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THE RESULTS OF THE TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF KULAI CULTURE CERAMICS FROM THE NOVOVASYUGAN SETTLEMENT AND THE SETTLEMENT FROM THE NARYM OB REGION // Tomsk Journal of Linguistics and Anthropology. 2022. Issue 2 (36). P. 160-172

The article presents the results of studies of ceramics from two sites (Novovasyugan settlement and settlement) of the Kulai culture from the Narym Ob region, located in close proximity – at a distance of 60 m, which is of particular interest for identifying traditions in the manufacture of pottery. The technical and technological analysis of ceramics was carried out within the framework of the historical and cultural approach. The main objective of the research was to identify the specifics of cultural traditions in the selection of raw materials and the preparation of pottery paste and a comparative analysis of the results obtained. As a result of the study of the raw materials, it was found that ferruginous clays (medium and slightly degree of iron content in clay) with a large amount of fine sand were used. Artificial mineral impurities were practically not introduced into the pottery paste, only in a few cases chamotte was recorded, as a rule, in a low concentration, which did not affect the quality of the vessels. Skills in the selection of raw materials and preparation of pottery paste from these two sites are very similar, but vessels made of the same clay were not found. It was found that the potters from the settlement and the settlement used different clay deposits, which differed in the size of the sand. The peculiarities of firing of vessels, surface treatment of vessels, and the application of ornaments indicate different traditions of pottery making, different potters and groups of the population. Perhaps the identified features are related to chronological reasons, as evidenced by differences in the ornamentation of vessels. A comparative analysis with the previously studied collections of the Kulai culture revealed differences. The Kulai monuments from the Tomsk Ob region are characterized by the use of weak – and non iron clay with the addition of crushed stone (broken stone) to the pottery paste, and the addition of chamotte for the Priketye. At the Novovasyugan settlement and the settlement site, non iron clay and the broken stone were not detected, and mineral impurities were rarely introduced. The presence of recipes with chamotte on the Novovasyugan sites may indicate a small influx of people with other skills in preparing pottery paste characteristic of the Tomsk region.

Keywords: Novovasyugan settlement, settlement, Kulai culture, ceramics, technical and technological analysis, raw materials, pottery paste, ornament, Narym and Tomsk Ob

Ceramics of the Early Iron Age from the Sites of Lake Tukh-Emtor: Results of Technical and Technological Analysis // Tomsk Journal of Linguistics and Anthropology. 2025. Issue 4 (50). P. 131-144

This article presents the results of studies on ceramics from the Vasyugan and Sarov stages of the Kulai culture (5th century BC–5th century AD) from the archaeological complex at Lake Tukh-Emtor. Located in Vasyuganye on the left bank of the Middle Ob region, the site includes several settlements containing Kulai ceramics. Using a historical and cultural approach, a technical and technological analysis of ceramics from three sites was conducted. The primary objective was to identify cultural traditions in the selection of raw materials and the preparation of pottery paste, to examine the impressions of the ornamenting tools and understand the features of the working edge, and to compare the results obtained. It was found that all vessels were decorated with several tools, and items decorated with similar tools were identified at different sites. It has been established that highly sanded, iron-rich clays were used in the settlement of Tukh-Emtor II, clay with a medium iron content, and in Tukh-Sigat IV and VII, clay with medium and low iron content. Analysis of the composition and characteristics of natural inclusions in the raw material indicates different but similar clay deposits, apparently taken from the shore of a reservoir, likely Lake Tukh-Emtor. Two traditions were identified in the use of mineral inclusions in pottery paste preparation: 1) without the addition of mineral inclusions; 2) with chamotte. In four settlements, Vasyugan-type ceramics, which comprise chamotte, make up 26.5 %, while Sarov ceramics account for 36 %. Overall, the tradition of making ceramics without mineral inclusions prevails. Kulai sites in the Tomsk region are characterized by the addition of broken stone to the pottery paste, while chamotte is typical for the Priket region. In Vasyuganye, a third tradition has been identified—preparing pottery paste without mineral inclusions. This enables the determination of the direction of population contacts during the study period. In particular, the presence of chamotte vessels in Vasyuganye indicates an influx of people from Priketye with different skills in preparing pottery paste during the Vasyugan and Sarov stages. The small number of ceramics, compared to those of the Bronze Age, clearly indicates that the population of this area in the early Iron Age was relatively small.

Keywords: early Iron Age, ceramics, Kulai culture, Vasyugan, raw material, molding masses, ornament