kitchen ware (pots and cauldrons) as a possible marker of the settling of Turkic-speaking Bulgar and Khazar tribes in Southeastern Europe. Analysis of the methodological approaches and correlation of the pottery specimens with the anthropological characteristics of the population allow assuming that the above hypothesis is untenable. The author concludes that the Alanic population of the Middle Don basin and the early medieval population of the Central Caucasus had been manufacturing such ware since and an earlier time.