Archaeological Complex Research Articles

Реконструкція процесу руйнування поховання № 2 на могильнику черняхівської культури Комарів-1

The article is devoted to the analysis of burial 2 from the Chernyakhiv culture cemetery Komariv-1 (Kelmentsy district, Chernivtsi region). The northern burial, destroyed in ancient time, belonged to a woman. The text provides a description of the archaeological complex, the reconstruction of the original appearance and the gradual reconstruction of the destruction process. Based on the known data about the costume of the bearers of the Chernyakhiv culture, the peculiarities of the funeral rite, the peculiarities of the placement of the grave goods, it was possible to reconstruct the original appearance of the completely destroyed burial. Thanks to anthropological determinations of the position of individual human bones in the burial, it was possible to determine the sequence of destruction of the skeleton and grave goods. After entering the grave pit, the skull was separated. The skull was then placed face down in the center of the grave. After that, the chest was destroyed. The bones of the legs were inserted in a certain sequence (crossed bones, inverted bones, mirror-embedded bones). The last stage of the destruction of the burial was the destruction of the skeleton of the sheep (food-offering) and turning over and breaking the utensils in the burial. After the burial was destroyed, the burial pit remained open. According to the information received, the burial was destroyed after the decomposition of the soft tissues of the body, but before the decomposition of the leather elements of the suit. According to the results of the study, the following conclusions were made: • Even a completely destroyed burial can be reconstructed to its original appearance. • Different areas of the skeleton were subjected to different manipulations. The thorax is destroyed, the skull and bones of the legs are re-inserted in a certain (non-anatomical) order. • Part of the inventory (at least one silver fibula) was removed from the burial, but the main purpose was not looting but the destruction of the burial. • Burial occurred between the decomposition of the soft tissues of the body and the leather elements of the suit. Key words: Chernyakhiv culture, funeral rite, destroyed burials, reconstruction of funeral rite, post-funeral rite.

To the Issue of the Distribution and Influence of Islam in the Cities of the Southwestern Zhetysu Region in the Second Half of the 8th – 12th Centuries

The article examines some aspects related to the changes that have occurred in the urban culture of the South-West Zhetysu at the initial stage of the establishment of Islam. The results of archaeological research carried out at the architectural and archaeological complex Akyrtas, monuments discovered at the medieval fortified of Taraz, Kostobe, Lugovoye, Ornek are presented by the authors. The early period of Islamization includes the construction of pillar mosques (Akyrtas, Ornek), alteration of the temple into a mosque (Taraz), elements of Muslim decor in religious premises of representatives of other religions (Kostobe, Lugovoye Г) and relic manifestations in the design of the columns of the Ornek mosque. 8th–12th centuries – this was a time associated with a series of historical events: the mass resettlement of the Sogdians in connection with the seizure of Central Asia by the Arabs, the conquest of Taraz and the Talas Valley by Emir Ismail from the Samanid dynasty and the adoption of Islam by the Karakhanids.

INTERETHNIC CONTACTS IN THE HELLENISTIC BLACK SEAREGION: THE NORTHERN BORDERLANDS OF THE CHORA OF TAURIC CHERSONESOS AND THE WORLD OFBARBARIANS ACCORDING TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES

The article deals with the problem of Greeks and barbarians contacts in the border areas of the Oecumene, which has not been finally resolved for a long time. The particular interest belongs to the northern outskirts of the Chersonesan polis, where, according to the archaeological sources, traced the direct contacts with the barbarians - the Scythians and the Tauri. During the Hellenistic period, the cultural and economic development of these policies was on the rise, which was ensured by a successful internal policy and by established ties with the local population, as well as with the barbarian tribes of the steppe and steppe zones. There are the opposite points of view on such connections in the Northwest Taurica at the Hellenistic period in a significant historiography: peaceful coexistence and military confrontation. The economic contacts of the Chersonesan police with the barbaric population on the Lower Dnipro also were controversial. They were mainly realized through the trade with centres of the Northwest Black Sea region, in particular with Olbia. However, it cannot be ruled out that there also could be exist the direct contacts between the population on the place, where Chersonesan and Olbian chorae bordered with the barbarian settlements. The archaeological complex of monuments of this region testifies to the close ties between the Scythian and Hellenic populations, which obviously benefited the economies of both ethnic communities. Of course, the northern part of Taurica needs additional field research, but we can already tell about the fact that the material culture of distant settlements of the Chersonesan chora retained the traditional ancient style. Thus, the area of Northern Taurica should be considered as a powerful site of cultural and economic ties of the ancient Black Sea region with the world of barbarians.

The Neolithic evolution and cultural transformations in the Povolzhye region (Eastern Europe)

The article is devoted to the analysis of Neolithic cultures in the Povolzhye region. Several synchronic archaeological complexes were compared. New data about the development and cultural changes of Neolithic communities were obtained. The processes of transition in the development of Neolithic cultures of the Povolzhye region were considered.

Paleopathology of Skulls from Golden Horde Settlement Shareny Mound

Introduction. The paper is devoted to the examination of craniological materials of the late middle age originating from the Shareniy Bugor archaeological complex. Methods and materials. A complete series which includes 33 individual remains is now kept by the Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow State University. The access to scientific information on the series has been opened for the first time. The series consists of 24 male skulls, 4 female brain capsules, two childrens and 3 adolescent craniums. Analysis. The standard assessment program of pathological conditions on postcranial skeleton and skull bones developed by A.P. Buzhilova (1995, 1998) was applied in the course of examination of the anthropological material. Results. A wide range of cranium anomalies, various dentition diseases, endocrine disease markers, signs of exposure to low temperatures, episodic stress traces and numerous injuries were recorded as a result of the examination of the bone material. Conclusions. The series under consideration does not meet the paleopopulation criteria, i.e. cannot be a prototype of a really existing group of medieval urban population. Signs of unintentional artificial deformity of the occipital type were recorded on the skulls of the studied sample. The identified stress markers indicate that the urban population of the Volga Delta was exposed to the pressure of negative factors due to the natural and social environment including cold temperatures, hunger, war, etc. The population group originating from Shareniy Bugor settlement probably specialized in living in the river area, which led to a specific diet and the appearance of cases of diseases typical for people spending a long time in a cold water environment. Extremely high rates of injuries, including combat near-death and lethal ones, wounds to the skull facial area characterize the studied part of the population as a group that actively participated in hostilities. A series of skulls originating from Shareniy Bugor settlement probably belongs to a specific social stratum or the handicraft part of the population of the Golden Horde city of Khadzhi-Tarkhan which was engaged in river fishing and whose appearance (hairstyle and constantly worn headdress) was very different from most townspeople; they probably actively defended the city during the raids of enemies.

Shortepe fortified settlement and еarly Barda town in Garabagh

Shortepe situated near Shatirli village of Barda in Garabagh region of Azerbaijan Republic. Archaeological excavations gave us an opportunity to research antique and early medieval period of the city. Shortepe is one of the biggest antique and early medieval settlements of Azerbaijan. The settlement situated near Shatirli village in Barda region. There situated Bronze Age settlement Balatepe which were one of the important centers of Kura-Araxes (proto-albanians) tribes, Bronze Age kurgans and Shortepe archaeological complex in Shatirli village. As a result of the research, four cultural strata were discovered. The first layer belongs to the Kur-Araz culture. In this layer, hearth-shaped and horseshoe-shaped hearths were found. In the second layer, painted and simple vessels typical of the Middle Bronze Age were found, and in the third layer, stone box-type tombs and long-necked clay vessels were found. The fourth layer is located at a depth of 0.3-0.9 m. Earthen graves belonging to children and the elderly were found in this layer. There are considerable information about Barda city and a region where it is situated in the works of authors of Antic and Early Middle Ages. Archeologists C.Morqan, N.Silosani, İ.Babayev, R.Goyushov, A.Nuriyev, H.Jafarov, F.Osmanov, A.Mammadov, M.Huseynov had been researched in Barda. According to professor A.M.Mammadov, Shortepe monument is remains of ancient Barda that called “Harum” in the works of Nizami Ganjavi. The article was dedicated to antique and early medieval fortified settlement Shortepe, which researchers prove that the settlement was an ancient Barda town. We can localize it with Anariaka antique Caucasian Albanian settlement. Archaeological excavations were continued in 2006-2016 years regularly. Archaeological excavations had been led in Shortepe in 2014. Scientific researches had been continued in the size of 10x10 m and the area had been divided 4 square. In the result of the archaeological excavations has been got the material examples which dedicated to the antique and early medieval period. In 2015 year archaeological excavations continued. Fortified part of settlement and pit graves was unearthed during digs. Scientific investigations show that Shortepe was ancient city of Garabagh region of Azerbaijan.

The versatility of augmented reality for the enhancement of cultural heritage.

All Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality or straight-up video games can now be found in growing numbers within spaces dedicated to culture and the arts. The choice of such tools is trans-forming the traditional museum tour into a multifaceted and interactive experience to the point, in some cases, of flirting with entertainment. From our experience, the role of augmented reality hasn’t been to substitute itself to the « real » tour. On the contrary, AR invites the user to immerse themselves in an animated personal experience enriched with supplementary information. Elaborated with goals and features different from those of virtual reality, AR aims at strengthening direct contact with works of art as much as possible, inciting an active « live » use and a presence “on-site” more than “on-line”. The diversity of three logistical contexts in which we have worked — a large-scale monument, a historical palace and its heterogenous art collection, and finally an archeological complex encompassing a traditional museum and the remains of a Roman amphitheatre — has brought us to reflect upon the functional aspects that come to determine a personalized digital product, as tailored as possible to specific needs. Each of the three apps has permitted a deepening of each of their features in order to meet specific goals targeted by various museum institutions. In this paper we describe these features in more specific terms.

Archaeological Sites of the Middle Kiya River: History of Discoveries and Study Prospects

The article introduces some information about the expeditionary studies on the archaeological sites located on the banks of the Middle Kiya River valley. The authors believe that the Kiya is one of the main rivers for such important historical and cultural area of South Siberia as the Kiya – Chulym interfluve. The expeditionary studies have been conducted here since the late XIX century; however, professional archaeological studies began as late as in the 1950s. The paper describes the excavations conducted by A. I. Martynov, G. S. Martynova, I. I. Baukhnik, A. M. Kilemzin, A. V. Tsirkin, A. P. Okladnikov, V. I. Molodin, V. V. Bobrov, A. S. Vasyutin, V. N. Zharonkin, P. V. German, A. V. Fribus, and P. G. Sokolov. It focuses on the carefully planned excavations conducted on the banks of the middle forest-steppe part of the Kiya River valley. Seven expeditions discovered eighty previously unknown archaeological sites. While performing the historiographic mapping of archaeological sites, the authors took into account the type of artifact and the type of archaeological study. The authors analyzed the localization of the archeological sites near the villages of Shestakovo and Chumay and the city of Mariinsk published by A. M. Kulemzin and I. I. Baukhnik and compared them with the results of the mapping. They defined the territory as a single Middle-Kiya archaeological microdistrict that includes the archaeological complexes of Shestakovo, Chumay, and Archekas (Mariinsk). The article also includes some preliminary ideas about the types of archaeological studies, as well as typological and chronological description of the monuments.

Practicing Urban Archaeology in a Modern City: The Alessandrino Quarter of Rome

ABSTRACT This article describes the documentation according to FAIR principles of the first phase of the excavation of parts of the Alessandrino Quarter—an area of central Rome that has largely remained unexplored, although situated in the center of what is today one of the most visited cities in Europe. Archaeological fieldwork in modern cities presents excavators with a particular set of challenges. Prominent among these is archaeological complexity—the dense and complex stratigraphies, preserving vast amounts of accumulated data, that result from the often continuous transformation of urban space over millennia. While archaeologists readily acknowledge this, they seldom make public the lessons learned from conducting urban archaeological projects in modern contexts. This article seeks to make a contribution specifically in this area.

Royal "Chariot" Burials of Sanauli near Delhi and Archaeological Correlates of Prehistoric Indo-Iranian Languages

The article describes the royal cart burials excavated at the Late Harappan site of Sanauli near Delhi in the spring of 2018 on the basis of the available reports and photographs. The author then comments on these finds, dated to about 1900 bce, with the Sanauli cart burials being the first of their kind in Bronze Age India. In his opinion, several indications suggest that the Sanauli “chariots” are actually carts yoked to bulls, as in the copper sculpture of a bull-cart from the Late Harappan site of Daimabad in Maharashtra. The antennae-hilted swords associated with the burials suggest that these bull-carts are likely to have come from the BMAC or the Bactria and Margiana Archaeological Complex (c.2300–1500 bce) of southern Central Asia, from where thereis iconographic evidence of bull-carts. The ultimate source of the Sanauli/BMAC bull-carts may be the early phase of the Sintashta culture in the Trans-Urals, where the chariot (defined as a horse-drawn light vehicle with two spoked wheels) was most probably invented around the late twenty-first century bce. The invention presupposes an earlier experimental phase, which started with solid-wheeled carts that could only be pulled by bulls. An intermediate phase in the development is the “proto-chariot” with cross-bar wheels, attested in a BMAC-related cylinder seal from Tepe Hissar III B in northern Iran (c.2000–1900 bce). The wooden coffins of the Sanauli royal burials provide another pointer to a possible Sintashta origin. The Sanauli finds are considered in the context of the author’s archaeological model for the prehistory of the Indo-Iranian languages, which is adjusted to meet recent justified criticism.

Using the landscape approach in determining the boundaries of the protected area of the Sintashty cluster of the Arkaim reserve, Russia

Aim. To select the maximum variety of landscape structural units from the watershed to the Sintashta river. To determine the boundaries of the recommended specially protected area.Material and Methods. The Sintashta protected area is currently composed of tracts which only represent a small part of steppe landscape diversity: bushy tracts and forb-grass floodplain and part of the herb-grass steppe terraces. Based on field physical geography description and cartography using GIS systems, the maximum variety of tracts from the watershed to the river in the territory within which lies the Sintashta archaeological monument complex (the cluster section of the Arkaim reserve) was identified.Results. The course of separate tracts that characterise the steppe landscape from the watershed to the Sintashta River comprises: inclined-undulating banks with gullies and sagebrush-mixed grass steppe, lowland forb-fescue steppe with birch and pine groves, plains grass grassland bushed grassland, flat interfleuve with feather grass-forb steppe with pine and birch groves.Conclusion. The territory of the Sintashta site is unique in its natural and historical content. Preserving it in the future as a territorial system with its enclosing landscapes and cultural monuments will allow a comprehensive approach to the issues of reconstruction and preservation of the natural environment and the understanding of the economic structure of ancient societies. In ordere to preserve the historical and cultural complex in inseparable connection with the natural landscape, it is recommended that selected key tracts be incorporated in the protected area.

Cobbles, tools, and plants: Techno-functional variability within lithic industries of complex societies in Central Coast, Peru (~1800–400 BP)

This article concerns the technological and archaeobotanical analysis of nine lithic assemblages from monumental sites in the Maranga Archaeological Complex (Central Coast, Peru), dated between about 1800 and 400 yr BP. This period of occupation corresponds mainly to the development of Lima and Ychsma complex societies that were prior to and contemporary with the Inca Empire respectively. In order to study the degree of technical and functional variability between Maranga lithic industries, the different schèmes opératoires executed were identified, as well as the characteristics of the raw materials procurement. The eight techno-types present amongst 497 tools, along with the analysis of plant micro-remains preserved in the transformative Techno-Functional Units, allowed us to obtain direct evidence of tool uses. Analytical procedures included the construction of a reference collection of useful local flora, the sampling of the transformative surfaces of the tools, and the taxonomic and anatomical identification of the recovered plant components. After the integration of the results of these analyses with the information coming from the archaeological contexts, diachronic changes in the production systems are proposed, especially the preference for an alternating debitage system in the Late Intermediate Period (~1050–470 BP). Towards the Late Horizon (~470–400 BP), there was probably an instrumental standardization associated with the processing of the fruits of Caesalpinia spinosa, a plant used in the production of gums and tanins.

Mammal butchery by Homo erectus at the Lower Pleistocene acheulean site of Juma’s korongo 2 (JK2), bed III, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

The Olduvai Gorge is considered one of the most relevant archaeological complexes with regards to the study of our human evolution. This is especially evident when studying the emergence of hunting practices over the past 1.7 Ma. Butchery activities have been documented throughout Bed II, including the exploitation of megafauna in a larger number of sites. Among these, Hippopotamus, giraffe, sivatherium and large bovids have been documented to be consumed by hominins in, BK, TK, FLK-West and SHK between 1.3 and 1.7 Ma. Similar evidence has also been found in sites from Koobi Fora (Kenya), Peninj (Tanzania) and Ain Hanech (Marroco). Contrary to sites of lower Pleistocene earlier than 1.3 Ma, human butchery practices later than this are scarce during the transition between the Lower and Middle Pleistocene. This is due to a lack of sites with lithic tools associated with faunal remains during this period in Eastern Africa. The Acheulean site of Juma’s Korongo 2 (JK2) of the Olduvai Gorge Bed III is one of the few known sites with faunal remains associated with stone tools in East Africa. Under this premise, the present study therefore revisits the taphonomy of JK2, confirming that hominins had primary access to carcasses in this site, followed by carnivores. This is seen by a lower frequency of tooth marks contrary to previous studies of this same site, alongside the location and frequencies of cut and percussion marks on bone. This suggests early access to carcass by humans in the bone assemblage of JK2.

Ceramics from Samshvilde (Georgia): A pilot archaeometric study

This archaeometric study deals with seven samples of prehistoric pottery and, for the first time in Georgian studies, thirteen samples of glazed medieval pottery. All specimens were collected at Samshvilde, the most remarkable archaeological complex in southern Georgia and believed to represent locally-manufactured products. Two additional samples of raw materials composed of clay, silt, and sand were collected near the site and used to compare composition. Several analytical techniques were applied: Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The results allowed to build a complex scenario in terms of exploitation of raw materials and technological choices. The raw materials indicate a volcanic environment and correspond to the geological settings of the territory of Samshvilde. The glazed ceramics were characterised as alkali, low alkali – low lead, lead, high lead and tin-opacified mixed-alkaline lead glazes. The compositional comparisons extend from east to west and place these ceramics in the wider framework of Islamic ceramics.

Основные аспекты социальной интерпретации археологических комплексов раннесредневековых кыргызов Алтая

Основные аспекты социальной интерпретации археологических комплексов раннесредневековых кыргызов Алтая

Use of Metal Detectors in Archaeological Research

Nowadays, the usage of remote sensing methods is an integral part of archaeological research. Remote scanning devices significantly reduce time for conducting archaeological research and allows a researcher concentrate efforts on searching and studying of archaeological sites more optimally. One of such devices for remote geophysical sounding is a metal detector. The article briefly presents information about the history of geophysical method development, based on the creation and improvement of a ground-based sensing device – the metal detector. Moreover, the author gives examples of its foreign experience in archaeological research as an additional scanning tool, where, in combination with traditional research methods, the metal detector is effective and significantly increases the statistics of metal artifacts found. In addition, the effective capabilities and the feasibility of using a metal detector in various regions of Ukraine, in the process of conducting modern archaeological research (archaeological explorations, stationary archaeological excavations and scientific and rescue studies), are examined based on the author’s personal experience. The algorithm of working with a metal detector at various archaeological sites, both entire complexes and individual objects, is analyzed. The research was carried out exclusively within the framework of professional archaeological ethics: metal detection was carried out purely during the work of archaeological expeditions in the area of the relevant monuments identified by permits. The metal detector was used for the systematic detection of metal artifacts in combination with standard methods of archaeological practice in general. In this article, a metal detector research is primarily considered as a means of obtaining important scientific information, and not as a tool for digging up metal artifacts. To conclude, methodological recommendations for the metal detector usage and issues related to the regulation of its usage in the examination of archaeological sites are presented.

Archaeological Sites as a Component of the Modern Religious Worldview of the Southern Ural Population (Based on the Example of the Akhunovo Megalithic Complex)

The present research examines the problem of the formation of new sacred sites around one of the most well-known archaeological complexes of the Bronze Age in the Southern Urals. To do so, the author applied the results of field research done of his own at the Akhunovo cromlech and analysed scientific literature and internet resources. Proceeding from the received data, the author traced the process of formation of sacred insight of the monument, determined the main reasons and participants of the sacralisation process and established probable negative outcomes of this phenomenon.

Ball court in la quemada, northern Mesoamerica: Absolute chronological contributions through the archeomagnetic study of associated fire pits

Since the Late Preclassic, the ball court has been one of the most widely distributed features throughout Mesoamerican territory. Despite its maximum splendor in sites in the Mayan and Olmec area, this ritual and political phenomenon has important architectural expression within the archaeological complex of La Quemada in Zacatecas. To place this enclosure in an absolute chronological framework, an archaeomagnetic study was carried out on two fire pits within rooms associated with the court and a burnt cavity on one of its walls. The dating exercise for the first fire pit yielded an interval between 931 and 1006 CE as the best estimate of temporality for its last use. Two equally likely intervals were obtained from the second one (693–947 CE and 1463–1623 CE), so it is not possible to rule out any of them. The burnt cavity revealed a single interval between 757 and 980 CE These periods would correspond to the La Quemada Phase and its transition to the Citadel Phase, which was the last period of activity in the area before the ball court was abandoned. However, the dating of fire pit 2, which shows a possible late occupation (1463–1623 CE), could be interpreted as a reoccupation during the Postclassic by Zacatecos groups.

Ruins in the ‘Stans: Evidence of a Lost Civilization in Central Asia

In the 1950s, Viktor Sarianidi discovered the ruins of an ancient civilization known as the Bactrian-Margina Archaeological Complex (BMAC) centered in the Murghab Oasis of Turkmenistan. Sarianidi believed the people who settled in this region had migrated east from Anatolia by way of Mesopotamia in search of arable land. Others argue this civilization, which is also known as the Oxus Civilization, was indigenous to the region preceded by earlier civilizations dating back to the seventh millennium BCE. An analysis of archaeological sites in Central Asia reveals that relatively few are aligned to the cardinal points or in astronomical directions such as solstices or lunar standstills. Using Charles Hapgood’s theory of crustal displacement as a working hypothesis, almost two-dozen sites are shown to reference previous locations of the North Pole. We propose that these sites were first established tens of thousands of years ago when the climate was less arid than it is today and that the Oxus and preceding civilizations in this region were the descendants of an even earlier civilization that existed up until the time of the last ice age.

Noi date cronologice referitoare la culturile Cernavodă I și Cucuteni obținute în urma cercetărilor arheologice de la Săveni (județul Ialomița)

The archaeological systematic research conducted in the multi-layered dig site from Săveni-La Movile (Ialomița county) have allowed to highlight, amongst others, two Eneolithic habitation levels, belonging to the Cernavodă I culture. The usual inventory was discovered and, besides that, were discovered 6 Cucuteni ceramic fragments, datable in the Cucuteni B2 stage, representing imports in the Cernavodă Ib cultural environment. Also, herbivore bone samples were taken from 3 archaeological complexes (complex no. 4, complex no. 5 and dwelling no. 1) belonging to the Cernavodă Ib (more recent) habitation level; the samples were later carbon dated (14C) at the Poznan laboratory in Poland, with the data then calibrated by using the program OxCal 4.2, developed by Oxford University (Great Britain). The three datings place the Cernavodă Ib from Săveni in the 3700-3500 B.C. timeframe. Thus, the information resulting from the relative and absolute chronology confirms the existing synchronism between the Curuteni B2 and the Cernavodă Ib stages. Also, at the end of the Eneolithic from the Carpathian-Danubian-Black Sea area, the Cernavodă I culture evolved mostly in the first half of the 4th millennium B.C., being synchronous for a large period with the Cucuteni B stage. We mention the fact that the current study includes all the radiocarbon (14C) datings that are currently certain for the Cucuteni B stage and the Cernavodă I culture, those that are supported being taken into account in our chronological analysis.