На Зарайской стоянке (пункт Зарайск Е) в 2018 г. в яме-хранилище 28 была обнаружена уникальная на... more На Зарайской стоянке (пункт Зарайск Е) в 2018 г. в яме-хранилище 28 была обнаружена уникальная находка. Это листовидный наконечник, выполненный в бифасиальной технике, нетипичной для костёнковско-авдеевской культуры. Изделие было намеренно положено на дно ямы и засыпано охрой. На наконечнике четко видны следы затертости всех граней. Вещь является уникальной как с эстетической точки зрения, так и в плане археологической типологии и технологии. Прямых аналогов этой находке в костёнковско-авдеевской культуре нет, хотя определенные элементы данной технологии бифасиальной обработки прослеживаются у некоторых типов метательного вооружения. В статье кратко изложены наиболее значимые моменты доказательной интерпретации данного артефакта, основанные на результатах анализа следов обработки и следов общего (неутилитарного) износа. In 2018 a unique find was retrieved from storage pit 28 at the Zaraisk site (Zaraisk E location). It is a leaf-shaped point made using a biface technology that is not typical for the Kostenki-Avdeevo cultural tradition. The item was intentionally placed on the bottom of the pit and sprinkled with ochre. All facets of the point exhibit clearly visible abrasion marks. This artifact is unique both in terms of its aesthetic look and in terms of archaeological typology and technology. There are no direct analogies to this find in the Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, though certain elements of the biface treatment technology can be seen in several types of throwing weapons. The paper summarizes the most important points of the evidence-based interpretation of this item based on the analysis of treatment and general (non-utilitarian) wear traces.
Since 1994 an expedition from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences has been con... more Since 1994 an expedition from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences has been conducting excavations of an Upper Paleolithic site in the town of Zaraisk in Moscow Oblast of the type that is regarded traditionally as a camp of mammoth hunters. In the main excavation area (area 4) 225 m of culture deposits have been uncovered so far; altogether a little over 350 m have been studied by excavation. The investigated part of the camp at the level of the lowest culture deposits is part of an extensive residential-economic site with hearths, pits of various functional designation (storage pits, hoarding pits, hearth pits, refuse pits), and semidugouts. The objects discovered in the layers of the site constitute a distinct planned structure clearly recognizable from the Kostenki site (Kostenki 1; layer 1). It has become the classical model for artifacts of the culture of the same name (Figure 1). Relying on the data obtained from the plot already investigated and reconstructing the residential-
Stratum plus. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology
The paper presents the evidence of flint knapping by people with different skill levels at the Ea... more The paper presents the evidence of flint knapping by people with different skill levels at the Eastern Gravettian site of Zaraysk B on the Russian Plain. The basic methodological approach used in this study is the analysis of “deviations from the technological norm”. In addition, the results are verified via more traditional methods of spatial and technological analysis of the refit sets. The analysis of the totality of cores and core preforms leads to the conclusion that flint knapping was carried out by both expert craftsmen and novices, as well as intermediate-level knappers. All core preforms and most cores in the collection appear to have been the result of knapping by craftsmen with a low or intermediate level of knapping skills.
Russian Foundation for Basic Research Journal. Humanities and social sciences
The study of the Upper Paleolithic in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan has no long history... more The study of the Upper Paleolithic in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan has no long history. The first discoveries of archaeological sites of that period were carried out only in the early 21st century. Nevertheless, several sites of the Upper Paleolithic found here are being studied with varying degrees of intensity. The most studied of them are the Maibulak and Rakhat sites. Both sites are multi-layered. The sequences of cultural deposits mutually complement each other. The cultural layers of the sites lie in multi-meter deposits of loess-like loams. The specificity of sedimentation significantly influenced the high degree of preservation of cultural remains. At different levels such features as: charcoal spots, burn spots, hearths, storage pits were found. This fact, with a high degree of probability, indicates the undisturbed pattern of the archaeological complexes in each of the cultural layers. The remains of settlements of the Early Upper Paleolithic (~40,000-28,000 yea...
Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia)
Introduction. This work is devoted to the assessment of the Upper Paleolithic sites of the Northe... more Introduction. This work is devoted to the assessment of the Upper Paleolithic sites of the Northern Tien Shan. Materials and methods. Plains and foothills of Kazakhstan occupies a large western part of Central Asia and stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east. There are many Paleolithic sites, the vast majority of which are open-air (surface) sites. Recently several multilayer Upper Paleolithic sites have been discovered in the Northern Tien Shan. Among them are the sites of Maibulak, Rakhat, Uzynagash 1–3, Saryzhazyk and some others. The sites have been studied intermittently since 2004. A new research phase began in 2018. Results and discussion. The sites are located in similar geomorphological conditions. The cultural layers of the sites are nested in loess-like loams covering the northern foothills of the Zailiysky Alatau Range. Most of the cultural layers are interpreted as habitation levels with preserved hearths, burn spots, charcoal spots...
Loess-like sediments over late Palaeolithic context in Zaraisk, central Russian Plain: a splash of eolian sedimentation in the terminal Pleistocene?, 2018
Chronological and spatial variability of the eolian deposition as well as its interaction with th... more Chronological and spatial variability of the eolian deposition as well as its interaction with the other surface processes (cryogenic, pedogenetic, other types of sedimentation) presents a major problem for correct correlation interpretation of the paleosol-sedimentary archives in the Pleistocene periglacial zone, in particular at the northern margins of the east European loess area. Archaeological contexts offer a unique opportunity to precise the chronostratigraphic position of various sedimentary strata, providing valuable marker horizons – cultural layers with diagnostic lithic assemblage, supplied with instrumental datings.
The open-air Upper Palaeolithic site of Zaraisk was discovered in 1980. It is located in the center of the town, about 155 km from Moscow on the promontory on the right bank of Osetr river. Zaraisk actually represents a cluster of closely related inter-stratified sites or occupation loci. All of them contain archaeological material of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, the Eastern Gravettian cultural tradition (23-16 ka BP). Six sites or loci may be identified, each labeled with a letter from “A” to “F”. On Zaraisk A site, placed on promontory “Castle Hill”, the cultural remains are contained in a sequence of four stratified occupation levels deposited in two geologic units – the upper buried soil of the Zaraisk stratigraphy and an underlying sandy loam. It is the most well-published site with living structures, art objects, big stone and fauna collections, excavated on the area of 265 sq. m (Amirkhanov et all., 2009). Zaraisk B site occupies the upslope portion on another promontory (“Second Hill”) several dozen meters to the north of the castle and separated from the latter by an ancient ravine. At this locus, excavated on the area of 175 sq. m, the cultural remains are deposited in the upper buried soil and at the contact between this soil and an underly-ing loam (the layer of sandy loam described above is absent here). Zaraisk C occupies the crest of the Second Hill promontory and contains cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” i.e., in the upper buried soil and underling sandy loam layer. Two newly discovered in 2016 loci named Zaraisk E and F are situated on slope ending of Castle Hill facing the river. They also contain cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” except the upper buried soil that poorly developed on the excavated area.
The main cultural layer in the section Zaraisk B is linked to the paleosol layer known as Zaraisk soil. Its age is estimated at 16 ka BP (16520 ± 760 GIN). Macro- and micromorphological features point to moderate dark humus accumulation and gleyzation as the main pedogenetic processes. Observations in the thin sections under microscope show poorly sorted heterogeneous character of the mineral material of this soil with a large proportion of sand grains that suppose colluvial origin of the paleosol parent material. Even deeper two other paleosols were found, which were associated with the Bryansk soil (MIS3) and Mezin pedocomplex (MIS5) – prominent elements of the loess-paleosol stratigraphy of East-European Plain (Velichko et al.). However these paleosols already did not contain archaeological materials. In the other sections (Zaraysk A) three older cultural layers are identified in the sediments below Zaraisk paleosol.
Our attention was drawn by the silty loamy layer overlying Zaraisk paleosol that contains no cul-tural deposits. This is rather thick (about 1m) uniform stratum penetrating into underlying paleosol along small cryogenic wedges. In the thin sections its material has micromorphological characteristics completely different from the underlying paleosol. It is well sorted, dominated by silt fraction with admixture of clay, however sand grains are nearly absent. Few illuvial clay coatings we attribute to the effects of the Holocene pedogenesis of the Luvisol (forest) type (the upper horizons of the Holocene soils were destroyed and partly eroded in the recent urban environment). The deposit with such characteristics in the upland slope position suppose contribution of eolian processes to its formation. Having no instrumental datings for it we however define the timespan of its development between 16 ka (underlying Zaraisk paleosol) and beginning of the Holocene (superimposed Luvisol development). No other layers of similar composition and thickness were observed deeper within the studied late Pleistocene sections.
The following phenomena generated by surface geomorphic processes are associated with the studied paleosols and sediments: two systems of soil wedges forming small polygons. The lower system appeared at the time of the paleosol existence but before it was covered with overlaying loess loams. Those soil wedges are clearly visible by their dark humified filling on the background of light yellow-beige loam. Their width is from 3 to 5 cm, the size of the polygons is about 30 cm. Another later formed system of soil wedges is associated mainly with the upper part of paleosol (humic horizon). These are small (1-2 cm wide) wedge-shaped structures, sometimes they are wider and then pass to the lower horizon of the paleosol, the size of the polygons is about 10 cm. These small polygonal systems appear to be the result of the formation of structural soils under the conditions of the permafrost development or deep seasonal freezing. Thus, the paleosol was deformed by cryogenic processes twice: at the time when it was still exposed, and after it was covered by loess loams. These processes could incorporate silty material from the upper loamy layer into the paleosol humus horizon, that we observe in thin sections.
Our observations lead to an unexpected conclusion that in Zaraisk throughout the Late Pleistocene the major event of accumulation of loess-like silty sediments (of possible eolian origin or with major eolian contribution) took place in its terminal stage. We associate it with the cold intervals which occurred in the final millennia of the terminal Pleistocene, especially with Younger Dryas.
The article is devoted to the results of archaeological excavations carried out on the Sungir in ... more The article is devoted to the results of archaeological excavations carried out on the Sungir in 2014-2015. The main purpose of these works was to obtain new data on the spatial structure of the cultural layer of the Sungir site. The relevance of these studies is caused by still unsolved question of whether Sungir can be considered as a site with a complex archaeological stratigraphy or the features of its spatial structure are only the result of natural postdepositional processes. Descriptions and characteristics of the stratigraphy of sediments, the spatial organization of the cultural layer, the species’ attribution and taphonomy of the faunal collection, the typology and technology of the stone industry, as well as new radiocarbon dating are given. It is noted that the excavations of 2015 were conducted on the peripheral part of the accumulations which were opened in the excavation unit III by O.N. Bader. Most of the animal bones found during excavations can be considered as bel...
Abstract Paleosol-sedimentary sequences encountered in the settlements with long occupation histo... more Abstract Paleosol-sedimentary sequences encountered in the settlements with long occupation history could provide a unique insight into the trends of landscape development and human-environment interaction over long time scales. We studied paleosols exposed by the excavations in the Kremlin of Zaraysk (Central European Russia) which were formed during the late Pleistocene and the Holocene and contain archaeological materials spanning from Upper Palaeolithic till late Medieval. Archaeological findings and numerous radiocarbon dates provide a reliable time frame for paleopedological record which we extracted from paleosols using macro- and micromorphological observations as well as physical and chemical properties and paleobotanical indicators (phytolith assemblages). The basal layer without archaeological materials presents signs of soil formation which resemble Bryansk fossil soil developed in the second half of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. The overlying archaeological stratum - one of the Gravettian cultural layers is linked to the paleosol level known as Zaraysk soil. Its age is estimated at 16 ka BP. Macro- and micromorphological features point to moderate dark humus accumulation, anthropogenic compaction and cryogenic processes at the final stages of paleopedogenesis. Poorly sorted heterogeneous composition of the mineral material with a large proportion of sand grains indicates colluvial origin of the paleosol parent material. The overlying sorted silty deposit supposes contribution of windblown material to its formation. We associate cryogenic and eolian processes at the end and after Zaraysk soil development with the cold intervals at the end MIS 2, presumably with the Oldest and Younger Dryas. The complete profile of Luvisol/Grey Forest Soil with eluvial and illuvial horizons and relict dark humus morphons is developed within the silty unit. This soil indicates long-term natural pedogenesis under first steppe and then deciduous forest vegetation during major part of the Holocene. The topsoil however is formed by clear plough horizon which points to cultivation started in the Middle Ages. Sharp boundary separates the buried Luvisol from the overlying cultural layer-Technosol developed after building of Zaraysk Kremlin in the 16th century. Technosol presents a mixture of natural soil with construction materials, especially limestone fragments. Soil units, both natural and affected by humans, are not separated one from another by an unaltered C horizon, so soil-forming processes from the upper soils penetrate into the underlying ones forming a multistory pedocomplex.
Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 2009
Le premier objet d’art mobilier du site gravettien de Zaraysk (Russie, region de Moscou) a ete de... more Le premier objet d’art mobilier du site gravettien de Zaraysk (Russie, region de Moscou) a ete decouvert au cours de la campagne de fouilles de 2001. Il s’agit d’une figurine de bison en ivoire de Mammouth, un veritable «chef d’oeuvre » de sculpture paleolithique date aux alentours de 22000 BP. Au regard d’autres exemples d’objets d’art mobilier bien connus d’Europe centrale et orientale, cet artefact est non seulement l’une des plus anciennes preuves d’expression artistique d’inspiration naturaliste, mais aussi le temoignage d’un haut niveau de maitrise technique dans le travail des matieres dures animales. Cette statuette, par ailleurs partiellement ocree, est aussi remarquable du fait de ses dimensions et de certaines de ses caracteristiques stylistiques. En outre, elle provient d’un contexte stratigraphique particulier (une fosse creusee dont le fond a ete amenage en vue de son depot). Ce contexte ainsi que plusieurs autres details evoques permettent de proposer l’hypothese que cette figurine a pu jouer un role important a l’occasion de ceremonies rituelles.
The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on mammoth i... more The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on mammoth ivory plaques and carving in the round, including representations of women and large mammals, and geometric decoration on bone utensils. The authors show that while belonging to the broad family of Upper Palaeolithic artists, the Zaraysk carvers produced forms particular to their region, some with magical associations.
One of the most intriguing fi nds of excavations at that site concerns an unusual group of artifa... more One of the most intriguing fi nds of excavations at that site concerns an unusual group of artifacts, tentatively interpreted as ceramics. This article gives a detailed description of these, and addresses their spatial distribution. The items have been subjected to fi ring, but the chemical and mineralogical analysis suggests that they were made of ocher or highly ferruginized clay unsuitable for manufacturing ordinary ceramics. Poor p reservation caused by taphonomic processes precludes a reliable reconstruction of the original morphology and function of the items. Their shape, however, is rather standard and is paralleled by the " non-fi gurative " ceramics of Pavlov and Dolní Věstonice, whose function is not clear either. It appears that the Zaraysk people tried to reproduce the Central European prototypes in terms of form and function, but, intentionally or not, used a raw material suitable for making a red pigment rather than ceramics. Formally, the Zaraysk pieces can barely be described as ceramics proper, possibly evidencing unsuccessful copying. The fi nal answer, then, hinges on the true purposes of the manufacturers.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE HISTORY OF MATERIAL CULTURE Nо. 17, 2018
In the field season of 2016 archaeological researches in Zaraysk were resumed. Extensive rescue e... more In the field season of 2016 archaeological researches in Zaraysk were resumed. Extensive rescue excavations were held as a part of Zaraysk kremlin restauration program. Total length of trenches inside and outside the walls was 1035 m (the area of 517,5 m²). Palaeolithic cultural layer was detected on the area of 68 m² mainly inside the walls and on a small square outside the walls. Those areas were named as Zaraysk F (around the Karaulnaya corner tower) and Zaraysk E (near Yegorievskaya passage tower). The density of artefacts on Zaraysk F site is few hundreds pieces per 1 m². The most impressive was the discovery of a big Kostenki type hearth. Such features form the central line of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture typical settlement. It can be assumed the presence of other profound features, such as storage pits, other hearths and earth-dwellings. In 2017 on Zaraysk E site were held excavations and a rich cultural layer was found on the area of 20 m². One big hearth with plenty of burned stones, 16 pits of different types, occupation floor structures with red ocher and burned bone, natural cryogenic deformations of cultural layer, stone artefacts accumulations and rich paleozoological data were discovered. Between these two points the thickness of the cultural layer significantly reduced and almost vanishes that let us assume the discovery of two new camp sites of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture (Upper Palaeolithic). The plan for the next seasons is to increase the wide excavated area.
Zaraysk is one of the best-studied and best-known Russian Upper Paleolithic sites of the Kostenki... more Zaraysk is one of the best-studied and best-known Russian Upper Paleolithic sites of the Kostenki-Willendorf type. One of the most intriguing finds of excava-tions at that site concerns an unusual group of artifacts, tentatively interpreted as ceramics. This article gives a detailed description of these, and addresses their spatial distribution. The items have been subjected to firing, but the chemical and mineralogical analysis suggests that they were made of ocher or highly ferrugi-nized clay unsuitable for manufacturing ordinary ceramics. Poor preservation caused by taphonomic processes precludes a reliable reconstruction of the original morphology and function of the items. Their shape, however, is rather standard and is paralleled by the “non-figurative” ceramics of Pavlov and Dolní Věstonice, whose function is not clear either. It appears that the Zaraysk people tried to re-produce the Central European prototypes in terms of form and function, but, inten-tionally or not, used a raw material suitable for making a red pigment rather than ceramics. Formally, the Zaraysk pieces can barely be described as ceramics prop-er, possibly evidencing unsuccessful copying. The final answer, then, hinges on the true purposes of the manufacturers.
Зарайская верхнепалеолитическая стоянка относится к числу наиболее изученных и широко известных российских па- мятников, принадлежащих к костенковско-виллендорфскому единству. Во время ее раскопок была найдена уникальная серия предметов, предварительно интерпретированных как керамика. В статье предлагается детальное описание их планигра- фии, морфологии и вещественного состава. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что эти изделия подвергались об- жигу, но были изготовлены из сырья, которое по своему химическому и минералогическому составу соответствует охрам и не пригодно для производства обычной керамики. Из-за плохой сохранности находок, обусловленной постдепозиционными процессами, не представляется возможным в полной мере и достоверно реконструировать их первоначальную морфологию и предназначение. В то же время определенная повторяемость их морфологических очертаний вполне очевидна и позволя- ет увидеть некоторые аналогии среди «нефигуративной» керамики из Павлова и Дольни-Вестониц. В этой связи наиболее вероятно, что в попытках сделать изделия, близкие к последней по форме и назначению, обитатели Зарайской стоянки случайно или намеренно стали использовать иное сырье, более пригодное для получения красного пигмента, но не вполне подходящее для изготовления керамики. Таким образом, с формальной точки зрения зарайские образцы трудно назвать керамикой в собственном смысле этого слова, однако они вполне могут представлять собой результат неудачного опыта ее изготовления. Окончательное решение этого вопроса зависит от того, какими были истинные цели их изготовителей.
Two new sites of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, Eastern Gravettian were found in Zaraysk kremlin durin... more Two new sites of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, Eastern Gravettian were found in Zaraysk kremlin during rescue excavations of the season 2017 (Zaraysk E and Zaraysk F). In Russian with illustrations.
AVERBOUH A. dir. 2016 − Multilingual Lexicon of Bone Industry, Version 2 (Français-Anglais- Allem... more AVERBOUH A. dir. 2016 − Multilingual Lexicon of Bone Industry, Version 2 (Français-Anglais- Allemand, Danois, Espagnol, Italien, Portugais, Roumain, Bulgare, Polonais, Russe, Hongrois). GDRE PREHISTOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES II 2015, Hors série Préhistoires méditerranéennes, 131 p.
with the following authors : N. Akhmetgaleeva, A. Balasescu, A. Boguzewski, A. Choyke, M. Christensen, M. Evora, N. Goutas, G. Ledosseur, Cl. Letourneux, S. Lev, L. Manca, M. Margarit, K. Mazurié, A. Pasquini, N. Skakun, J.-M. Tejero, Z. Toth, M. Zhilin et P. Zidarov.
This multilingual lexicon was created in the framework of the CNRS European research group « Exploitation of osseous materials in Prehistoric Europe » (GDRE PREHISTOS). It was intended as a working tool to catalogue and translate the main terms used for the technical, typological or functional study of hard animal material industries by the GDRE members into distinct languages. This volume follows the first version published online in 2010 and provides an extended list of terms translated into 12 languages : French, English, German, Danish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian and Hungarian.
ABSTRACT The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on ... more ABSTRACT The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on mammoth ivory plaques and carving in the round, including representations of women and large mammals, and geometric decoration on bone utensils. The authors show that while belonging to the broad family of Upper Palaeolithic artists, the Zaraysk carvers produced forms particular to their region, some with magical associations.
На Зарайской стоянке (пункт Зарайск Е) в 2018 г. в яме-хранилище 28 была обнаружена уникальная на... more На Зарайской стоянке (пункт Зарайск Е) в 2018 г. в яме-хранилище 28 была обнаружена уникальная находка. Это листовидный наконечник, выполненный в бифасиальной технике, нетипичной для костёнковско-авдеевской культуры. Изделие было намеренно положено на дно ямы и засыпано охрой. На наконечнике четко видны следы затертости всех граней. Вещь является уникальной как с эстетической точки зрения, так и в плане археологической типологии и технологии. Прямых аналогов этой находке в костёнковско-авдеевской культуре нет, хотя определенные элементы данной технологии бифасиальной обработки прослеживаются у некоторых типов метательного вооружения. В статье кратко изложены наиболее значимые моменты доказательной интерпретации данного артефакта, основанные на результатах анализа следов обработки и следов общего (неутилитарного) износа. In 2018 a unique find was retrieved from storage pit 28 at the Zaraisk site (Zaraisk E location). It is a leaf-shaped point made using a biface technology that is not typical for the Kostenki-Avdeevo cultural tradition. The item was intentionally placed on the bottom of the pit and sprinkled with ochre. All facets of the point exhibit clearly visible abrasion marks. This artifact is unique both in terms of its aesthetic look and in terms of archaeological typology and technology. There are no direct analogies to this find in the Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, though certain elements of the biface treatment technology can be seen in several types of throwing weapons. The paper summarizes the most important points of the evidence-based interpretation of this item based on the analysis of treatment and general (non-utilitarian) wear traces.
Since 1994 an expedition from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences has been con... more Since 1994 an expedition from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences has been conducting excavations of an Upper Paleolithic site in the town of Zaraisk in Moscow Oblast of the type that is regarded traditionally as a camp of mammoth hunters. In the main excavation area (area 4) 225 m of culture deposits have been uncovered so far; altogether a little over 350 m have been studied by excavation. The investigated part of the camp at the level of the lowest culture deposits is part of an extensive residential-economic site with hearths, pits of various functional designation (storage pits, hoarding pits, hearth pits, refuse pits), and semidugouts. The objects discovered in the layers of the site constitute a distinct planned structure clearly recognizable from the Kostenki site (Kostenki 1; layer 1). It has become the classical model for artifacts of the culture of the same name (Figure 1). Relying on the data obtained from the plot already investigated and reconstructing the residential-
Stratum plus. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology
The paper presents the evidence of flint knapping by people with different skill levels at the Ea... more The paper presents the evidence of flint knapping by people with different skill levels at the Eastern Gravettian site of Zaraysk B on the Russian Plain. The basic methodological approach used in this study is the analysis of “deviations from the technological norm”. In addition, the results are verified via more traditional methods of spatial and technological analysis of the refit sets. The analysis of the totality of cores and core preforms leads to the conclusion that flint knapping was carried out by both expert craftsmen and novices, as well as intermediate-level knappers. All core preforms and most cores in the collection appear to have been the result of knapping by craftsmen with a low or intermediate level of knapping skills.
Russian Foundation for Basic Research Journal. Humanities and social sciences
The study of the Upper Paleolithic in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan has no long history... more The study of the Upper Paleolithic in the foothills of the Northern Tien Shan has no long history. The first discoveries of archaeological sites of that period were carried out only in the early 21st century. Nevertheless, several sites of the Upper Paleolithic found here are being studied with varying degrees of intensity. The most studied of them are the Maibulak and Rakhat sites. Both sites are multi-layered. The sequences of cultural deposits mutually complement each other. The cultural layers of the sites lie in multi-meter deposits of loess-like loams. The specificity of sedimentation significantly influenced the high degree of preservation of cultural remains. At different levels such features as: charcoal spots, burn spots, hearths, storage pits were found. This fact, with a high degree of probability, indicates the undisturbed pattern of the archaeological complexes in each of the cultural layers. The remains of settlements of the Early Upper Paleolithic (~40,000-28,000 yea...
Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia)
Introduction. This work is devoted to the assessment of the Upper Paleolithic sites of the Northe... more Introduction. This work is devoted to the assessment of the Upper Paleolithic sites of the Northern Tien Shan. Materials and methods. Plains and foothills of Kazakhstan occupies a large western part of Central Asia and stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east. There are many Paleolithic sites, the vast majority of which are open-air (surface) sites. Recently several multilayer Upper Paleolithic sites have been discovered in the Northern Tien Shan. Among them are the sites of Maibulak, Rakhat, Uzynagash 1–3, Saryzhazyk and some others. The sites have been studied intermittently since 2004. A new research phase began in 2018. Results and discussion. The sites are located in similar geomorphological conditions. The cultural layers of the sites are nested in loess-like loams covering the northern foothills of the Zailiysky Alatau Range. Most of the cultural layers are interpreted as habitation levels with preserved hearths, burn spots, charcoal spots...
Loess-like sediments over late Palaeolithic context in Zaraisk, central Russian Plain: a splash of eolian sedimentation in the terminal Pleistocene?, 2018
Chronological and spatial variability of the eolian deposition as well as its interaction with th... more Chronological and spatial variability of the eolian deposition as well as its interaction with the other surface processes (cryogenic, pedogenetic, other types of sedimentation) presents a major problem for correct correlation interpretation of the paleosol-sedimentary archives in the Pleistocene periglacial zone, in particular at the northern margins of the east European loess area. Archaeological contexts offer a unique opportunity to precise the chronostratigraphic position of various sedimentary strata, providing valuable marker horizons – cultural layers with diagnostic lithic assemblage, supplied with instrumental datings.
The open-air Upper Palaeolithic site of Zaraisk was discovered in 1980. It is located in the center of the town, about 155 km from Moscow on the promontory on the right bank of Osetr river. Zaraisk actually represents a cluster of closely related inter-stratified sites or occupation loci. All of them contain archaeological material of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, the Eastern Gravettian cultural tradition (23-16 ka BP). Six sites or loci may be identified, each labeled with a letter from “A” to “F”. On Zaraisk A site, placed on promontory “Castle Hill”, the cultural remains are contained in a sequence of four stratified occupation levels deposited in two geologic units – the upper buried soil of the Zaraisk stratigraphy and an underlying sandy loam. It is the most well-published site with living structures, art objects, big stone and fauna collections, excavated on the area of 265 sq. m (Amirkhanov et all., 2009). Zaraisk B site occupies the upslope portion on another promontory (“Second Hill”) several dozen meters to the north of the castle and separated from the latter by an ancient ravine. At this locus, excavated on the area of 175 sq. m, the cultural remains are deposited in the upper buried soil and at the contact between this soil and an underly-ing loam (the layer of sandy loam described above is absent here). Zaraisk C occupies the crest of the Second Hill promontory and contains cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” i.e., in the upper buried soil and underling sandy loam layer. Two newly discovered in 2016 loci named Zaraisk E and F are situated on slope ending of Castle Hill facing the river. They also contain cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” except the upper buried soil that poorly developed on the excavated area.
The main cultural layer in the section Zaraisk B is linked to the paleosol layer known as Zaraisk soil. Its age is estimated at 16 ka BP (16520 ± 760 GIN). Macro- and micromorphological features point to moderate dark humus accumulation and gleyzation as the main pedogenetic processes. Observations in the thin sections under microscope show poorly sorted heterogeneous character of the mineral material of this soil with a large proportion of sand grains that suppose colluvial origin of the paleosol parent material. Even deeper two other paleosols were found, which were associated with the Bryansk soil (MIS3) and Mezin pedocomplex (MIS5) – prominent elements of the loess-paleosol stratigraphy of East-European Plain (Velichko et al.). However these paleosols already did not contain archaeological materials. In the other sections (Zaraysk A) three older cultural layers are identified in the sediments below Zaraisk paleosol.
Our attention was drawn by the silty loamy layer overlying Zaraisk paleosol that contains no cul-tural deposits. This is rather thick (about 1m) uniform stratum penetrating into underlying paleosol along small cryogenic wedges. In the thin sections its material has micromorphological characteristics completely different from the underlying paleosol. It is well sorted, dominated by silt fraction with admixture of clay, however sand grains are nearly absent. Few illuvial clay coatings we attribute to the effects of the Holocene pedogenesis of the Luvisol (forest) type (the upper horizons of the Holocene soils were destroyed and partly eroded in the recent urban environment). The deposit with such characteristics in the upland slope position suppose contribution of eolian processes to its formation. Having no instrumental datings for it we however define the timespan of its development between 16 ka (underlying Zaraisk paleosol) and beginning of the Holocene (superimposed Luvisol development). No other layers of similar composition and thickness were observed deeper within the studied late Pleistocene sections.
The following phenomena generated by surface geomorphic processes are associated with the studied paleosols and sediments: two systems of soil wedges forming small polygons. The lower system appeared at the time of the paleosol existence but before it was covered with overlaying loess loams. Those soil wedges are clearly visible by their dark humified filling on the background of light yellow-beige loam. Their width is from 3 to 5 cm, the size of the polygons is about 30 cm. Another later formed system of soil wedges is associated mainly with the upper part of paleosol (humic horizon). These are small (1-2 cm wide) wedge-shaped structures, sometimes they are wider and then pass to the lower horizon of the paleosol, the size of the polygons is about 10 cm. These small polygonal systems appear to be the result of the formation of structural soils under the conditions of the permafrost development or deep seasonal freezing. Thus, the paleosol was deformed by cryogenic processes twice: at the time when it was still exposed, and after it was covered by loess loams. These processes could incorporate silty material from the upper loamy layer into the paleosol humus horizon, that we observe in thin sections.
Our observations lead to an unexpected conclusion that in Zaraisk throughout the Late Pleistocene the major event of accumulation of loess-like silty sediments (of possible eolian origin or with major eolian contribution) took place in its terminal stage. We associate it with the cold intervals which occurred in the final millennia of the terminal Pleistocene, especially with Younger Dryas.
The article is devoted to the results of archaeological excavations carried out on the Sungir in ... more The article is devoted to the results of archaeological excavations carried out on the Sungir in 2014-2015. The main purpose of these works was to obtain new data on the spatial structure of the cultural layer of the Sungir site. The relevance of these studies is caused by still unsolved question of whether Sungir can be considered as a site with a complex archaeological stratigraphy or the features of its spatial structure are only the result of natural postdepositional processes. Descriptions and characteristics of the stratigraphy of sediments, the spatial organization of the cultural layer, the species’ attribution and taphonomy of the faunal collection, the typology and technology of the stone industry, as well as new radiocarbon dating are given. It is noted that the excavations of 2015 were conducted on the peripheral part of the accumulations which were opened in the excavation unit III by O.N. Bader. Most of the animal bones found during excavations can be considered as bel...
Abstract Paleosol-sedimentary sequences encountered in the settlements with long occupation histo... more Abstract Paleosol-sedimentary sequences encountered in the settlements with long occupation history could provide a unique insight into the trends of landscape development and human-environment interaction over long time scales. We studied paleosols exposed by the excavations in the Kremlin of Zaraysk (Central European Russia) which were formed during the late Pleistocene and the Holocene and contain archaeological materials spanning from Upper Palaeolithic till late Medieval. Archaeological findings and numerous radiocarbon dates provide a reliable time frame for paleopedological record which we extracted from paleosols using macro- and micromorphological observations as well as physical and chemical properties and paleobotanical indicators (phytolith assemblages). The basal layer without archaeological materials presents signs of soil formation which resemble Bryansk fossil soil developed in the second half of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. The overlying archaeological stratum - one of the Gravettian cultural layers is linked to the paleosol level known as Zaraysk soil. Its age is estimated at 16 ka BP. Macro- and micromorphological features point to moderate dark humus accumulation, anthropogenic compaction and cryogenic processes at the final stages of paleopedogenesis. Poorly sorted heterogeneous composition of the mineral material with a large proportion of sand grains indicates colluvial origin of the paleosol parent material. The overlying sorted silty deposit supposes contribution of windblown material to its formation. We associate cryogenic and eolian processes at the end and after Zaraysk soil development with the cold intervals at the end MIS 2, presumably with the Oldest and Younger Dryas. The complete profile of Luvisol/Grey Forest Soil with eluvial and illuvial horizons and relict dark humus morphons is developed within the silty unit. This soil indicates long-term natural pedogenesis under first steppe and then deciduous forest vegetation during major part of the Holocene. The topsoil however is formed by clear plough horizon which points to cultivation started in the Middle Ages. Sharp boundary separates the buried Luvisol from the overlying cultural layer-Technosol developed after building of Zaraysk Kremlin in the 16th century. Technosol presents a mixture of natural soil with construction materials, especially limestone fragments. Soil units, both natural and affected by humans, are not separated one from another by an unaltered C horizon, so soil-forming processes from the upper soils penetrate into the underlying ones forming a multistory pedocomplex.
Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, 2009
Le premier objet d’art mobilier du site gravettien de Zaraysk (Russie, region de Moscou) a ete de... more Le premier objet d’art mobilier du site gravettien de Zaraysk (Russie, region de Moscou) a ete decouvert au cours de la campagne de fouilles de 2001. Il s’agit d’une figurine de bison en ivoire de Mammouth, un veritable «chef d’oeuvre » de sculpture paleolithique date aux alentours de 22000 BP. Au regard d’autres exemples d’objets d’art mobilier bien connus d’Europe centrale et orientale, cet artefact est non seulement l’une des plus anciennes preuves d’expression artistique d’inspiration naturaliste, mais aussi le temoignage d’un haut niveau de maitrise technique dans le travail des matieres dures animales. Cette statuette, par ailleurs partiellement ocree, est aussi remarquable du fait de ses dimensions et de certaines de ses caracteristiques stylistiques. En outre, elle provient d’un contexte stratigraphique particulier (une fosse creusee dont le fond a ete amenage en vue de son depot). Ce contexte ainsi que plusieurs autres details evoques permettent de proposer l’hypothese que cette figurine a pu jouer un role important a l’occasion de ceremonies rituelles.
The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on mammoth i... more The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on mammoth ivory plaques and carving in the round, including representations of women and large mammals, and geometric decoration on bone utensils. The authors show that while belonging to the broad family of Upper Palaeolithic artists, the Zaraysk carvers produced forms particular to their region, some with magical associations.
One of the most intriguing fi nds of excavations at that site concerns an unusual group of artifa... more One of the most intriguing fi nds of excavations at that site concerns an unusual group of artifacts, tentatively interpreted as ceramics. This article gives a detailed description of these, and addresses their spatial distribution. The items have been subjected to fi ring, but the chemical and mineralogical analysis suggests that they were made of ocher or highly ferruginized clay unsuitable for manufacturing ordinary ceramics. Poor p reservation caused by taphonomic processes precludes a reliable reconstruction of the original morphology and function of the items. Their shape, however, is rather standard and is paralleled by the " non-fi gurative " ceramics of Pavlov and Dolní Věstonice, whose function is not clear either. It appears that the Zaraysk people tried to reproduce the Central European prototypes in terms of form and function, but, intentionally or not, used a raw material suitable for making a red pigment rather than ceramics. Formally, the Zaraysk pieces can barely be described as ceramics proper, possibly evidencing unsuccessful copying. The fi nal answer, then, hinges on the true purposes of the manufacturers.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE HISTORY OF MATERIAL CULTURE Nо. 17, 2018
In the field season of 2016 archaeological researches in Zaraysk were resumed. Extensive rescue e... more In the field season of 2016 archaeological researches in Zaraysk were resumed. Extensive rescue excavations were held as a part of Zaraysk kremlin restauration program. Total length of trenches inside and outside the walls was 1035 m (the area of 517,5 m²). Palaeolithic cultural layer was detected on the area of 68 m² mainly inside the walls and on a small square outside the walls. Those areas were named as Zaraysk F (around the Karaulnaya corner tower) and Zaraysk E (near Yegorievskaya passage tower). The density of artefacts on Zaraysk F site is few hundreds pieces per 1 m². The most impressive was the discovery of a big Kostenki type hearth. Such features form the central line of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture typical settlement. It can be assumed the presence of other profound features, such as storage pits, other hearths and earth-dwellings. In 2017 on Zaraysk E site were held excavations and a rich cultural layer was found on the area of 20 m². One big hearth with plenty of burned stones, 16 pits of different types, occupation floor structures with red ocher and burned bone, natural cryogenic deformations of cultural layer, stone artefacts accumulations and rich paleozoological data were discovered. Between these two points the thickness of the cultural layer significantly reduced and almost vanishes that let us assume the discovery of two new camp sites of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture (Upper Palaeolithic). The plan for the next seasons is to increase the wide excavated area.
Zaraysk is one of the best-studied and best-known Russian Upper Paleolithic sites of the Kostenki... more Zaraysk is one of the best-studied and best-known Russian Upper Paleolithic sites of the Kostenki-Willendorf type. One of the most intriguing finds of excava-tions at that site concerns an unusual group of artifacts, tentatively interpreted as ceramics. This article gives a detailed description of these, and addresses their spatial distribution. The items have been subjected to firing, but the chemical and mineralogical analysis suggests that they were made of ocher or highly ferrugi-nized clay unsuitable for manufacturing ordinary ceramics. Poor preservation caused by taphonomic processes precludes a reliable reconstruction of the original morphology and function of the items. Their shape, however, is rather standard and is paralleled by the “non-figurative” ceramics of Pavlov and Dolní Věstonice, whose function is not clear either. It appears that the Zaraysk people tried to re-produce the Central European prototypes in terms of form and function, but, inten-tionally or not, used a raw material suitable for making a red pigment rather than ceramics. Formally, the Zaraysk pieces can barely be described as ceramics prop-er, possibly evidencing unsuccessful copying. The final answer, then, hinges on the true purposes of the manufacturers.
Зарайская верхнепалеолитическая стоянка относится к числу наиболее изученных и широко известных российских па- мятников, принадлежащих к костенковско-виллендорфскому единству. Во время ее раскопок была найдена уникальная серия предметов, предварительно интерпретированных как керамика. В статье предлагается детальное описание их планигра- фии, морфологии и вещественного состава. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что эти изделия подвергались об- жигу, но были изготовлены из сырья, которое по своему химическому и минералогическому составу соответствует охрам и не пригодно для производства обычной керамики. Из-за плохой сохранности находок, обусловленной постдепозиционными процессами, не представляется возможным в полной мере и достоверно реконструировать их первоначальную морфологию и предназначение. В то же время определенная повторяемость их морфологических очертаний вполне очевидна и позволя- ет увидеть некоторые аналогии среди «нефигуративной» керамики из Павлова и Дольни-Вестониц. В этой связи наиболее вероятно, что в попытках сделать изделия, близкие к последней по форме и назначению, обитатели Зарайской стоянки случайно или намеренно стали использовать иное сырье, более пригодное для получения красного пигмента, но не вполне подходящее для изготовления керамики. Таким образом, с формальной точки зрения зарайские образцы трудно назвать керамикой в собственном смысле этого слова, однако они вполне могут представлять собой результат неудачного опыта ее изготовления. Окончательное решение этого вопроса зависит от того, какими были истинные цели их изготовителей.
Two new sites of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, Eastern Gravettian were found in Zaraysk kremlin durin... more Two new sites of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, Eastern Gravettian were found in Zaraysk kremlin during rescue excavations of the season 2017 (Zaraysk E and Zaraysk F). In Russian with illustrations.
AVERBOUH A. dir. 2016 − Multilingual Lexicon of Bone Industry, Version 2 (Français-Anglais- Allem... more AVERBOUH A. dir. 2016 − Multilingual Lexicon of Bone Industry, Version 2 (Français-Anglais- Allemand, Danois, Espagnol, Italien, Portugais, Roumain, Bulgare, Polonais, Russe, Hongrois). GDRE PREHISTOS ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES II 2015, Hors série Préhistoires méditerranéennes, 131 p.
with the following authors : N. Akhmetgaleeva, A. Balasescu, A. Boguzewski, A. Choyke, M. Christensen, M. Evora, N. Goutas, G. Ledosseur, Cl. Letourneux, S. Lev, L. Manca, M. Margarit, K. Mazurié, A. Pasquini, N. Skakun, J.-M. Tejero, Z. Toth, M. Zhilin et P. Zidarov.
This multilingual lexicon was created in the framework of the CNRS European research group « Exploitation of osseous materials in Prehistoric Europe » (GDRE PREHISTOS). It was intended as a working tool to catalogue and translate the main terms used for the technical, typological or functional study of hard animal material industries by the GDRE members into distinct languages. This volume follows the first version published online in 2010 and provides an extended list of terms translated into 12 languages : French, English, German, Danish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian and Hungarian.
ABSTRACT The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on ... more ABSTRACT The new art objects from Zaraysk show an extraordinary repertoire of incised carving on mammoth ivory plaques and carving in the round, including representations of women and large mammals, and geometric decoration on bone utensils. The authors show that while belonging to the broad family of Upper Palaeolithic artists, the Zaraysk carvers produced forms particular to their region, some with magical associations.
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Papers by Sergey Lev
The open-air Upper Palaeolithic site of Zaraisk was discovered in 1980. It is located in the center of the town, about 155 km from Moscow on the promontory on the right bank of Osetr river. Zaraisk actually represents a cluster of closely related inter-stratified sites or occupation loci. All of them contain archaeological material of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, the Eastern Gravettian cultural tradition (23-16 ka BP). Six sites or loci may be identified, each labeled with a letter from “A” to “F”. On Zaraisk A site, placed on promontory “Castle Hill”, the cultural remains are contained in a sequence of four stratified occupation levels deposited in two geologic units – the upper buried soil of the Zaraisk stratigraphy and an underlying sandy loam. It is the most well-published site with living structures, art objects, big stone and fauna collections, excavated on the area of 265 sq. m (Amirkhanov et all., 2009). Zaraisk B site occupies the upslope portion on another promontory (“Second Hill”) several dozen meters to the north of the castle and separated from the latter by an ancient ravine. At this locus, excavated on the area of 175 sq. m, the cultural remains are deposited in the upper buried soil and at the contact between this soil and an underly-ing loam (the layer of sandy loam described above is absent here). Zaraisk C occupies the crest of the Second Hill promontory and contains cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” i.e., in the upper buried soil and underling sandy loam layer. Two newly discovered in 2016 loci named Zaraisk E and F are situated on slope ending of Castle Hill facing the river. They also contain cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” except the upper buried soil that poorly developed on the excavated area.
The main cultural layer in the section Zaraisk B is linked to the paleosol layer known as Zaraisk soil. Its age is estimated at 16 ka BP (16520 ± 760 GIN). Macro- and micromorphological features point to moderate dark humus accumulation and gleyzation as the main pedogenetic processes. Observations in the thin sections under microscope show poorly sorted heterogeneous character of the mineral material of this soil with a large proportion of sand grains that suppose colluvial origin of the paleosol parent material. Even deeper two other paleosols were found, which were associated with the Bryansk soil (MIS3) and Mezin pedocomplex (MIS5) – prominent elements of the loess-paleosol stratigraphy of East-European Plain (Velichko et al.). However these paleosols already did not contain archaeological materials. In the other sections (Zaraysk A) three older cultural layers are identified in the sediments below Zaraisk paleosol.
Our attention was drawn by the silty loamy layer overlying Zaraisk paleosol that contains no cul-tural deposits. This is rather thick (about 1m) uniform stratum penetrating into underlying paleosol along small cryogenic wedges. In the thin sections its material has micromorphological characteristics completely different from the underlying paleosol. It is well sorted, dominated by silt fraction with admixture of clay, however sand grains are nearly absent. Few illuvial clay coatings we attribute to the effects of the Holocene pedogenesis of the Luvisol (forest) type (the upper horizons of the Holocene soils were destroyed and partly eroded in the recent urban environment). The deposit with such characteristics in the upland slope position suppose contribution of eolian processes to its formation. Having no instrumental datings for it we however define the timespan of its development between 16 ka (underlying Zaraisk paleosol) and beginning of the Holocene (superimposed Luvisol development). No other layers of similar composition and thickness were observed deeper within the studied late Pleistocene sections.
The following phenomena generated by surface geomorphic processes are associated with the studied paleosols and sediments: two systems of soil wedges forming small polygons. The lower system appeared at the time of the paleosol existence but before it was covered with overlaying loess loams. Those soil wedges are clearly visible by their dark humified filling on the background of light yellow-beige loam. Their width is from 3 to 5 cm, the size of the polygons is about 30 cm. Another later formed system of soil wedges is associated mainly with the upper part of paleosol (humic horizon). These are small (1-2 cm wide) wedge-shaped structures, sometimes they are wider and then pass to the lower horizon of the paleosol, the size of the polygons is about 10 cm. These small polygonal systems appear to be the result of the formation of structural soils under the conditions of the permafrost development or deep seasonal freezing. Thus, the paleosol was deformed by cryogenic processes twice: at the time when it was still exposed, and after it was covered by loess loams. These processes could incorporate silty material from the upper loamy layer into the paleosol humus horizon, that we observe in thin sections.
Our observations lead to an unexpected conclusion that in Zaraisk throughout the Late Pleistocene the major event of accumulation of loess-like silty sediments (of possible eolian origin or with major eolian contribution) took place in its terminal stage. We associate it with the cold intervals which occurred in the final millennia of the terminal Pleistocene, especially with Younger Dryas.
Зарайская верхнепалеолитическая стоянка относится к числу наиболее изученных и широко известных российских па-
мятников, принадлежащих к костенковско-виллендорфскому единству. Во время ее раскопок была найдена уникальная серия
предметов, предварительно интерпретированных как керамика. В статье предлагается детальное описание их планигра-
фии, морфологии и вещественного состава. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что эти изделия подвергались об-
жигу, но были изготовлены из сырья, которое по своему химическому и минералогическому составу соответствует охрам
и не пригодно для производства обычной керамики. Из-за плохой сохранности находок, обусловленной постдепозиционными
процессами, не представляется возможным в полной мере и достоверно реконструировать их первоначальную морфологию
и предназначение. В то же время определенная повторяемость их морфологических очертаний вполне очевидна и позволя-
ет увидеть некоторые аналогии среди «нефигуративной» керамики из Павлова и Дольни-Вестониц. В этой связи наиболее
вероятно, что в попытках сделать изделия, близкие к последней по форме и назначению, обитатели Зарайской стоянки
случайно или намеренно стали использовать иное сырье, более пригодное для получения красного пигмента, но не вполне
подходящее для изготовления керамики. Таким образом, с формальной точки зрения зарайские образцы трудно назвать
керамикой в собственном смысле этого слова, однако они вполне могут представлять собой результат неудачного опыта
ее изготовления. Окончательное решение этого вопроса зависит от того, какими были истинные цели их изготовителей.
with the following authors : N. Akhmetgaleeva, A. Balasescu, A. Boguzewski, A. Choyke, M. Christensen, M. Evora, N. Goutas, G. Ledosseur, Cl. Letourneux, S. Lev, L. Manca, M. Margarit, K. Mazurié, A. Pasquini, N. Skakun, J.-M. Tejero, Z. Toth, M. Zhilin et P. Zidarov.
This multilingual lexicon was created in the framework of the CNRS European research group « Exploitation of osseous materials in Prehistoric Europe » (GDRE PREHISTOS). It was intended as a working tool to catalogue and translate the main terms used for the technical, typological or functional study of hard animal material industries by the GDRE members into distinct languages. This volume follows the first version published online in 2010 and provides an extended list of terms translated into 12 languages : French, English, German, Danish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian and Hungarian.
The open-air Upper Palaeolithic site of Zaraisk was discovered in 1980. It is located in the center of the town, about 155 km from Moscow on the promontory on the right bank of Osetr river. Zaraisk actually represents a cluster of closely related inter-stratified sites or occupation loci. All of them contain archaeological material of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture, the Eastern Gravettian cultural tradition (23-16 ka BP). Six sites or loci may be identified, each labeled with a letter from “A” to “F”. On Zaraisk A site, placed on promontory “Castle Hill”, the cultural remains are contained in a sequence of four stratified occupation levels deposited in two geologic units – the upper buried soil of the Zaraisk stratigraphy and an underlying sandy loam. It is the most well-published site with living structures, art objects, big stone and fauna collections, excavated on the area of 265 sq. m (Amirkhanov et all., 2009). Zaraisk B site occupies the upslope portion on another promontory (“Second Hill”) several dozen meters to the north of the castle and separated from the latter by an ancient ravine. At this locus, excavated on the area of 175 sq. m, the cultural remains are deposited in the upper buried soil and at the contact between this soil and an underly-ing loam (the layer of sandy loam described above is absent here). Zaraisk C occupies the crest of the Second Hill promontory and contains cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” i.e., in the upper buried soil and underling sandy loam layer. Two newly discovered in 2016 loci named Zaraisk E and F are situated on slope ending of Castle Hill facing the river. They also contain cultural remains in the same depositional setting as “Zaraisk A,” except the upper buried soil that poorly developed on the excavated area.
The main cultural layer in the section Zaraisk B is linked to the paleosol layer known as Zaraisk soil. Its age is estimated at 16 ka BP (16520 ± 760 GIN). Macro- and micromorphological features point to moderate dark humus accumulation and gleyzation as the main pedogenetic processes. Observations in the thin sections under microscope show poorly sorted heterogeneous character of the mineral material of this soil with a large proportion of sand grains that suppose colluvial origin of the paleosol parent material. Even deeper two other paleosols were found, which were associated with the Bryansk soil (MIS3) and Mezin pedocomplex (MIS5) – prominent elements of the loess-paleosol stratigraphy of East-European Plain (Velichko et al.). However these paleosols already did not contain archaeological materials. In the other sections (Zaraysk A) three older cultural layers are identified in the sediments below Zaraisk paleosol.
Our attention was drawn by the silty loamy layer overlying Zaraisk paleosol that contains no cul-tural deposits. This is rather thick (about 1m) uniform stratum penetrating into underlying paleosol along small cryogenic wedges. In the thin sections its material has micromorphological characteristics completely different from the underlying paleosol. It is well sorted, dominated by silt fraction with admixture of clay, however sand grains are nearly absent. Few illuvial clay coatings we attribute to the effects of the Holocene pedogenesis of the Luvisol (forest) type (the upper horizons of the Holocene soils were destroyed and partly eroded in the recent urban environment). The deposit with such characteristics in the upland slope position suppose contribution of eolian processes to its formation. Having no instrumental datings for it we however define the timespan of its development between 16 ka (underlying Zaraisk paleosol) and beginning of the Holocene (superimposed Luvisol development). No other layers of similar composition and thickness were observed deeper within the studied late Pleistocene sections.
The following phenomena generated by surface geomorphic processes are associated with the studied paleosols and sediments: two systems of soil wedges forming small polygons. The lower system appeared at the time of the paleosol existence but before it was covered with overlaying loess loams. Those soil wedges are clearly visible by their dark humified filling on the background of light yellow-beige loam. Their width is from 3 to 5 cm, the size of the polygons is about 30 cm. Another later formed system of soil wedges is associated mainly with the upper part of paleosol (humic horizon). These are small (1-2 cm wide) wedge-shaped structures, sometimes they are wider and then pass to the lower horizon of the paleosol, the size of the polygons is about 10 cm. These small polygonal systems appear to be the result of the formation of structural soils under the conditions of the permafrost development or deep seasonal freezing. Thus, the paleosol was deformed by cryogenic processes twice: at the time when it was still exposed, and after it was covered by loess loams. These processes could incorporate silty material from the upper loamy layer into the paleosol humus horizon, that we observe in thin sections.
Our observations lead to an unexpected conclusion that in Zaraisk throughout the Late Pleistocene the major event of accumulation of loess-like silty sediments (of possible eolian origin or with major eolian contribution) took place in its terminal stage. We associate it with the cold intervals which occurred in the final millennia of the terminal Pleistocene, especially with Younger Dryas.
Зарайская верхнепалеолитическая стоянка относится к числу наиболее изученных и широко известных российских па-
мятников, принадлежащих к костенковско-виллендорфскому единству. Во время ее раскопок была найдена уникальная серия
предметов, предварительно интерпретированных как керамика. В статье предлагается детальное описание их планигра-
фии, морфологии и вещественного состава. Полученные данные свидетельствуют о том, что эти изделия подвергались об-
жигу, но были изготовлены из сырья, которое по своему химическому и минералогическому составу соответствует охрам
и не пригодно для производства обычной керамики. Из-за плохой сохранности находок, обусловленной постдепозиционными
процессами, не представляется возможным в полной мере и достоверно реконструировать их первоначальную морфологию
и предназначение. В то же время определенная повторяемость их морфологических очертаний вполне очевидна и позволя-
ет увидеть некоторые аналогии среди «нефигуративной» керамики из Павлова и Дольни-Вестониц. В этой связи наиболее
вероятно, что в попытках сделать изделия, близкие к последней по форме и назначению, обитатели Зарайской стоянки
случайно или намеренно стали использовать иное сырье, более пригодное для получения красного пигмента, но не вполне
подходящее для изготовления керамики. Таким образом, с формальной точки зрения зарайские образцы трудно назвать
керамикой в собственном смысле этого слова, однако они вполне могут представлять собой результат неудачного опыта
ее изготовления. Окончательное решение этого вопроса зависит от того, какими были истинные цели их изготовителей.
with the following authors : N. Akhmetgaleeva, A. Balasescu, A. Boguzewski, A. Choyke, M. Christensen, M. Evora, N. Goutas, G. Ledosseur, Cl. Letourneux, S. Lev, L. Manca, M. Margarit, K. Mazurié, A. Pasquini, N. Skakun, J.-M. Tejero, Z. Toth, M. Zhilin et P. Zidarov.
This multilingual lexicon was created in the framework of the CNRS European research group « Exploitation of osseous materials in Prehistoric Europe » (GDRE PREHISTOS). It was intended as a working tool to catalogue and translate the main terms used for the technical, typological or functional study of hard animal material industries by the GDRE members into distinct languages. This volume follows the first version published online in 2010 and provides an extended list of terms translated into 12 languages : French, English, German, Danish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Russian and Hungarian.