Clay Vessels Research Articles

New data about the stability of skills for creating clay vessel shapes

The article analyzes the relative stability of skills for creating the shapes of clay vessels, both wheel-made and hand-made ones. Sources of the study included a series of “identical” vessels that were made as part of experiments conducted by employees of the Joint Team for Pottery Study in the 1970s and the Samara Expedition for the experimental study of ancient pottery in 2019–2022. Shape parameters have been identified that exhibit the greatest stability, regardless of the method of making the vessel, the type of building elements and the skill level of a craftsman. These parameters are the inclination angles of the lateral line of the shoulder-brachium frame and the body. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that these parameters can be considered as the most reliable for making conclusions based on the pottery shapes about the degree of cultural and ethnocultural homogeneity of the population groups that left archaeological sites.

Identifi cation of Adhesives for Repairing Ancient Ceramics: The Case of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic of Far Northeast Europe

This study focuses on the composition of the adhesives used to repair clay vessels, and on the technique of their preparation in the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic (late 4th to early 3rd millennia BC) sites of Far Northeast Europe (the Republic of Komi and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug). Remains of adhesives were detected on 70 of 171 repaired pots. To date, five samples of ceramics from dwellings of the Chuzhyael culture have been analyzed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed no markers of coniferous trees or bitumen; but did reveal markers of birch, suggesting that fractures and cracks on broken pots were plastered with birch tar. The composition of organic compounds in samples indicates the use of two vessels in the technological process: in one of them, birch bark was subjected to pyrolysis, while the other was a receptacle for tar. This comparatively complex technology reveals one more specialization in the domestic manufacture of the taiga hunter-gatherers, including the use of special furnaces. Analytic procedures employed by us open up new prospects for the study of the material culture of Far Northeast Europe, extend our knowledge of domestic manufacture, and offer new material for AMS dating.

Funerary vs. domestic vessels from the Hallstatt period. A study on ceramic vases from the Milejowice settlement and the Domasław cemetery

Clay vessels have a wide variety of functions in social activities in the Hallstatt period. In addition to food storage and processing, they were used for ritual purposes and as funerary vessels. The paper presents the results of archaeological and chromatographic studies of 31 vases from two different Hallstatt culture sites in lower Silesia (Poland). The investigations included vessels fragments from the Domasław cemetery and from the Milejowice settlement. The chromatographic analyses focused on fatty acids and biomarkers and made it possible to identify the most likely sources of substances they came into contact with during use. The c-means and hierarchical cluster analyses showed that grave vessels differed from settlement ceramics. Thus, conclusions on the diverse vessel functions could be made.

Experimental investigation of earth-air heat exchanger using porous clay vessels for eco-friendly buildings

This study introduces an experimental investigation of a novel direct trend evaporative cooler based on a ground-air heat exchanger (GAHE) using porous clay vessels as an evaporation media under a variety of operational conditions, including air flow rate, inlet air temperature, temperature of inlet water, and in air humidity. The evaluation of the GAHE performance was based on the air-cooling effect, wet-bulb and dew-point efficiencies, energy efficiency ratio, water evaporation rate, specific water evaporation, specific cooling capacity, specific total cost, and CO2 emission rate. The influences of dry-bulb temperature, the incoming air's relative humidity (RH), and six air flow rates ranging from 11 to 25 L/s on the performance are investigated and discussed. Results indicated that increasing the air flow rate leads to an increase in the cooling capacity. Energy efficiency ratio (EER) reaches the highest value of about 25.5 recorded at 3:00 PM with air flow rate = 11 L/s. The lowest EER value is approximately 7.2 when the measured inlet and outlet temperatures are the closest at 7:00 PM, with a flow rate of 25 L/s. Increasing the air flow rate from 11 to 17 L/s increased the wet bulb efficiency, and the airflow rate was inversely proportional to wet-bulb efficiency. The maximum and minimum average dew-point efficiencies are 64% and 58% at 17 L/s and 22 L/s respectively. The water evaporation rate increases by 182.1%, increasing the air flow rate from 11 to 25 L/s.

Radiocarbon Chronology of the Bronze Age Fedorovka Culture (New Data Relevant to an Earlier Problem)

This article presents the results of excavations and dating of the Fedorovka culture cemetery of Zvyagino-1 in the Southern Trans-Urals. It consists of 12 small kurgans, each of which contains from one to three differently arranged graves with cremations. The funerary items include typical Fedorovka clay vessels. We estimated the age of bones of domestic animals found on the area under the kurgan or in graves. The new dates were compared with those generated previously. Statistical analysis has made it possible to assess the time range as being from the mid-18th to mid-15th centuries cal BC (medians of calibrated intervals). Dates of the Alakul-Fedorovka complexes fall in the same time range, illustrating the process of interaction between these two traditions. The results of modeling were compared with the dates of the Andronovo sites in Kazakhstan, the Baraba forest-steppe, and Southern Siberia. The dates were similar, barring those of the more ancient series from Kazakhstan. Dates for the Alakul sites in the Trans-Urals were earlier (19th to 16th centuries cal BC), documenting the long coexistence of the Alakul and Fedorovka traditions. In the Southern Trans-Urals, the former tradition appears to have declined earlier. The question as to whether the Fedorovka tradition survived until the Cordoned (Valikovaya) Ware cultures remains open due to the lack of dates for the Cherkaskul culture, which resembles Fedorovka, while being stratigraphically earlier than the Cordoned Ware cultures.

Результаты раскопок грунтового могильника Максимовка I в лесостепном Поволжье в 2019 г.

Introduction. The work publishes some results of excavations at the Maksimovka I grave field. Goals. So, the article seeks to introduce materials of the 2019 excavations. To facilitate this, the paper shall describe and characterize the investigated archaeological complexes, establish their cultural and chronological attributions. Materials. Archaeological material from the occupation layer comprises Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and eighteenth/twentieth century pottery, flint tools, and stone processing waste. Six burials were investigated at the site. Two burials had been destroyed and are nothing but heaps of heavily fragmented bones with no grave goods observed. In the third burial, the skeleton was lying on back in a northern-northwestern direction, accompanied by an iron knife and goat/sheep bones. The next burial consisted of four skulls and compact clusters of skeletal bones located nearby. The latter’s grave goods included flint arrowheads, a scraper, a bone spearhead, a pendant, beads, piercings and marmot incisors. The fifth burial contained a seated skeleton facing northeast and accompanied by a flint plate, an arrowhead and beads. In the last burial, the skeleton was lying on back in a northern-northwestern direction, accompanied by an ornamented clay vessel. A part of structure 1 was also examined. Results. The work shows that a total of three burials date back to the Late Chalcolithic, one — to the Late Bronze Age, and one — to the Middle Ages. The cultural and chronological attribution of the remaining burial has not been determined yet. Conclusions. The excavations at the Maksimovka I grave field have yielded materials from different cultures and periods, including Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, and Medieval complexes.

MULTIMEDIA AT MINOAN MYRTOS–PYRGOS, CRETE

The Minoan settlement of Myrtos–Pyrgos on the south coast of Crete has produced five seals (and one unfinished seal), 11 seal impressions on clay vessels, two roundels and one nodulus, as well as two Linear A tablets and two inscriptions on clay vessels. Dating between Early Minoan II and Late Minoan IB, these documents form valuable evidence for the development of sealing, marking and writing practices at a small but important rural settlement, including a penchant for using antique seals for stamping jars. They contribute too to understanding the regional hierarchical and, probably, political cultures of Crete throughout this long period, especially in the late Protopalatial phase of Middle Minoan IIB, when there seems to have been a special relationship with Malia on the north coast, and again in Late Minoan IB, when there was a relationship with Knossos. Finally, the paper discusses a pithos fragment from Tel Haror in Israel, which appears to have an inscription in Cretan Hieroglyphic or Linear A, and may well have been a product of Myrtos or nearby.

Византийские амфоры в Золотой Орде

The authors study the typology of amphorae produced in the Byzantine Empire and on the territories that preserved Byzantine traditions, as well as the chronology of their arrival on the territory of the Golden Horde State. Five production centers are identified, the production of each one constituting a separate group. These five groups of amphorae constitute more than 99% of all finds of trade containers on the territory of the Golden Horde. Each group is provided with a brief characterization of technology and visually identifiable features, and information is offered about the specific number of finds and changes in the quantities of delivered vessels at different chronological stages. A brief review of opinions about the place of production of these groups of amphorae is collected. The vessels from the first group (“Trebizond” ware), taking into account the written accounts and indirect evidence, should be attributed to the production centers on the territory of the Trebizond Empire. They constitute the absolute majority of all finds. Their share in the ceramic complex gradually decreases until the middle of the 14 th century. In the 1350 s, there was a sharp decline in the number of finds, but in the next decade, their level of supply was restored. The second group of amphorae (“Trillia” ware) exported through the port of Trillia were the products of the production centers from the region of Nicaea. This group was imported in small quantities in the 1260—1320 s. The third group of amphorae is known in the scientific literature as the “SSS stamp ware” amphorae. Within a short period of time (1240—1260 s) of their supply on the territory of Ulus Dzhochi, their quantity is numerically comparable with the amphorae of the Trebizond group. The fourth group of amphorae in the Golden Horde time has a characteristic feature — a concave bottom. The place of their production is not established. These amphorae were supplied until 1330. The last group is represented by large light clay vessels with loop-shaped handles on the shoulders, their characteristic feature being rope imprints on the body in the place of its maximum diameter. This type of amphorae was supplied to the territory of the Golden Horde in the first third of the 14th century.

Върховете от копия от II–I в. пр.Хр. и погребалните обреди в Северозападна България

The subject of the research are spear points which form part of the armament and accoutrement sets placed in graves. They usually consist of a sword, knife, an applique (shield boss) from a shield of iron, and clay vessels. They were used by the local Thracian population, which inhabited the territory of present-day Northwestern Bulgaria during the 2nd–1st C. BC. The sets are dated on the basis of the shape of the swords, which is characteristic for La Tene armament during LT C2: 200/180–150/120 BC and during LT D: 150/120 BC–16 AD – the creation of the Roman province Moesia. The sets are inventory from graves which show the greatest concentration of their type between the rivers Ogosta and Iskar. In the present publication the burial structures from which they originate are examined, and the burial rite which was used in their deposition. In it the information is analysed from the conducted archaeological research and the extant evidence regarding finds which have been discovered in various circumstances such as building activity, agricultural work and treasure hunter’s activities. The research model used allows the formulation of an important conclusion – two models for interment are presented: 1) cremation on a pyre and the subsequent construction of a mound above it; 2) cremation at an undisclosed location and deposition of the burned remains and armament in a pit, above which no earthen structure or mound was piled up.

Jak to z kołem i obtaczaniem być mogło. Innowacje i techniki we wczesnośredniowiecznej ceramice – nieustannie aktualny problem

The article engages with the issue of changes in the technology of producing clay vessels based on the example of early medieval pottery from Wielkopolska. The focus was on the issue of the introduction of innovations and the process of technological change from the perspective of the techniques used and their importance in a broader cultural and social context. Ecological, economic and technical factors are indicated as the main reasons for changes in the technological style, while less importance is attached to social behaviour or cultural norms. Pottery making is a social act, as it takes place in a specific community with its own tradition and past, specific preferences and cultural patterns. Pottery production techniques, more resistant to change than form or ornament, have become a good variable for identifying cultural groups and recognizing communication between communities and relationshipsbetween their members. The presented comments and interpretations indicate the research potential of the analysis of technology and innovations emerging in this process.

Cult Complex in Zanskar: Analysis, Interpretation

Purpose. The study investigates a Buddhist image on a standalone stone and an offering contained in a clay vessel. The cult complex is located near Zangla, not far from the Changut Choeling female monastery, in the north of Zanskar (Ladakh, India).Results. The image depicts the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, the patron deity of Tibet. The clay vessel (73 mm in height) found near the stone contains a square iron plate (~25x25 mm) with traces of insets, one of turquois; a transparent crystal bead; and two perforated bones. An examination of the vessel contents revealed that it originally contained a piece of meat or some blood. Based on a traceological analysis of the bone items, they appear to have been worn on a cord. All the items in the vessel are of special significance in the Buddhist culture as well as folk religion of Tibet. They could have served as offerings to Avalokiteśvara as well as local patron deities – btsan and lha, who were believed to live in that stone. After all, Buddhism in Tibet became part of the folk religion. The tradition of making offerings in a vessel placed at the foot of a stone with a divine image has parallels in the culture of Central Asian Turks. Excavations of Turkic mortuaries have revealed silver, as well as ceramic, vessels at the foot of heroic figures. Researchers believe that they were used for sacrificial offerings and for drinks in funeral rituals. Like in Zanskar, such vessels were left on the surface, and over a thousand years must have passed before they became fully covered with earth so that they would later be found during excavations.Conclusion. Offerings in vessels placed at the foot of stone statues of deities and ancestors, as well as stones accommodating local patron spirits, appear to have been common among the peoples of Central Asia in the Middle Ages.

Modified Polysulfone Nanofibers for the Extraction and Preconcentration of Lead from Aqueous Solutions.

Since lead is a highly toxic metal, it is necessary to detect its presence in different samples; unfortunately, analysis can be complicated if the samples contain concentrations below the detection limit of conventional analytical techniques. Solid phase extraction is a technique that allows the carrying out of a pre-concentration process and thus makes it easy to quantify analytes. This work studied the efficiency of sorption and preconcentration of lead utilizing polysulfone (PSf) fibers grafted with acrylic acid (AA). The best conditions for Pb(II) extraction were: pH 5, 0.1 mol L-1 of ionic strength, and 40 mg of sorbent (70% of removal). The sorbed Pb(II) was pre-concentrated by using an HNO3 solution and quantified using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The described procedure was used to obtain a correlation curve between initial concentrations and those obtained after the preconcentration process. This curve and the developed methodology were applied to the determination of Pb(II) concentration in a water sample contained in a handmade glazed clay vessel. With the implementation of the developed method, it was possible to pre-concentrate and determine a leached Pb(II) concentration of 258 µg L-1.

Сероглиняные рыбные блюда из меотских могильников правобережья Кубани

In the 4th cent. BC, under the influence of ancient cultural and pottery traditions, new forms and types of vessels appeared among the Maeotians, including fish plates. In this work, 26 fish plates from three Maeotian sites are collected — burial grounds of the Elizavetinskaya settlement, Prikubansky and Lebedi 3. The plates are divided into three groups according to the main method of design of their rim: I — with an overhanging rim; II — with a finely trimmed rim; III — with a rounded rim. Within these groups, variants of rims of various modifications are distinguished. The narrow dates of most plates are determined by the context of the finds: Greek amphorae, local gray clay and imported red clay vessels. The general chronology of the existence of fish plates among the Maeotians from the right bank of the Kuban covers the period from the 4th — the beginning of the 1st cent. BC. Moreover, the early samples of the 4th — beginning of the 3rd centuries are accurately copied Greek imported vessels, and the later ones, basically, are presented by the variants, remade by the Maeotian potters, adapted to the local needs.

КЕРАМИЧЕСКАЯ ПОСУДА ПАЗЫРЫКСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ ИЗ ПАМЯТНИКОВБ ОБНАРУЖЕННЫХ НА АЛТАЕ В ДОРЕВОЛЮЦИОННЫЙ ЕПЕРИОД И В 1920-Е ГОДЫ

The ceramic dishes belong to the category of mass archaeological sources in the study of the Pazyryk culture of the Scythian-Saka time. However, the degree of study of such products leaves much to be desired, although their information potential is beyond doubt. In this case, not only quantitative indicators and qualitative characteristics are important, but also the implementation of the program of interdisciplinary analysis, as well as the history of detection. The article examines the process of accumulating information about the fi nds of the clay vessels at the initial stage of excavation of the sites of the Pazyryk culture. From 1865 to 1929, expeditions led by V. V. Radlov, N.M. Yadrintsev, S.I. Rudenko and other researchers explored the Altai Region. In the course of this work, a lot of information was obtained, which is still in demand today. The results of the first analytical conclusions and their interpretation are noted. Color illustrations of some jugs are given. It is noted that some finds could not be found in the museum collections. There are problems with the level of publication materials, which requires additional archival research.

Меотские сероглиняные кружки IV–III вв. до н.э.

The article is devoted to the typology and chronology of gray clay cups from the Maeotian burial grounds on the right bank of the Kuban river. Type 1 refers to biconical cups with a high, narrow neck widening upwards (30 items). A little over half of the studied vessels come from assemblages with a wide chronological range dating back to the 4th and early 3rd centuries BC, where they are accompanied by swords of the Sindian-Maeotian type or sets of pottery characteristic of this period. The remaining burials with cups can be dated more precisely by the finds of container amphorae from different centers (Heraclea, Thasos, Ikos, Mende, Sinope, etc.). The wide chronological framework of the existence of type 1 cups among the Maeotians can be determined within the first half of the 4th century BC, but their narrow chronology is limited to the second quarter of this century. Two versions of the origin of cups of this shape are put forward: the first one is from imported red clay vessels; the second one is from hand-made cups of the 6th–5th centuries BC. Type 2 is truncated conical cups widening upwards (13 items). There are not enough strong chronological references for a narrow dating of this type of cups. Furthermore, apart from the cups, imported vessels were found in the three assemblages including amphorae of Rhodes, a black glazed plate and a fish plate. As the analysis of the assemblages shows, type 2 cups existed among the Maeotians for a rather limited period from the late 3rd century BC up until the beginning of the next century.

BARROW OF THE SCYTHIAN PERIOD NEAR MALYNIVTSI VILLAGE IN PODILLYA

During the Scythian Age the territory of Middle Dnister basin was occupied by the West-Podillia group of sites. It is characterized by the widespread use of burials under stone mounds. Burials were carried out both by cremation and inhumation burial rites. The group of barrows was excavated in 2003 by the expedition of the Kamianets-Podilskyi University with participation of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine near Malynivtsi village of Kamianets-Podilskyi district, Khmelnytskyi region. Nearby the settlement was discovered, the inhabitants of which could be buried at the necropolis.
 Burial 4 was located in the south part of the cemetery. The mound was almost completely plowed and stood out on the surface only by the outcrop of stone. Its probable diameter could be up to 5.7 m. Under the layer of black oil, the stone pavement ca. 4 Ч 4 m2 was discovered. It consisted mostly of small limestone. Larger stones were localized around the perimeter, forming the irregular outer ring, and in the center where the larger slabs lay. There were the traces of repeated robberies which caused the stones to be turned upside down in many places. The burials were discovered at the level of the ancient surface. They were made according to the rites of inhumation and cremation. Due to the robbery, the bones of the burieds and their grave goods were scattered. The finds are represented by glass beads, bronze pins and earrings. The set of ceramics was numerous, including up to 17 vessels. Most of them were molded: pots, scoops, cups, bowls, and a vessel like an amphora. However, a fragment of gray clay vessel was also found. The set of grave goods is typical for the sites of the West Podillia group. It has analogies in other Scythian antiquities from the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe. The findings allow us to date the barrow to the last third of the 7th — first half of the 6th century B.C. Comparison with other burial sites of the West Podillia group, their size and grave goods, shows that the burials in the barrow 4 near Malynivtsi could belong to ordinary representatives of the Middle Dnister communities of this time.

Analysis of the shapes of clay vessels from the Chekanovsky Log-2 burial ground of the An-dronovo (Fedorovo) Culture in the foothills of Altai

The shapes of 32 vessels from the burials of Chekanovsky Log-2 cemetery were examined by a technique applied within the historical-and-cultural approach to study pottery shapes. The analysis was carried out at the levels of general proportionality of the shape, its natural structure, and the formedness of the functional parts. The aim of the study was to characterize the pottery traditions of the Andronovo population in terms of pottery shaping and to clarify their cultural dynamics. As the result, two mass traditions were identified, manifested by vessels of similar overall proportionality (35–36 degrees) but of two different structural types: ‘Lip+Neck+Pre-Shoulder+ Body+Body Base’ (5 parts) and ‘Lip+Pre-Shoulder+Body+Body Base’ (4 parts). Comparative analysis of the ves-sels from two excavated sections of the burial ground (northern and southern), making use of the information about other morphological features of the vessels (decoration and surface treatment), as well as about the speci-fics of the burial ritual, enabled revealing the dynamics in the development of the considered pottery traditions and the cultural composition of the population that used the burial ground. It appears that the vessels of 5-part shapes with a fully formed body and a more pronounced neck tend to the classical Andronovo (Fedorovo) period. They are characterized by burnished surface and ornamentation with fine-toothed stamps in a variety of geometric mo-tifs. The vessels of these shapes prevail in the burials of the northern dig, which demonstrated considerable cul-tural homogeneity. The vessels of 5-part shapes with a partly-formed body and a lower neck, along with 4-part shapes, probably became more widespread in the Late Fedorovo period. These items were less thoroughly bur-nished, but, more often, smoothed, with simplified ornamentation applied with a coarse-toothed or smooth stamp. These traditions are represented to a greater extent in the southern dig, which, in addition, appeared to be not so homogeneous due to the distribution of squater pots of various structures. This peculiarity may attest to the in-creasing complexity of the cultural composition of the population and intensification of cultural contacts at the late stage of the burial ground.

CLAY VESSELS’ SHAPES AS AN OBJECT OF STUDY OF THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF ALANS OF THE FOREST-STEPPE DON REGION

Alans are one of the ethnic components of the Saltovo-Mayatsk archaeological culture. Antiquities associated with this group are found in the Middle Don basin. The article studies the cultural characteristics of the Alanian groups that left behind the burial sites of this region, on the example of pottery. The object of study are the shapes of clay vessels. The study was carried out according to the methodology developed within the framework of the historical-and-cultural approach to the study of ancient pottery, proposed by A.A. Bobrinsky. The article considers the quantitative composition of unmixed traditions of shaping forms of pottery on sites associated with the Alan component of the Saltovo-Mayatsk culture. The three most numerous categories of ware are analyzed: jugs, mugs and pots. The communities that left behind the catacomb burial grounds of the eastern regions of the Don forest-steppe were culturally more heterogeneous than the communities from the western part. The materials of the Mayatsky complex, Yutanovsky and Podgorovsky burial grounds present unique and inherently mixed sets of morphological traditions. Based on the data of the study of ceramics and their comparison with burial traditions, we consider the Yutanovsky, Podgorovsky, Mayatsky burial grounds as cemeteries of communities that included settlers from the western part of the Don forest-steppe, whose traditions mixed up in new places of residence. The most probable reason for the resettlement of a certain part of the Alanian population to the eastern regions of the forest-steppe Don region can be considered the construction of a series of stone and brick fortresses on the Tikhaya Sosna River, as well as the need to control this section of the Slavic-Khazar frontier. In accordance with the concept, proposed by G.E. Afansiyev, these fortifications were built in the 30-40s of the 9th century. The author suggests that it is these events that can explain the influx of the Alanian population into the eastern regions of the forest-steppe Don region and the formation of more culturally heterogeneous groups in the new places of residence of these people than among the “neighbors” from the western regions of the Don forest-steppe.

An experience of the experimental use-wear analysis of made of tools pottery shards (based on the materials of the fortified settlement of Marai 4)

The paper concerns the determination of the functional purpose of scraper-shaped pottery tools of the forti-fied settlement of Marai 4 of the initial period of the Early Bronze Age. The site is located in the territory of the Lower Ishim River basin in Kazan District of Tyumen Oblast. Its materials are dated to the 6th (7th) — end of the 5th centuries BCE; culture-wise, they belong to the circle of the Zhuravlevo antiquities. The collection of the pot-tery scrapers of the site amounts to 78 items. Initially, the majority of them were interpreted as scrapers for fle-shing. However, a series of features gave rise to doubts, and the problem of the functional purpose of the scraper-like implements from Maray 4 remained open. In order to elaborate and correct the conclusions, in 2019–2022 the author conducted experiments on the use of pottery shards in the process of skin treatment, wood scraping, abrasive treatment of copper and bronze, in pottery making — at the stage of smoothing, compacting and sleeking the walls of pottery containers. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the experimen-tal use-wear study of the scraper-like pottery artefacts from the Early Iron Age sites of Maray 4. The investigation is based upon the use of the experimental use-wear method, which involves the study of the traces of wear on the surface of implements, and their functional attribution. The use-wear analysis and microphotography of the traces of wear were carried out with the aid of a pancratic microscope MC-2 Z00M with a magnification from 10× to 40× with a Canon EOS-1100 camera. The performed studies allowed refining the previously conjectured hypothesis on the functional purpose of the scraper-shaped tools from Maray 4 and reaching the conclusion that most of them were used for smoothing and compacting the surface of pottery vessels. This conclusion is supported by the preliminary view of V.V. Ilyushina based upon the comparison of available reference experimental samples of surface treatment of clay vessels with pottery tools with the vessels from the site.

The Neolithic site of Luzhki II in the forest-steppe Volga region (first results of the studies)

The paper deals with the materials of Luzhki II site, which is located in the stepping Volga region on the left side of the Sok River. This memorial was found in 2019. The excavation area of 96 meters was made in 2020. The common collection of artifacts includes 2394 things. The founded materials are from the Neolithic except small group of ceramics (21 fragments) of early middle centuries. The collection of stone inventory includes 568 things. 81 items are implements, they take up about 14,2% of all stone. 1359 things of ceramics were found. The thickness of fragments is from 0,5 to 1,2 sm. Almost all founded rims have a dimple-pearl belt under the cut, which was applied exclusively from the outside. There are four typological groups (without ornament, pinned, comb and ceramics with impression), which show stages of ornament tradition development in the region. A collection of animal bones has been collected, including 412 units. 12 bones have traces of processing or were used as tools. 5 small clay vessels were found in a cultural layer. Two sinkers and one shaft straightener for arrows were found too. According to the available radiocarbon definitions for similar complexes of the forest-steppe Volga region the discovered site could be second half VI middle V thousands BC. The assemblage of pottery from the site reveals the closest analogies in materials from the sites of the developed and late Neolithic of the forest-steppe Volga region, attributed to the Srednevolzhskaya culture.