Here, we present the results of study of pottery skills in communities of the transitional period from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, who lived on the territory of the settlement of Mergen 6 in the Lower Ishim River region (Western Siberia). Earlier, according to the shape and ornamentation features of the vessels that constitute the pottery collection of the transitional period, obtained in 1990 and 2002–2011 during the research at the site, three main groups were identified, related to the traditions of the Krasnoozerka, Gamayun, and Itkul Cultures, a “syncretic” group of pottery was identified. In order to identify the traditional methods of ceramics production that existed among the groups of the transitional period from Mergen 6, a study of 190 vessels belonging to each of the selected groups was carried out within the framework of the historical and cultural approach and methodology developed by A.A. Bobrinsky. Based on the results of the technical and technological analysis and information obtained about the potters' ideas on the initial plastic raw materials, skills of composing moulding masses, mechanical treatment of surfaces, and firing vessels, traditional pottery making methods of the analysed populations have been revealed. According to the data obtained on the composition of moulding masses, as well as the composition of fireclay used in the preparation of recipes, it was established that the communities of the Gamayun and Itkul Cultures were newcomers. From the presence of fireclay containing talc in the moulding masses of the Krasnoozerka vessels, an assumption has been made about familial-marital contacts between the local population and the newcomers.

Keywords: Western Siberia, Ishim River region, Mergen 6 settlement, Transitional Period from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, Krasnoozerka Culture, Gamayun Culture, Itkul Culture, “synchretic” ceramics, historical-and-cultural approach, technical and technological analysis.

 

Funding. The work was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (No. FWRZ-2021-0006)

 

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

Accepted: 09.06.2025

Article is published: 15.09.2025