Serikov Yu.B.

An unusual collective Neolithic burial in the Kumysh cave (Middle Urals)

The article presents materials of a Neolithic collective burial complex, containing burials of three women, two newborn babies, and two fetuses. The children’s remains stayed in a stone box in the centre of the grave. At the head of the grave there was a cup made of a one year old child’ calvaria, filled with ochre. Of a considerable interest being a pendant made of ophite in the form of a human face as well as bison and mammoth bones in the burial inventory.

Burial rite, a cup made of calvaria, secondary use of ancient artifacts and findings.

Volkov Ye.N.

A Neolithic complex of Kurja 1 settlement

The article considers materials of the Neolithic Age from the area of a multi-layered settlement of Kurja 1 in the Tyumen Low Tobol basin. We managed to determine that a Neolithic complex of the settlement was represented by materials of the Boborykino and Poludenka cultures. Stratigraphic features of the object allow to advance a hypothesis of the older age of the Boborykino settlement as compared with the Poludenka one. The available data do not contradict to the assumption that dwellings 1 and 2, investigated at the site, belong to the Boborykino culture.

Pottery, dwelling, the Poludenka culture, the Boborykino culture, the Kozlov culture, Neolithic, ornamental tradition, Low Tobol basin, chronology, Kurja 1, settlement.

Zakh V.A.

On the notion of «transitional period» in the archaeology of West Siberia

The article considers a notion of transitional period in the archaeology of West Siberia. Following one of the definitions, it is an abrupt jump like transition into a new state, differing from evolutionary development stage in intensity and unrhythmical character of processes not at the cost of evolution, but at the cost of adoption. It is regarded that changing of elements has different orientation and different regularities in related cultures and heterogeneous cultures. The main reason of transitional periods in West Siberian forest-and-steppe and south taiga being climatic and landscape transformations which resulted in ecological and economic crises, migrations, interac-tion of hetero-ethnical cultures, and development of transitional cultures.  

Transitional period, climatic changes, landscape transformation, migration, assimilation, duration and limitations of transitional period.

Kostomarov V.M.

Materials regarding settlement of Uk XIV (Uk 6) in the context of studying heterochronous traditions of ancient population of the Low Tobol basin

The article presents results of archaeological studies with regard to settlement of Uk XIV. Materials obtained in the course of excavations and dating back to the Neolithic, the Eneolithic, Early Iron Age and Late Bronze Age make it possible to enlarge our knowledge about bearers of ancient cultures and basing on the new material, address to urgent questions of their genesis.  

Settlement of Uk XIV, the Bajryk culture, Early Iron Age, the Pakhomovo culture, transitional periods.

Bersenyeva N.A., Gilmitdinova A.Kh.

Children’s burials of early nomads from South Urals (IV–II cc. B.C.)

The article is devoted to children’s burials of early nomads from South Urals (IV–II cc. B.C.). The suggested investigation showed a principal opportunity to study socialization of children, basing on archaeological data. The absolute majority of children’s burials under five years of age being gender-neutral in terms of burial inventory. A process of involving children into activities claiming weapon’s use was extremely poorly reflected in this burial source. Gender socialization probably started at 3–5 years of age. To all appearances, the process was completed by 15–18 years of age by formation of an adult individual.

Early Iron Age, South Urals, children’s burials, socialization of children.

Borzunov V.A., Chemyakin Yu.P.

Karym settlements of taiga Low Ob basin

The article gives a description of Karym sites from West Siberian middle and north taiga, including fortified and unfortified settlements, as well as metal industry and metal working complexes. The authors point to diffe-rences between Karym settlements from Low Ob basin and Surgut Ob basin, as well as between their fortifications and dwellings. Subject to discovery being originality of a famous circular fortified settlement from south taiga left by a community with mixed population, including descendants of north Karym and south Sargatka groups.

West Siberia, taiga, early Middle Ages, Karym stage, settlements, fortifications, dwellings, industrial sites.