Zaysanovskaya Neolithic culture. Russian Far East .

Geradot

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Short excursion.
Russian Far East is a huge territory which includes several big geographical regions - the Amur Region (Middle Amur and Lower Amur), the Maritime Region (Primorye) and Sakhalin Island (Fig. 1). First archaeological investigations started here about 100 years ago and today spe- cialists have bright historical panorama of origi- nal cultures and traditions from the Upper Paleolithic sites to the early states of the Middle Ages. The Neolithic period, 13-3,000 BP1,,, is one of the most interesting and intriguing.
During more than 10,000 years the inhabitants of the region created and developed specific economical model highly adapted to the variety of natural landscapes —forests, mountains, lakes, river valleys, sea banks, plains etc.
In the Russian Far East archaeologists made dis- coveries which changed traditional points of view and the understanding of the Neolithic in its classic version (so called “Neolithic Revolution”). The arrival of agriculture was pretty late (about 5-4,500 BP) and the production of food was not the main strategy almost till the colonization of the Far East by Russian settlers during XIX-early XX centuries. Starting from the end of Pleistocene local cultures demonstrated high technological level and a number of inno- vations which reflected the dynamic evolution of economical and social structures of their society.

Russian Far East. Location of cultures : 1- Gromatukha; 2- Novopetrovka; 3- Osipovka;
4- Mariinskaya; 5- Malyshevo, Kondon, Voznesenovka;
6- Rudnaya; 7- Vetka; 8- Boisman; 9- Zaisanovka; 10- Neolithic cultures of Sakhalin Island.
 

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Zaisanovkaya Culture: This culture is represented by dozens of sites located on the territories of southern and eastern Maritime Region, both along the coast and in the inland. For the first time it was described as a culture in mid 1950s on the base of excavation of Zaisanovka-1 site and specific ornamentation of the pottery, comb- incised or comb-stamped vertical zigzag.( Fig. 1 )
Most of the sites have remains or traces of per- manent dwellings (pit-house type) and other constructions for storage or ritual activity. The size of houses is usually between 10 and 45 sq. meters, averaging 20-30 sq. m. Traditionally the fire-place is in the middle. Also traces of post- holes, assemblages of implements, and remains of stone-tool production were found on the floors in the dwellings.
Two leading techniques are dominating in the stone industry –retouched tools on flakes and tools with partial or total grinding of the surface. Such materials as flint, jasper, tuff, chert and very often, obsidian were used by Zaisanovka knappers. Toolkit is varied and reflects complex hunting-fishing-gathering activities –projectile points, scrapers, drills, knives, adzes, axes, chis- els. In rare cases (bad conditions for faunal preservation were poor) they are accompanied by instruments from bone and antler –fishing hooks, points, needles, perforators etc.
Most of the pottery was baked by low-temperature firing (600-650 C) and may be divided into many groups and types according to size, configuration, ornamentation, and function . There is good evidence of some local type which were widespread in southern, southwestern or western regions of Primorye.
The ceramic assemblage also includes spindle whorls of conical and biconical form along with some art items –anthropomorphic mask, small figurines, ceramic rings, pendants, amulets etc. Deer, wild boar, fox, tiger and bear were the objects of Zaisanovka hunters. Sea coast, rivers, ponds and lakes were explored intensively in frames of fishing and gathering activities.
First signs or food production are known in the very end of Zaisanovka culture. During the excavation of Krounovka-1 site grains of two species of millet (Panicum miliaceum and Setaria italica) were found. Most of the archaeologists connect this with the cultural influence from Chinese territory and underline slow and controversial character of this process . Unfortunately no real burials which belong to Zaisanovka culture were discovered and the anthropological type of these people is still unknown. Many carbon dates were done for sites and complexes of Zaisanovka culture. Its time-period is between 5370-3500 BP.



Fig. 1: Zaisanovka Culture: 1- Clay vessel . 2- Types of pottery . 3- Obsidian tools from Gladkaya Site .
 

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I show you the items found at the mouth of the river Gladkaya. The river flows into the Expedition Bay, the Sea of Japan.
During the construction of the road, a part of the ancient settlement was touched and destroyed. I was lucky enough to discover the "Neolithic dump". Among the "Neolithic garbage" - a huge number of broken ceramic dishes, I found some interesting items that I present to your attention.
 

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Thread moved to our new European Ancient Artifact forum.
 

That is a well used flake knife.Looking forward to seeing other items
 

This area is not in Europe, it is in Eastern Russia. Almost half way across the World.

It is also difficult for me to imagine the Far East as Europe.
 

Probably, it would be correct to name the section - "Ancient artifacts of Eurasia"
 

Geradot
do you have any pictures of the "Neolithic dump" site?

Unfortunately, there are no photos. These events took place for a long time.
 

smoother (polisher)
 

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point
 

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smoother 2
 

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smoother (polisher)


That is a nice abrader. I have found two of them, one very similar to the one you have pictured and one cigar shaped.
 

fragment of a ceramic vessel.
 

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slate point
 

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point of pebbles.
 

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