научный журнал по истории и историческим наукам Российская археология ISSN: 0869-6063

2004

БАБЕНКО Л.И. — 2004 г.

In the paper the finds are published identified as the imports of the period of classical antiquity. They have been discovered in burials of the Pesochinsky kurgan cemetery disposed near Kharkov (Ukraine). These are: various wheel-made vessels, woman's ceremonial headdress, sewn-on plaque, earrings, and beads. The considered material evidences the close commercial relations maintained by the population of the Seversky Donets basin with the inhabitants of the ancient Greek colonies in the North Pontic zone, first of all with the Bosporan state.

КУЛИКОВ А.В., ЧЕНДЕВ Ю.Г. — 2004 г.

Complex soil and archaeological investigations have been carried out in the vicinities of the classical town Kitheion in the territory of the Bosporan kingdom. It was established that the local agriculture was on the high level of development, it was provided for long-term exploitation of soil resources. The local Greek population employed soil-protective technologies based on their empiric knowledge on the properties of the soils they tilled. The problems of social and political nature that had emerged in the Bosporus in the period of late classical antiquity were accompanied by the ecological complications. The latter were caused by the exhaustion of soil resources. Humus status of the soils had degraded, their water and physical properties had worsened essentially. In the cross-sections of the man-made small elevations (first of all, plots’ boundaries) show the indications of salinisation. This factor could result in increase of fruit-bearing plants and vine diseases. The degradation of soil resources became the inevitable consequence of long-term and steady cultivation, despite the general strategy of agriculture was aimed at minimal negative transformations of soils in the course of time.

КАШИНА Е.А. — 2004 г.

The discussed group of prehistoric sculptures represents a small part of the rich collection of East European Neolithic mobile art. Figurines’ morphological variety, their possible functions and symbolic meaning are considered. Their chronology ranges from the 4 th millennium to the early 2 nd millennium BC and is connected with the highly developed culture of hunters-gatherers, featuring pottery-making technology for at least two thousand years by that time. Besides Russia, figurines are known from Latvia, Estonia, mainland Finland and the Aland Islands. Some groups may be singled out: 1) whole-figured sculpture, 2) rim sculpture, and 3) rim head sculpture. The analysis of figurine morphology reflects a lot of changes, which took place in the course of the human image evolution: from fantastic creatures with mixed animal and human traits to the realistic humans. The figurines, sometimes covered with red ochre, were found in dwellings, close to the hearth, and in burials as well. Some of them were definitely used in pairs: the pieces were found together, other attached to vessel rims opposite to each other. The close symbolic connection of clay figurines and vessels is steadily traced: the same decoration stamps were used for figurines and for ceramics. The decoration of figurines’ faces probably represented tattoo patterns or body paintings. Spread and evolution of these motifs reflect regular relations between different forest zone regions. Obviously, the figurines were important cult objects, probably connected with the feminine activity, above all - pottery-making. They are assumed to represent spirits, probably patrons of home, hearth and children.

АРТЕМЬЕВ А.Р. — 2004 г.

In the seasons of 1995, 1996 and 1998-2000 the Amur expedition investigated two Buddhist temples of the early 15 th c. They are the only monuments of this kind known in the Far East. The temples are situated on the lower Amur in Khabarovsk krai. The first temple 7.8 to 5.2 m in size was constructed by a Chinese expedition in 1413. The second one built in 1433-1434 was much larger - 24 to 16 m. The both temples had tile roofs supported by wooden columns resting upon stone foundations. The constructions were richly adorned with decorative clay elements covered with stamped ornament. Below the remains of the second temple the traces of another Buddhist construction have been revealed, it dates to the 60-s of the 13 th c. In 2000 the expedition started investigations of the Mongol sites in Eastern Transbaikalia (Chita region). The works concentrate on the town founded in 1225 by Khan Esungu, a nephew of Chinghis Khan. A town plot of a Mongol feudal lord was investigated; it covered an area of 034 sq. m. It was established that the town was founded in the place where an earlier Uighur town existed in the 11-the 12 th cc. Investigations at Konduisky fortress have begun; three dwelling sites of the settled Mongols dated from the 13 th-the 14 th cc. have been registered.

ЖУРБИН И.В. — 2004 г.

Basic tendencies and results of geophysical investigations carried out in Russian archaeology are considered in the paper. The author has shown that at present the development of the effective methods of archaeological investigations is based on the techniques of measurements (mathematical simulation of measurements, experimental investigations); methods of mathematics processing and interpretation of measurements' results; complex application of geophysical methods and specialised equipment as well. Basic principles of the effectiveness of the complex archaeometric researches, including physical-geological and archaeological conditions of geophysical methods' application, impediments and the prospects of the geophysical methods used are formulated and the main methodological problems discussed.

ВАЛЬЧАК С.Б., ПЬЯНКОВ А.В., ХАЧАТУРОВА Е.А., ЭРЛИХ В.Р. — 2004 г.

A fragment of a bimetallic knife, its handle being surmounted with a bronze pommel (Fig. 1) was found in 1994 on the Krasnodar reservoir bank, more exactly, near the fortified settlement 2 at the locality Khutor Lenin in the town of Krasnodar. The authors suggest analogies for the find among the Tagar-type bimetallic (iron plus bronze) knives originating from the sites in the Minusinsk depression. A wide chronology is suggested for the find from the late 6 th to the 4 th cc. BC.

АЛЕКСАНДРОВСКИЙ А.Л., СЕДОВ С.Н., ХОХЛОВА О.С. — 2004 г.

The work is aimed at demonstration of special methodical approach borrowed from natural sciences, and first of all soil science, to the description of palaeosoils of complicated multilayer barrows (like Bolshoy Ipatovsky kurgan, or BIK, in Stavropol krai). The main attention is paid to the soil stratigraphy of the kurgan, and, to a less extent, the reconstruction of palaeoenvironment. Practically immediately after the kurgan had been constructed, the natural processes began that affected the mound: the erosion, suffosion, soil formation, and diagenetic processes active at any artificial earthen construction in the steppe zone. The initial mounds and secondary ones comprised in complicated multilayer kurgans were constructed quickly, while the processes of transformation of mounds and ditches by the mentioned processes took relatively long time. It is necessary to discriminate between the following in description of the complicated kurgans, like BIK: 1 - secondary mounds and diluvium tails, 2 - the material of the mound, both affected by soil-formation processes and intact, 3 - the material of the mound changed by diagenetic processes, 4 - ditches and the zones of drainage. Taking into account the development of soil formation it becomes possible to evaluate the periods of time separating successive secondary mounds; the state of material in the mound and ditches points to the time when the mound was exposed on ground surface, and how fast the the ditch was filled with diluvium. The technology of constructing mounds and ditches can be reconstructed, as well as the knowledge and technological abilities of the builders. Specifics of soil formation on the mounds and in the ditches show the climatic characteristics and point to the intervals when climatic changes occurred.

НЕДОМОЛКИНА Н.Г., СУВОРОВ А.В. — 2004 г.

In the paper the collection of four bronze anthropomorphic figurines is considered. The objects originate from the multi-layered site disposed on the Lower Vologda River. Only one statuette was recovered in the course of excavations, three others are chance finds from the washed out deposits. The authors have carried out detailed stylistic analysis of the discussed objects of mobile art. They come to the conclusion that the figurines should be viewed as the interpretations of certain anthropomorphic image characterized by stable iconography. Some stylistic and technological features link the Vyoksa figurines with the castings of religious character typical of the Kama region and North Caucasus. The statuettes may be preliminary dated to the Early Iron Age.

БЕРЕЗИН Я.Б., САВЕНКО С.Н. — 2004 г.

The authors publish three bronze statuettes found in Stavropol krai (the North Caucasus). All the figurines are occasional finds. Two of them have been partly preserved and represent the upper patr of human body, the third figurine depict a rider. The statuettes of the discussed type are known in archaeological publications under the conditional term “freaks”. According to the authors, the figurines refer to the cultural circle of the medieval Turkic tribes, their chronology should be determined within the 8 th-the 10 th cc. Probably, figurine No. 1 may be dated to some later period.

СЕРГАЦКОВ И.В. — 2004 г.

In the paper the author clears the origin and morphological characteristic of the metal vessel discovered by V.I. Mamontov in Zhutovsky cemetery, barrow 75. The site is situated on the right bank of the River Esaulovsky Aksai, near the settlement Oktyabr’sky (Volgograd region). The cauldron is attributed to Kondep type, it refers by its origin to the Roman provinces, apparently, the Gaul and dates back to the 1 st - the 3 rd cc. AD. The finds of this type are extremely rare in the Sarmatian burials. Only two such cases have been accounted for.

КОШЕЛЕНКО Г.А. — 2004 г.

In the paper the clay bulla is published found while excavating the hillfort Ghebekly (Merv oasis, Turkmenistan) dated back to the Parthian period. The bulla bears two identical imprints of a circular stamp-seal, one of them is of good state of preservation, while another is very poor. The sealing shows a Bactrian camel moving to the left, below its front legs partly preserved tamga-sign can be seen. The remains of inscription are disposed over the humps. The author stresses that the images of a Bactrian are extremely rare in the Parthian art. On the other hand, this subject is rather popular in the figurative art of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia and Khorezm. The fact of its presence in the sphragistics of the Merv oasis may be interpreted as the evidente of the cultural contacts of Margiana inhabitants with the nomads and Khorezm in the first centuries AD.

ЧЕРНЕЦОВ А.В. — 2004 г.

КУЗЬМИН Я.В. — 2004 г.

The emergence of pottery in East Asia manifests the beginning of the Neolithic, and occurred during the Late Glacial [general range of 15.000-10.000 radiocarbon years ago (BP)], in three regions: 1) the Japanese Islands; 2) the Amur River basin; and 3) Southern China. The pottery from these three centers is quite different. Thus, we can assume that pottery appeared in these regions independently and approximately at the same time, ca. 14.000-13.000 BP (ca. 17.000-14.500 calendar years ago). This is the oldest pottery in the Old World found so far. The earlier dates from several Neolithic sites in southern China, Xianrendong, Miaoyan, and Yuchanyan (ca. 15.000 BP), need to be confirmed. Using radiocarbon and paleoenvironmental data, it has been established that pottery making technology appeared before the rapid and sharp climatic changes of the Late Glacial, such as the Oldest Dryas cooling and the Bølling warming. The general natural background for the emergence of pottery in East Asia was a gradual warming and an increase of broadleaved tree species, with abundant nut and seed resources. The earliest ceramic vessels in Japan and the Amur River basin were used mainly for cooking vegetable and meat foods, and possibly for processing fish.

СОКОЛОВ Д.Д., СУЛЕРЖИЦКИЙ Л.Д., ТУТУБАЛИН В.Н. — 2004 г.

The method of statistical evaluation of the chronological span of human activity at an archaeological site is suggested. As a result, the periods of human activity at some Palaeolithic sites have been established. At the station Sungir’ this period is estimated from 29000 to 26000, at Malta - 21700-20800, and at Avdeevo -21200-20100, according to non-calibrated dates.

СУЛЕРЖИЦКИЙ Л.Д. — 2004 г.

In the article the series of radiocarbon dates obtained from over 40 Upper Palaeolithic sites of Eastern Europe and Siberia is represented. The material processed in Geological Institute, RAS, comprised exclusively the bones of megafauna. Totally over 250 dates have been obtained. An attempt is made to demonstrate the reliability of bone material both from the standpoint of synchronism of its formation with the studied phenomena, and the possibility of repeatability of the obtained dates. The analysis of distribution of the dates at the sites gives the opportunity to single out the chronological stages of the cultural horizons’ formation as far as well-dated objects are concerned, to evaluate the probability of broken character of this process, and to establish the radiocarbon age of some sites. Repeatability of the dates obtained from different materials (bone, charred bone, sooth) within the same chronological stages permits to postulate that all of them originated from the same source - hunted animals. Generally, the period of cultural remains’ accumulation turns out to be more protracted than it was usually assumed. The author suggests the published data to be included into the system of the radiocarbon chronology of the Late Palaeolithic in North Eurasia.

ЗДАНОВИЧ Д.Г. — 2004 г.

ЛБОВА Л.В., МАТВЕЕВА Н.П. — 2004 г.

ШИШЛИНА Н.И. — 2004 г.

Two clay stamp-seals have been found in an offering place of Mandjikiny burial mound in Kalmykia. The kurgan dates back to the Maikop culture (the early 4 th mill. BC). The youngest grave is attributed to the Catacomb culture. It was accompanied by several offering places, one of them contained a clay brazier, sheep astragali, string of beads, and two unique stamp-seals. The latter were shaped as rectangular with round handles at the backsides. The working surface was covered with cord impressions forming rectangular grid pattern with a small pit in each square. The earliest stamp-seals are known from the Near East (the late 5 th mill. BC), and in the Balkan region. No analogies to the discussed steppe seals, both to their shape and patterns, can be pointed out in these regions. The closest finds are known from the Transcaucasus, these are clay pinthaderes of the Late Bronze and the Early Iron Ages. As for the finds’ function, they could have been used as property marks, amulets, stamps for decoration skin or textiles, or to impress patterns on the ritual bread. Thus, the Kalmykian stamp-seals should be considered unique artefacts of the Catacomb culture (the mid 3 rd mill. BC) made by local people of the material available and designed for some important but yet unclear ritual function.

КОРОЛЬ Г.Г. — 2004 г.

The paper is devoted to the analysis of ornamentation, iconography, and relief decoration of two chamfreins -decorative details of horse harness from the