THE LATE CHALCOLITHIC CERAMICS OF THE VOLGA FOREST-STEPPE

Abstract

Chalcolithic pottery from the eastern Volga area was subjected to a technological and typological analysis. Three types are described: Chekalino; Gundorovka; and vessels with an inner rib. Chekalino vessels have a gently curved profi le; are tempered with crushed shells; and decorated with short and moderately long comb imprints and pits. Gundorovka vessels are either pot-like or have a gently curved profi le; are tempered with feathers and decorated with moderately long comb imprints and those of a cord. Vessels with an inner rib are pots and jars tempered with crushed shells and feathers and decorated with imprints of a fi ne-tooth comb or a plain stamp; hatching; and pits. The Chekalino-type ceramics is paralleled by the Chalcolithic pottery of forest and forest-steppe Volga and Kama. The Gundorovka vessels reveal similarities with the collared Chalcolithic vessels of the forest-steppe and with the Volosovo ceramics of the Middle Volga forests. Vessels with the inner rib show some resemblance to those of Sredni Stog; Khvalynsk; and the Samara culture Ivanovka stage. The Late Chalcolithic ceramics dates to 4250–3500 BC. Chekalino is related to Late Neolithic combed ceramics of the Middle Volga. Gundorovka originates from the collared Chalcolithic pottery of the Lebyazhinka III type. Vessels with the inner rib derive from those of the forest-steppe Middle Chalcolithic.