РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ПЕТРОГРАФИЧЕСКОГО АНАЛИЗА КЕРАМИКИ ПОСЕЛЕНИЯ МЕШОКО

Abstract

The article presents the results of petrographic analysis of the ceramics of the Chalcolithic settlement of Meshoko. A total of 42 fragments were examined (see appendix), 10 of which belong to the upper part of the monument's sediments (layers 1 and 2a; Fig. 1), 20 refer to the middle part of the sediments (layer 2b; Fig. 2), 12 – to the lower part (layer 3; Fig. 3). Based on the analysis, 5 groups of ceramics were identified (Fig. 4). Group 1 consists of fragments with an admixture of limestone, group 2 – with an admixture of diorite, group 3 – with an admixture of biogenic carbonates and sand, group 4 – with an admixture of calcite, group 5 – with an admixture of diorite and chamotte. Clays of smectite composition predominate in groups 1 and 2, while clays of smectite-carbonate composition predominate in groups 3 and 4. Comparison of these groups with stratigraphy revealed that most of the ceramics of groups 3 and 4 are confined to the lower layer, and groups 1 and 2 to the middle and upper layer (Table 1). In addition, the ceramics of these layers differ in the nature of the external surface treatment. Significant changes in the technology of making ceramics during the transition from the lower layer to the middle layer allow us to assume corresponding changes in the composition of the population.