The article describes preliminary investigation results with respect to Paleolithic sites of the Derbina archaeo-logical zone in the northern part of the Krasnoyarsk water-reservoir. Up to now, about 20 sites are known here, most of which represent points of concentration of mass archaeological and faunistic material exposed on the river bank. Directly from profiles and digging points, faunistic remains of mammals, sporadic stone artefacts and all malacofauna were obtained. All the identified sites are dated back to two stages of the Late Paleolithic: the early stage (the Konoschelsky cold snap — 29–30 thous. years ago) and the late stage (the second half of the Sartansky cold snap — about 12–13 thous. years ago). The first group is associated with the sites of Derbina IV, V; Ust-Maltat I, II; and, presumably, Derbina II, VI, VII). All these sites share a number of common features with respect to  initial splitting (preservation of the elements made using the Levalluazsky technique, origin of a front splitting with an unstable shape pattern) and a set of stone implements (combination of bifacial and plate tools in one complex, similar shapes of spikes and scrubbers, non-availability of cutting tools). At the same time, one could trace certain differences between the complexes, most probably, due to chronological background. As a working hypothesis, we assume a variant of two stages existing in the Derbina industry during the Konoschelsky time within the Maltat area: the Ust-Maltat stage and the Derbina stage.

The camp site of Blizhny Log is taken as a reference item of the late Sartansky group. Sporadic artefacts of that time were obtained at the sites of Maltat and Derbina IV, IX.

Assumed two development directions in the Derbina Paleolithic of the Sartansky time: the Maltat direction — with V-shaped micronuclei, and the Blizhny Log direction — with prismatic micronuclei.

The Pleistocene profile at the site of Derbina V is a reference point for the Derbina archaeological zone. The article considers the site proper which is confined to the Derbina pedosediment. The authors examine malacofauna from the pedosediment at this site and its paleogeographical importance. Basic attention is paid to the stone industry obtained from the site up to 2000 inclusive. A special consideration is given to nuclei, scrubbers, scraping knives, spikes and tapered implements, as well as bifacial, chisel-shaped and pebbled tools.

On the territory of the Lower Tobol basin, according to some experts, during the Eneolothic several cultures coexisted, of which the Andreevsky, Shapkulsky and close to Lipchinsky cultures being most representative. Basing on a stratigraphic position of the materials obtained from the settlement of Chechkino-2, the Shapkulsky complexes could be said as the earliest ones, while complexes with pit-and-comb and coarsely pricked out ornament being of later stratigraphic position. Radiocarbon dating on the carbon of the Shapkulsky materials from Chechkino-2 well accords with datings of several Lower Tobol burial grounds fitting to a period of the late 4th — early 3rd millennium B. C.

Subject to publication being the Neolithic materials from the settlement of Mergen-3 located by the Mergen lake in the Lower Ishim basin. The authors consider the settlement complexes, also the pottery ornamentation. A trass analysis of the flint implements points to developed practices of treating wood, hides and other materials. The settlement complex finds similarities with the materials of the Boboryikino culture from among the sites of the Lower Ishim basin and the Lower Tobol basin. Judging by geomorphological position as well as spore-and-pollen spectres obtained from the profile, the settlement existed in the Early Atlantic period of the Holocene.

The article considers the materials of the late construction stratum at the settlement of Dvukhozernoye-1 located on the territory of the «Ingalsky Valley» complex of ancient and mediaeval sites. Within the area investigated through excavations, remains of a dwelling construction and several household pits used during the Eneolithic were found. Pottery being the most mass category of the archaeological findings coming from the Eneolithic cultural sediments. Analysis of the pottery from this site allowed to establish that the decorative features of this series found certain similarities with the materials of the Shapkulsky and Lipchinsky relics. Nevertheless, specificity of the ornamental pattern reflecting cultural originality of the series, prevents from direct correlation of the obtained materials with the Shapkulsky and Lipchinsky traditions. Taking into account a fact of joint circulation of the said groups of ancient pottery, as well as their distinct differences from the regional Eneolithic traditions known by now, a new type of archaeological sites — the Lyibaevo type — being singed out. In the author’s opinion, the Lyibaevo relics are typical of the Eneolithic of the northern forest-steppe in the Tyumen Lower Tobol basin where they fill a niche of the Shapkulsky and Lipchinsky sites.

Chemical-and Metallurgic Properties of Copper Implements in the Yam Culture of the South Lower Urals Basin
The authors give a description of chemical-and-metallurgic properties of copper tools coming from the Yam burial grounds of the South Lower Urals basin in  the second half of the 3rd millennium B. C. Composition of the articles is identified through using atomic-and-emission spectral analysis supplied with a brief description of applied methods. The spectro-analytical data showed that the South Ural metallurgists of the Yam concentration had generally used metallurgically clean copper comparable with the deposits of the Kargalinsky mining group.

The authors of the article introduce new materials into research circulation with respect to the Samussky earth burial ground at the heterochronous site of Krokhalevka-7A investigated in 2001. The paper gives a preliminary analysis of the implements and specific features of a burial ritual related with the first Samussky burial ground in the Novosibirsk Lower Ob basin. The obtained data substantially supplement the existing information on burial rite practices of this original culture of the developed Bronze Age.

The article represents materials on the burial ground of Bozengen — the most spectacular site of the Nurtajsky culture in the Central Kazakhstan. The site’s period of existence corresponds to the Novokumaksky chronological stratum. The burial ground includes 25 constructions of the Bronze Age of which investigated being 14 objects. A funeral rite is distinguished by burying in stone boxes and earth pits, according to a rite of inhumation and, as an exception, of cremation. Non-stable elements of the burial rite, availability of pottery with sharp-edged shaping and a sticked on ridge, as well as an original set of items make it possible to date it by the early stage in formation and development of sites of the Nurtajsky type.

The article represents materials on the burial ground of Bozengen — the most spectacular site of the Nurtajsky culture in the Central Kazakhstan. The site’s period of existence corresponds to the Novokumaksky chronological stratum. The burial ground includes 25 constructions of the Bronze Age of which investigated being 14 objects. A funeral rite is distinguished by burying in stone boxes and earth pits, according to a rite of inhumation and, as an exception, of cremation. Non-stable elements of the burial rite, availability of pottery with sharp-edged shaping and a sticked on ridge, as well as an original set of items make it possible to date it by the early stage in formation and development of sites of the Nurtajsky type. 

The article is devoted to the excavation results with respect to the Bronze Age settlement of Kamennaya Rechka III from the territory of the South Lower Urals basin. This period is relatively poorly provided with materials of permanent studies, despite mass character of settlements identified by exploration. The site described in this paper represents a rare example of an object located in the zone of the steppe and forest-steppe boundary. The Uj-Uvel area is a territory of dense grouping of about ten major Fyodorovo burial grounds under total non-availability of monocultural settlements.  

Identification of its position in the system of relative chronology (a period of the Late Bronze Age, according to the East European scale) raises no doubt, due to total non-availability of the Petrovka and Sargarinsky features in the metal and pottery. However, a distinctive colouring is added by practically total non-availability of «classical» Alakul features in the settlement pottery complex associated with certain types of ornaments typical of this culture. In this respect, a question of cultural attribution of the site, in which the Fyodorovo pottery group being also represented quite modestly, remains controversial. The Late Alakul interpretation of the settlement materials appears to be most fair.

The paper deals with the materials of the Late Bronze Age from the settlement of Zharkovo-1 located in the Kulunda steppe. The basis of the settlement complex is made up by the Sargarinsko-Alekseevsky pottery, while Begazyi-Dandyibaevsky, Stankovy and Irmen pottery being sporadic. Presence of the Sargarinsko-Alekseevsky pottery in the Irmen settlements might point to a certain role of the Sargarinsko-Alekseevsky population in building up the Irmen culture. The materials of the Sargarinsko-Alekseevsky culture are currently dated between the late 2nd — early 1st millennium B. C. which is confirmed by rather late look of the pottery — a big number of non-ornamented pottery, presence of «pearls», as well as rare availability of comb pattern and geometric figures in the ornamentation.

The article publishes cases of animal burials of the Early Iron Age (horses, pigs and a dog) found during excavations of the sites in the Novosibirsk Lower Ob basin. Basing on analysis of the findings, the authors single out remains of construction sacrifices related with constructing or operations of fortifications, as well as protection sacrifices in the course of violating human burials. 

The article touches upon a question of studying one of the household activities among the Sargatka population, namely, spinning craft. Subject to detailed analysis being a collection of spinning wheels including 153 items. The author singles out modeled spinning wheels of various shapes, as well as sharpened ones made of fragments of vessels, the latter dominating in number. The modeled spinning wheels were most likely used by the inhabitants of the Rafajlovo complex in the middle period of its existence. A conclusion is made as to yarn making for domestic use by each family.

The paper introduces into research circulation a complex of arrow-heads from the Zarechno-Ubinsky mound burial ground dated between the VIth — XVIIth cc. A. D. The author gives a general characteristic and classification of the well-preserved items, considering similarities with different types of articles. Subject to reconstruction being methods of putting on and attaching arrow-heads to an arrow-stuff.