BULLETIN OF ARCHAEOLOGY, ANTHROPOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY  ¹ 5  (2005)

Archaeology

Zakh V. A.  

 Evolution of Cultural Entity with Pit-and-Comb Pottery

The article deals with evolution and distribution of comb-and-pit pottery complexes within different cultures on West Siberian territory in the Late Holocene. It is noted that these complexes reached their full flourish and maximum distribution (almost through the whole territory of West Siberia) during a climatic optimum of sub-boreal Holocene. The process is related with a high adaptive capacity to assimilation processes among comb-and-pit ornamental pattern bearers treated by many researchers as ancestors of modern Nenets people.  

 

Sarapulova N. G.

On Historiography of the Andreevsky Culture

The author has compiled historiographical materials regarding origin and further evolution of the Andreevsky culture. Subject to consideration being opinions and approaches towards identification and investigation of the Andreevsky culture made by archaeologists in different years. Resulting from historiographical analysis, the author summarizes different viewpoints expressed by researchers of the Andreevsky culture.

 

Poshekhonova O. E.

Particulars of Pottery Production among the Neolithic population of the Tobol-Ishim Basin

The article describes particulars of technological traditions with respect to the Neolithic pottery production in the Tobol-Ishim basin. The paper is based on the collections obtained from a number of the Neolithic settlements of  Mergen 3, Yurtobor 3, and Mergen 6 related to different historical periods. The Boborykino people settling through a vast territory of the Tobol-Ishim basin were quite a developed ethnos with a definite production culture to be quite resistant to innovations. However, gradually they changing certain potter’s techniques, while preserving a general system of making pottery (attributed to the Koshkinsky type). Actually, the Koshkinsky relics have almost entirely preserved the Boborykino potter’s  technological traditions. Thus, they seem to be attributed just as the later stage of the Boborykino culture.

Skochina S. N.  

Economic Activities among the Settlers of the Eneolithic Settlement of Mergen 6

Basing on integrated analysis of stone and bone Eneolithic inventory, the paper defines features of economic activities among the settlers of the Mergen microzone in the Lower Ishim basin. The author identifies location of the Mergen 6 settlement among the other Eneolithic cultures of the adjacent territories.

 

Volkov Ye. N.

The Settlement of Imbyryaj-1

The article considers materials obtained from the settlement of Imbyryaj-1 located on the territory of the Ingalsky Valley complex represented by ancient and medieval sites. Cultural-and-chronological complexes of this settlement date back to the Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age. The Eneolithic complex is represented by materials analogous to the Shapkoulsky and Lybaevo relics. The most representative complex of the site is composed by materials dating back to the Early Bronze Age. Obvious similarity of the ornamental pottery patterns of Imbyryaj-1 with those of the Andrevsky Eneolithic culture makes it possible to conclude on continuity of these traditions. A representative series of clay sinkers could be also dated back to the same period. For the time being, the materials obtained from the settlement of Imbyryaj-1 are the only source reflecting the transformation result of the Andreevsky Eneolithic culture into tradition of the Early Bronze Age.

 

Zimina O. Yu.

Investigation of the Fortified Settlement of Karagaj-Aul 1 in the Lower Tobol Basin

The article summarizes investigation results with respect to the double-site fortified settlement of Karagaj-Aul 1 located at the junction of the Tap and Tobol in Tyumen Oblast. The available materials reflect contacts among the population of the late Bronze Age — Early Iron Age, testifying to the fact that the Itkoul culture was involved in the formation of the Baitovo look complexes in the forest zone of the Tobol basin.

 

Matveeva N. P., Zaitseva Ye. A.

Investigation of the Medieval Fortified Settlement of Barsoutchye in the Forest Trans-Urals

The article publishes materials on a new archaeological site — the settlement of Barsoutchye located on the Iska river, to be of great importance for investigation of cultural genesis of the West group of the Ugrians, as well as their contacts with neighbouring communities. Subject to partial investigation, by means of reconnaissance excavations on the citadel, being two semi-dug-outs and a ground dwelling within the settled area. It is a rich collection of the Yudino culture artefacts that has been obtained, including two thousand pottery fragments, articles of everyday life and armament, labour utensils, ornaments and cult things. A diverse pottery shaping and decoration, together with stratigraphic and planigraphic observations, enable to assume that the site was settled twice, namely, in the second half of the Õth — early ÕIth c. and in the late XIIth c. The authors trace evolution of the pottery complexes from open cups and vessels with a curved-out neck and primarily comb ornamentation to closed cups/vessels with a vertical and curved-in neck and decorations in plain pattern, and further on, to more  complex string ornamental compositions.

 

Troitskaya T. N.

A New Dwelling of the Early Iron Age in the Upper Ob Basin

The article publishes materials on a dwelling of the Bolsherechensky (Kamenka) culture from the settlement of Ordynskoye 9. It is of particular interest due to availability of two hearths: one of them used for heating and cooking, while the other — for production purposes. The latter has a pit and traces of non-ferrous metal working. The investigations revealed fragments of a kiln with a hemispherical vault, bronze splash outs, fragments of a melting pot, a broken knife and an awl used as raw material, and crushed bones used as high-temperature fuel.

 

BerlinaS. V., Filisyuk V. G.

On Reconstruction of a Roofing Structure of Ancient Semi-Dug Out Dwelling (basing on materials of the Sargatka culture)

Using method of limiting states, the authors undertook reconstruction of a roofing structure of the Sargatka semi-dug out dwellings. Subject to calculation being ultimate load on carrying roofing structures and supporting pillars. The paper describes possible options of warmth-keeping jackets, their characteristics and thickness. It defines the purpose of roofing additional pillars, namely, load redistribution from the walls. Investigation of general structure of roofing and walls showed that such construction was quite strong and would prevent from collapsing of the walls.

 

Matveeva N. P., Chikunova I. Yu., Orlova L. A., Poklontsev A. S.

New Investigations of the Rafailovo Settlement

Basing on results of recent archaeological excavations, the article concludes on type, chronology, and evolution with respect to fortifications of the Rafailovo settlement. It has been determined that its functioning period covered almost one thousand years and was accompanied by several major reconstruction works of dwellings and fortifications. The total area of the citadels, as well as sizes of the fortifications, would increase from stage to stage. The paper cites on the fortification dating, according to Ñ-14. It considers details of wood-and-ground constructions of the rampart, as well as paleozoological and pottery complexes. The authors suggest reconstruction of the Rafailovo settlement outer look in different periods of its existence. They conclude on early stage contacts between the Rafailovo settlers and the bearers of the Baitovo culture, while in the later periods — mostly with the Gorokhovo population, and still later — with the Kashino one.

 

Metz F. I.

Where Could the «Aryan Bears» Leave Their Traces?

The article is devoted to correlation between the data of ancient written tradition and archaeological data as to the existence of the Sarmatian tribe of the «Aryan bears». The analysis of the information on locations of the sites commemorating a bear image, enables to assume that primordial dwelling territory of this tribe was steppe zone of South Urals. About the IIIrd c. B.C., the «Aryan bears», among  the other Sarmatian tribes, were involved into a broad migration process covering almost the entire Eurasian steppe zone. The available data on time and direction of the Sarmatian migrations, are well correlated with such sacral articles found in several complexes as vessels with bear-shaped handles. The findings have led the author to conclude that these complexes were left by representatives of the «Aryan bears». Thus, apart from South Urals, traces of the «Aryan bears», might be followed in the East Aral basin, in the Middle Don, and in the interfluve of the Dnestr and Prut.