Vol. 4, No 2, 2021
CONTENTS
Networking of the Barbarian Elites of the Volga-Don Region (from the 3rd Century BC to the Mid-3rd Century AD)
V.I. Mordvintseva
In the article, there are burial complexes of the elite of the Volga-Don region analyzed. Changes in the composition and origin of male and female items of prestige have been traced over four chronological periods (3rd — 2nd centuries BC, late 2nd — 1st centuries BC, 1st — mid-2nd century AD, 2nd half of the 2nd — mid-3rd century AD). Based on the analysis of the intra-cultural, foreign-cultural and cross-cultural markers of prestige, assumptions are made about the nature of network contacts between the barbarian elites of the region and the main foreign policy actors.
Keywords: Volga-Don region, burials of elites, networking, prestige goods.
In Pursuit of Plants Biomolecular Residues in Pottery Using Archeological and Biochemical Research Methods
Shinya Shoda
Pottery lipid residue analysis is literally a method of reconstructing food cooked in pottery, by analyzing organic remains in it. Previous studies have tended to focus on western Eurasia, where animal fats and dairy products have been the main targets of analysis. In East Asia, where the number of cases has increased rapidly in recent years, researchers have found clear evidence of processing aquatic products. The problem here is that there is much less evidence that plants were cooked in pottery than that of animals. In this paper, we present the chemical evidence for the use of pottery to cook plants, using examples from our own research.
Keywords: lipid residue analysis, East Asia, biomarkers, miliacin, stable isotopes.
Latest Excavation Results
Research on the Novoselishchensky Antient Town in the Khankay District of Primorye
Ya.E. Piskareva, E.V. Astashenkova, A.L. Ivliev, E.A. Sergusheva, N.A. Dorofeeva, T.A. Piskareva, N.E. Kushnarev, A.A. Bororueva
The article presents the results of archaeological investigations in 2019—2020 at the Novoselyshchensky settlement of the Khanka region. In the course of this work, a large dwelling with an area of 37 m² and an inter-dwelling space were excavated. The dwelling was completely burned down, that’s why it was possible to trace the design features of the building. It was found out that the floor and walls of a rectangular pit 0,4—0,5 m deep were coated with clay. On the floor of the dwelling, 17 pits of various sizes were found, 14 of them contained the remains of burnt wood, fragments of ceramics or stones. Some of the pits were located in the corners, others along the walls. The fireplace was shifted to the entrance of the dwelling, located in the northeastern wall. The fireplace was a pit 68 cm in diameter and 16 cm deep, coated with clay. A semicircle a clay wall 7—8 cm high was built around the fireplace. This wall covered the fireplace from the side of the entrance. The vessels were also found on the floor of the dwelling. These are hand-made pots with an adhered ornamented roller under the rim. Fragments of two clay spindles, a stone replica of a bronze pick made of greenish-gray shale tuff with traces of reuse, and an iron decoration were also found. Pottery and finds represent a consistent complex dating back to the early Middle Ages, to the Mohe archaeological culture. In addition, fragments of neolithic and paleometal ceramics were found in and around the dwelling. All the design features of the dwelling point to the stable and solid building traditions of the early medieval population. The construction of the dwelling finds analogies in the Mohe sites of Primorye and Northeastern China.
Keywords: Mohe culture, settlement, Primorye, early Middle Ages, dwelling.
Museum Сollections
New Arrivals in the Fund of the IHAE Feb Ras Museum in 2020
E.I. Gelman, E.V. Astashenkova
The article examines the collection of archaeological artifacts received by the State Museum of the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnology of the Peoples of the Far East FEB RAS. The items were obtained illegally and after legal procedures were transferred to storage. The unique collection contains eight bronze mirrors, two bronze miniature sculptures and a belt plate, iron chain, hand and foot shackles, and two porcelain plates. Most of the items were recovered from the Jurchen archaeological sites of Primorye and date back to the Jin — Eastern Xia epoch. All artifacts are of special value and are part of the cultural heritage of the Russian Federation.
Keywords: cultural heritage, metal and porcelain artifacts, Han, Song, Jin, Eastern Xia.
New Ceraic Materials of Sergeevka Settlement, Pertizansk District, Primorsky Krai
A.A. Borurueva
The article examines ceramic material from the valleys of the Sergeevka, Partizanskaya and Alekseevka rivers. A description of little-known sites is given, an analysis of medieval ceramics is carried out, in which technological and morphological features of the materials under consideration were identified. Collections of various sites have both shared and individual characteristics. The author comes to the conclusion that it is necessary to further study the presented sites in order to clarify their boundaries, cultural affiliation and reconstruction of the processes that took place in Primorye in the medieval period on the territory under consideration.
Keywords: Bohai, Churchen, ceramics, ornament, Mohe, Nikolaevskaya-Smolninskaya culture.