Technological Traditions in Pottery of the Kulay Cultural-Historical Community on Barsova Gora (Based on the Materials of the Sites Barsov Gorodok I/5 and I/7)

Abstract

Purpose. Barsova Gora is a unique archaeological and landscape site located in the Tyumen Region of the Russian Federation. The archaeological sites Barsov gorodok I/5 and I/7 are located on the edge of the bank of Utoplaya River. The aim of the study is to reconstruct the content of the production steps in pottery of the surgut variant of the kulai culture in the sites Barsov gorodok I/5 and I/7. Results. A technical and technological analysis was carried out for 33 vessels from the site Barsov gorodok I/5 and for 5 vessels from the site Barsov gorodok I/7. Nine recipes of clay paste have been found at the site Barsov gorodok I/5. The main ones are unmixed recipes Clay + Broken stone, Clay + Chamotte. Recipes with the addition of sand, introduced in a ratio of 1 : 1, stand out. Three recipes have been found on the site Barsov gorodok I/7. Vessels were molded with the help of flaps. Cases of using tapes with an overlay have been recorded. Various combinations of tools for surface treatment. 22 variants have been found on the site Barsov gorodok I/5. On the site Barsov gorodok I/5, 4 variants were found for 5 vessels. On both sites, a specific method of smoothing down with a serrated tool was recorded on the inside of the transition point from the shoulder to the body. Ware could be fired in a reducing and reducingoxidizing environment. Conclusion. The pottery skills of the population of both settlements are similar to the general pottery traditions of the kulay culture on Barsova Gora. This is manifested in the similarity of the clays used, a close range of artificial impurities and recipes for clay paste, variability in surface treatment, and the presence of specific technological skills. The difference is manifested in the skills of constructing a hollow body and in the use of sand as an artificial impurity. The use of patchwork molding along with the band molding reflects the coexistence of two groups of potters with different skills in vessel construction at these sites. This may be due to the interaction within these settlements of populations with different technological traditions or to the influence of earlier pottery traditions of previous cultures. The addition of sand may be related to the interaction of this population with the more eastern groups of the kulay culture, for which this admixture is dominant, or be the result of mixing with an earlier pottery tradition.