Here we present the results of the technical and technological analysis of pottery from one dugout (4 vessels) and 22 graves (23 vessels) of the Chini cemetery (Chukchi Peninsula). We found that potters of the Old Bering Sea Culture used mainly ferruginous, weakly sanded clay in the production of pottery. Two recipes for moulding clay were found in the dugout and five in the burial ground. The construction of the hollow body was made by patchwork layering, presumably on a base mould. Smooth or embossed knockout was used for shaping. The surfaces were worked by troweling. Five vessels from different burials demonstrate the effect of residual plasticity of molding mass. The area of the Chini cemetery was used by different groups of the Old Bering Sea Culture with different pottery traditions. At least three different groups can be distinguished, which used different recipes for the moulding mass. The absence of hybrid recipes indicates that there was no mixing of pottery skills between these groups. Similar pattern is also characteristic for the pottery found in the dugout. The spatial context of the cemetery shows that different groups of the Old Bering Sea Culture developed different parts of the Chini cemetery. Group 1 built their tombs in the northeastern part of the cemetery, while Group 2 — mainly in the central part. Burials of Group 3 are located on the periphery of the cemetery. Pottery of groups 2 and 3 existed at the same time, as two vessels made from two different recipes were found in burial 8. Presented information reveals the dynamic history of a distinct group of Neo-Eskimos who left the Chini cemetery. These data indicate a significant influence of ancient populations related to Paleo-Eskimos and ancestors of the Chukchi on this group, and also suggest participation of women of various communities in pottery production.

Keywords: archaeology, Chukotka, Chini cemetery, Old Bering Sea Culture, ceramics, technical and technological analysis.

 

Funding. This study was supported by Russian Science Foundation, Project № 22-18-00319 “The genesis of the Ancient Cultures of the Extreme North-East of Asia”.

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Accepted: 03.10.2024

Article is published: 15.12.2024