Vybornov A.A., Vasilyeva I.N., Gilyazov F.F.

New data on the Zhe-Kalgan I site in the Northern Caspian region

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of materials of the Late Neolithic site in the Northern Caspian region. The typological method established the heterogeneity of the pottery complex. Technical and technological analysis of the initial plastic raw materials and the formula of molding clay demonstrated major differences, which allow distinguishing three groups. The comparison of the stone inventory of the site by different types of raw materials revealed two variants of the flint and quartzite complex. The first one is similar by tool types to the Kairshak materials (trapezoids, scrapers pointed and with a “muzzle”), and the second one — to the Tentexor ones (massiveness of blanks, the nature of retouching). This confirms the continuity of the stone industry from the Middle to Late Neolithic. Traceological analysis has shown that trapezoids with flattening retouching were used as arrowheads. The quartzite assemblages are closer to the Caspian Culture. From the radiocarbon dating results, the age of the Zhe-Kalgan I site is the youngest of the Tentexor-type monuments. As a result, it has been concluded that the site was inhabited several times during the Late Neolithic.

Keywords: Northern Caspian region, late Neolithic, ceramic and stone inventories.

 

Degtyareva A.D., Gubin A.A., Blinov I.A. 

Non-ferrous metal of the Petrovka Culture of the Southern Trans-Urals and Middle Tobol region according to scanning electron microscopy data

The article presents the results of analytical study of copper and bronze items of the 19^th–18^th c. BC Petrovka Culture based on scanning electron microscopy. The sample includes tools, ingots, weapons, and ornaments originating from the materials of settlements and burial grounds in the Southern Trans-Urals and Middle Tobol region (54 items). During the work, the surface of the products was visualized with a study of topology of distribution of the elemental composition and structure of the metal in secondary (SE) and back-scattered (BSE) electrons to identify the phase composition of the samples. The obtained results suggest that this period saw the beginning of the widespread development of covellite-chalcocite and fahlores with bornite, galena, and possibly rocks from the oxidation zones of pyrite deposits, along with the use of minerals from the upper part of the oxidation zone — malachite, azurite, and tenorite. Such innovative advances in mining technology resulted in significant improvements in casting and metal processing techniques. Copper ores enriched with arsenic minerals — arsenates and arsenides — were used in the charge when smelting metal, together with tin-containing ores. The sources of tin bronzes were deposits in Northern and Central Kazakhstan, where the ores are represented by both pure cassiterite and polymetallic associations with sulfides. The exchange of ingots and finished products made of Cu+Sn and Cu+Sn+As alloys developed rather intensively in the latitudinal, mainly western, direction.

Keywords: Southern Trans-Urals, Petrovka Сulture, Bronze Age, scanning electron microscopy, ancient metallurgy, types of raw material sources.

 

Petrov N.F., Kupriyanova E.V., Alaeva I.P., Chemyakin Yu.P., Ankushev M.N., Rassomakhin M.A.

Unidentified artifacts and ornament production in the Late Bronze Age of the Southern Trans-Urals

Materials of archaeological excavations of the Bronze Age sites contain many items, the functions of which are quite difficult to determine. The subject of this study is a group of artifacts that, in our opinion, are related to the production of ornaments: ceramic saucers with signs, molds, cross-shaped pendants. A number of molds and ceramic saucers contain prints similar in form to cross-shaped pendants — the only type of molded ornaments in the Bronze Age of the Southern Trans-Urals and Kazakhstan. At the same time, the dimensions of negatives on the molds and saucers do not match in size with known finds of cross-shaped pendants, which does not allow considering them as working specimens used for casting these ornaments. Regarding ceramic saucers, various versions about their functions, from ritual to production (molds), have been proposed. The X-ray fluorescence analysis of the inside of the prints on ceramic saucers recorded past contact with metal — tin and lead, and to a lesser extent with copper. Various types of scientific analyses have found that tin and lead are concentrated in large quantities in bronze alloys, used for making cross-shaped pendants. Based on this, a hypothesis has been proposed regarding their possible application combining the ritual and utilitarian aspects, i.e. their potential use in rituals related to the production of ornaments.

Keywords: Bronze Age, Petrovka culture, Alakul culture, metallurgy, ceramic saucers, molds, cross-shaped pendants, ornaments production.

 

Prokonova M.M., Matveeva N.P.

On the local features of the Sargatka Culture settlements in the Tobol River basin (based on pottery complex of the Rafailovo settlement)

The article is concerned with the problem of determination of local variants of the Early Iron Age Sargatka Culture in Western Siberian forest-steppe. The paper discusses the local differences between the Sargatka Culture sites based on the ceramic complexes. Pottery from the Rafailovo settlement was statistically analyzed taking into account the distribution of the items on building horizons and dated structures. This data was compared with collections of other settlements of the Tobol River basin, including the Pavlinovo hillfort. It has been determined that, in the set of forms, techniques and ornaments, the Sargatka Culture pottery of the Tobol region is consistent with the overall Sargatka standard. Chronological changes were traced only in the technique and motives of decoration. Some local features of the pottery have also been established. In the shapes, it is a small proportion of low and flat-bottomed vessels, and the absence of clay dishes. The carved ornamentation was the primary technique in the Tobol region. The continuous elements of Sargatka ornamentation prevailed: rows of inclined lines, horizontal and vertical herringbone pattern, vertical zigzags, pinches and a variety of festoons. The ware of the eastern area features carved ornamentation; in particular, the ornamentation of the early complexes is characterized by vessels with “pearls”, alien to other areas, probably dating back to the late Irmene tradition, and the later sites demonstrate an increasing proportion of vessels with dimpled and pricked patterns, possibly originating from the Bogochanovo Culture. However, pricked patterns are rare in the ornamentation of pottery of the Tobol region groups, while vertical herringbone, vertical zigzags and borders are common, which can be explained by the independent tendency of decoration in the west of the area at a later time. Significant appears the volume of adoptions by potters of the Tobol region from the western and northern neighbors. For the Tobol population, the houses appear to be more adapted for the settled lifestyle, and the funerary and defensive architecture is more complex, which may indicate a different ethnic environment and different lifeways. Further comparison of the well-studied sites of the Sargatka Culture should be carried out considering the micro-chronology of burial grounds and settlements, which will allow clarifying the nature and dynamics of interaction between the multicultural population of the Early Iron Age, both within single settlement and with various areas of the Sargatka Culture area.

Keywords: Western Siberia, Tobol basin, Early Iron Age, Sargatka culture, local features, pottery.

 

Zelenkov A.S., Korusenko M.A., Gerasimov Yu.V., Zdor M.Yu., Sleptsova A.V.

Complexes of the Migration period in the Alekseevka-51a kurgan cemetery (Omsk Irtysh region)

The article presents the Karym type complexes of the late 4^th — 5^th c. AD of the Lower Ob cultural and historical community (CHC), discovered in the Omsk Irtysh region near the Alekseevka village (Muromtsevo district of Omsk region). The Alekseevka-51a kurgan cemetery is located within the territory of the Alekseevka archaeological microregion, in the south-eastern outskirts of the Tara-Tuy Plain, on the right bank of the Tara River. The burial ground belongs within the late medieval settlement of Alekseevka-51 discovered in 2004 by M.A. Korusenko. In 2009 and 2010, under the leadership of M.Yu. Zdor and Yu.V. Gerasimov, mounds 12, 13, and 14 with collective and single burials containing figure-stamped pottery of the Karym type, fragments of belt sets and decorations from the Migration period were studied. This article provides their full publication, together with data from palaeoanthropological analysis. As a result, when describing burials and the interred ones, artifact assemblages and pottery, the authors discovered syncretic forest-steppe and taiga features in the burial ritual, as well as distant Eastern European and Trans-Ural similarities to the grave goods. The acquired data will further allow a more detailed determination of the distribution area of the Karym type sites of the Lower Ob CHC, clarification of the chronology, causes and consequences of the migration of taiga groups to the forest-steppe of Western Siberia.

Keywords: Western Siberia, Omsk Irtysh region, Karym type of monuments, burial complexes, Great migration of peoples.

 

Fribus A.V., Grushin S.P.

Between the taiga and the steppe: a new find of the “bears in a sacrificial pose” plaque from the Upper Ob region

The purpose of this study is a comprehensive analysis of a new find of a plaque depicting “bears in a sacrificial pose” from the Chumysh-Perekat necropolis. Such artifacts were widespread in the early Middle Ages in the taiga, forest and forest-steppe zone of Eurasia in vast territories from the Urals to the Achinsk-Mariinsk forest-steppe. The Chumysh-Perekat necropolis is located in the Upper Ob region, in the north-east of Altai Krai, on the right bank of the River Chumysh. Seventeen early medieval burials of the Odintsovo Culture have been studied there. The plaque was found in women's grave No. 30. The grave goods included some decorations and fragments of belt sets, which have similarities in complexes of the Kudyrge stage. At the same time, the plaque depicting “bears in a sacrificial pose” only finds analogies in the north, in necropolises of the Novosibirsk and Tomsk Ob regions. To date, more than 100 rectangular plaques with images of “bears in a sacrificial pose” are known. The presented find is one of the southernmost in Western Siberia. This artifact belongs to the vertical class, group 3 (depicting three bear heads), type 2 (the plate is divided into three vertical stripes, the bear heads are positioned on the central, widest part), subtype 3 (with a detailed imaging of bears’ face and paws), according to the typology of Yu.P. Chemyakin. Metal analyses show that the compositions of alloys used for the production of the plaques and belt sets found on site differ significantly. A copper-silver-tin-zinc alloy and lead brass were used for manufacturing belt plates. The plaque with “bears in a sacrificial pose” is made of copper-lead-tin alloy. The complex has been dated to the middle of the 7^th — turn of the 8^th c. AD. The micro-collective, whose representatives were buried in the Chumysh-Perekat, apparently was of a high social status. This is indicated by several facts: the presence of a number of male burials with a horse, the presence of “rich” and extraordinary female graves which include decorations, both of local origin and characteristic of the “Turkic” and “Ugric” world, finds of belt sets not only in male, but also in female and children’s burials, etc.

Keywords: Altai, Odintsovo culture, Verhneobskaya culture, cult сasting, early Middle Ages.

 

Kisagulov A.V., Ruslanov E.V.

Archaeozoological materials from the Late Medieval settlement of Yabalakly-1 (Southern Urals)

Here, we present the results of the study of osteological materials from the settlement of the Chiyalik Culture of the Golden Horde period. The site is located in the forest-steppe zone of the Cis-Ural region, in the Dema River basin, and it is dated to the end of the first — second half of the 14^th c. (1330/50–90). The analysis of the taxonomic affiliation of bone remains showed that cattle breeding predominated in the economy of the ancient population of the Yabalakaly-1 village. The species included three taxa — large and small cattle, and horse, with the prevalence of the former. A camel was found, which may indicate the existence of caravan trade. The analysis of the composition of skeletal sections suggests that animal carcasses were most likely butchered directly at the village. Wild mammal species are only represented by single bones. Game and fish constituted a small part of the population's diet. In general, the characteristics of the economy of the Yabalakly-1 community correspond to those of other sites of the Chiyalik Culture. The absence of pig bones is consistent with archaeological data on Muslim burials common in the Chiyalik Culture. The discovery of domestic chicken bones casts doubts on the perception of this population as semi-nomadic, however, more accurate conclusions will be drawn after the analysis of the slaughter season for the animals.

Keywords: Southern Urals, Dema River, The Golden Horde, late Middle Ages, Chiyalik culture, village, archaeozoology.

 

Gorokhov S.V.

Picket fastening methods in ostrog walls in Siberia and the Far East in the late 16^th — early 18^th century

Until now, the topic concerning the variety of ways of fastening individual logs into a palisade wall has remained out of sight of researchers. In fact, only one fastening method has been presented in historiography — “on pins”. However, not all authors associate the historical term “on pins” and the respective method of fastening — “dovetail attachment”. The purpose of the study, the results of which are presented in this article, was to identify and reconstruct all ways of individual log fastening into a palisade wall. The source base is represented by materials of archaeological excavations of wooden fortifications in Siberia, data from written sources that contain a description of fortifications in the Russian state, ethnographic data from Transbaikalia and Kostroma region, and graphical sources. The main research method was analytical comparison of the content of various fragmentary data characterizing different aspects of the same construction techniques. This allowed us to develop a holistic perception of each method of fastening logs in a palisade. During the study, it has been found that the term “on pins” does indicate a “dovetail attachment”. The manufacturing method of pin has been reconstructed, and its length has been determined analytically. The technology of erecting of a palisade wall “on pins” has been reco-vered. A criterion for attributing the palisade to the one on one or the one on two pins has been formulated. For the first time, such method of attachment of logs as “spike-groove” has been revealed: in the lower and/or upper parts of the pickets spikes were made, on which a block with grooves was hooked. Archaeological characteristics of a palisade with such fastening method of logs have been identified. Joining of adjacent logs into a longitudinal groove, and also with ropes, has been attributed to one of the methods of picket fastening. Fastening of logs in a thinned palisade (with a certain distance maintained between neighboring pickets) was achieved in a specific way. Two symmetrical grooves were selected in the upper quarter of the log. Then, a hole was made in the resulting partition, through which a beam was passed. Along with the “dovetail attachment” and with the help of the beam, an essential way of log fastening was their deepening into the ground. As a result of this research, it has also been found that the “pereklady” (crosspiece) structural element is not related to the methods of fastening logs in the palisade wall.

Keywords: Russian state, Siberia, wooden defensive fortifications, tyn, tyn wall, “on pins” (“na iglakh”) attachment, “spike-groove” (“ship-paz”) attachment, crosspiece (“pereklady”).

 

Vizgalov G.P., Parkhimovich S.G.

Siberian horse figurines

The purpose of the study is to determine the origin and purpose of a series of wooden horse figurines (“koniki”) found during the excavations of Russian towns in the north of Siberia in the layers of the 17^th — 18^th century. The Siberian collection includes 66 items from excavations of Mangazeya, Berezovsky settlement, Staroturukhansky settlement, and Poluisky town. Materials from Siberian cities show the continuity of the tradition of manufacturing stylized horse figurines of Novgorod forms, which continued until the end of the 18^th century. Morphological analysis of the Siberian collection showed the similarity and continuity of forms of the Siberian figurines with those from Novgorod. These are stylized flat figures, many with ears depicted, some with slightly open mouths. At the same time, the Siberian figurines acquired differences and new details. For example, some of them have carved saddles or wings, eyes and protruding tongues, and high arched necks. Unique are the two-headed figurine and three horses with steep ledges in the area of withers. All figurines have most realistically carved heads. In Slavic mythology, it was in the head where the soul of a creature and its vital force were located. When laying the foundation of a house, the head of a sacrificial animal replaced its body, and the soul embodied within would have become the owner-patron of the house. Two-thirds of the assemblage of Siberian horse figurines were found in ruins of residential and service buildings. They were continuously present near the inhabitants and were always available for “communication” with them. These “koniki”, same as the sacrificial ones, demonstrate the mythological perceptions of the Russian Siberians about house spirits in the form of a horse. The magical protection of the house and the estate as a whole was provided not only by mobile horses, but also by stationary images of horses in the exterior and interior of the buildings. “Mobile” horse figurines represented a horse hypostasis of house spirits — the guardians of the house. They were paced as construction sacrifices when laying the foundation of a house (“sacrificial”), and also were placed within the living space (“domestic”).

Keywords: horse figurines (“koniki”), guardian spirits, construction sacrifice, Mangazeya, Berezov, Staroturukhanskoe ancient settlement, Poluisky gorodok, archeology, Siberia.