COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POTTERY FROM EARLY NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENTS ON THE COAST OF LAKE BAIKAL

A comprehensive study of pottery vessels offers a promising opportunity in the study of the Neolithic, as pottery is the most important source of information about the region's ancient population. The study of technology involved in the production of vessels and their ornamentation enables investigation of inter-group contacts, migrations, etc. The purpose of the proposed article is to conduct a comparative analysis of pottery from Early Neolithic sites on the coast of Lake Baikal, to identify specific traditions of the production process (selection of raw materials, starting forms, design, morphology and ornamentation) for vessels with imprints of the net-weave and the Khaita types. The combination of these two pottery traditions has been observed throughout southern Central Siberia during the early Neolithic. This work was performed on materials from four stratified (mostly multilayered) settlements on the western coast of Lake Baikal: Ityrkhei (VI-V layers), Tyshkine II (IX-VIII layers), Kharakta 1 (II layer) and Buguldeika I (VIII-VII layers). Most of these complexes are associated with radiocarbon dates. 1053 fragments from 42 vessels were used for technical and technological analysis. Fresh fractures and sample surfaces were observed, using a stereomicroscope. Samples were fired in a muffle furnace in order to accurately determine the degree of iron oxide formation in the clay and to identify mineral impurities. Analyses conducted here revealed unique features inherent in the production of Khaita type netted pottery and vessels with net-weave impressions. No difference was observed in the choice of clays used to produce net-impressed and corded ceramics. When creating these vessels, templates were first used to produce their bases. Additions to these bases were undertaken subsequently. On the inside of almost all vessels studied, negatives of these template bases were observed. A patchwork method was used to produce dishes. Firing took place in an open fire at high temperatures. Vessels forms were closed, and most were complex shapes. Vessels with high corollas stand out. All Early Neolithic dishes served domestic purposes, as evidenced by the presence of carbonized deposits. Differences were also observed in the composition of different base forms (for netted pottery - another similar vessel, for the Khaita - a different type of frame). Different traditions were also observed in the design of outer surfaces of dishes, the use of ornamentation, and the decoration of vessels (composition, application technique, etc.). As a result of the analysis of radiocarbon dates obtained from the complexes under study, it was established that both traditions existed relatively synchronously in one chronological range of 8160-7000 cal. BP. The cultural relationship of these traditions has yet to be determined.