рус eng
«BULLETIN OF THE IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY. GEOARCHAEOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY, AND ANTHROPOLOGY SERIES»
ISSN 2227-2380 (Print)

List of issues > «Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series». 2025. Vol 54

Unpublished Portion of the Early Neolithic Ceramic Collection from the Ust-Khaita Site (Southern Angara Region)

Full text (russian)
Author(s)

I. V. Ulanov, N. A. Saveliev

Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk, Russian Federation

Abstract
The article presents the results of a study of the Early Neolithic ceramic assemblage (8400–6900 cal BP) from the Ust-Khaita multilayered site in the Southern Angara region. This assemblage represents a portion of the collection that was inadvertently omitted from a larger 2019 article dedicated to the publication of Early Neolithic ceramics recovered from the Ust-Khaita excavations in 2000. The site is situated in the middle reaches of the Belaya River, within the territory of the settlement of Mishelevka (Usolsky District, Irkutsk Region). Early Neolithic ceramics are found in layers 5a and 5, with isolated fragments also recorded in layer 4. The omitted component of the collection comprises 137 fragments belonging to 35 vessels. Three ceramic groups have been identified. The first group consists of netimpressed ceramics (17 vessels). The second group, designated as the Khaita type, features cord-impressed decorations and includes 17 vessels, which are further subdivided into four groups based on ornamentation technique. The third group comprises unique ceramics that combine characteristics of the first two groups, providing evidence of synchronicity and interaction between them. This group is represented by a large rim fragment. Additionally, two fragments from two Net-impressed vessels are noteworthy, as they exhibit zigzag marks on their interior surfaces – a feature characteristic of Khaita-type ceramics. Analysis of the Ust-Khaita Early Neolithic ceramic collection reveals specific aspects of vessel production. Both Net-impressed and Khaita-type vessels were manufactured using similar technological approaches. The vessel body was formed from clay slabs using a base mold, likely another vessel. The surface was treated by beating with a mallet wrapped in netting or cord, using an anvil (a fragment or a small vessel), while the rim was shaped and decorated in the final stage. All Khaita-type vessels and some Net-impressed vessels were decorated. At least one Khaita-type vessel was processed using a smooth mallet, and a vessel featuring technical decoration or ornamentation on its base was not employed as a base mold in its production.
About the Authors

Ulanov Ilia Viktorovich, Candidate of Sciences (History), Researcher, Scientific Research Center “Baikal region”, Associate Professor, Historical Faculty, Irkutsk State University; 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation e-mail: ussr-ilya@yandex.ru 

Saveliev Nikolai Alexandrovich, Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate Professor, Researcher, Scientific Research Center “Baikal region” Irkutsk State University; 1, K. Marx st., Irkutsk, 664003, Russian Federation

For citation
Ulanov I. V., Saveliev N. A. Unpublished Portion of the Early Neolithic Ceramic Collection from the Ust-Khaita Site (Southern Angara Region). Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series. 2025, Vol. 54, pp. 27–38. https://doi.org/10.26516/2227- 2380.2025.54.27 (In Russ.)
Keywords
Southern Angara region, Ust-Khaita site, multilayered site, Early Neolithic, ancient pottery, Net-impressed ceramics, Khaita-type ceramics.
UDC
903.02(571.53)"634"
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2025.54.27
References
  1. Berdnikov I. M., Ulanov I. V., Sokolova N. B. Sravnitelnyi analiz ranneneoliticheskoi setchatoi i khaitinskoi keramiki mnogosloinogo mestonakhozhdeniya Elovka-Nugan 1 [Comparative analysis of the Early Neolithic Net-impressed and Khaita pottery from multilayered site Elovka-Nugan 1 (Tunka valley)]. Drevnie kultury Mongolii, Baikalskoi Sibiri i Severnogo Kitaya [Ancient Cultures of Mongolia, Baikal Siberia and Northern China]. Krasnoyarsk, SFU Publ., 2016, Vol. 1, pp. 29–38. (In Russ.)
  2. Berdnikov I. M., Ulanov I. V., Sokolova N. B. Neoliticheskoe goncharstvo Baikalo-Eniseiskoi Sibiri: tekhnologicheskie traditsii v territorialno-khronologicheskom kontekste [Neolithic pottery of the Baikal-Yenisei Siberia: technological traditions in the territorial and chronological context]. Stratum plus. Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology. 2017, Is. 2, pp. 275–300. (In Russ.)
  3. Berdnikov I. M., Goriunova O. I., Novikov A. G., Berdnikova N. E., Ulanov I. V., Sokolova N. B., Abrashina M. E., Krutikova K. A., Rogovskoi E. O., Lokhov D. N., Kogai S. A. Khronologiya neoliticheskoi keramiki Baikalo-Eniseiskoi Sibiri: osnovnye idei i novye dannye [Chronology of the Neolithic Ceramics of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia: Basic Ideas and New Data]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya Geoarkheologiya. Etnologiya. Antropologiya [Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series]. 2020, Vol. 33, pp. 23–53. https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2020.33.23 (In Russ.)
  4. Berdnikov I. M., Wang Lixin, Sokolova N. B., Quan Qiankun, Zolotarev D. P., Shegutov I. S., Ukhinov Z. Ch., Berdnikova N. E. Novye dannye po mnogosloinomu mestonakhozhdeniyu Kholmushino 3 na r. Beloi (Yuzhnoe Priangarie) [New data on the multilayered site Kholmushino 3 on the Belaya River (Southern Angara Region)]. Ancient cultures of Mongolia, Baikal, Southern Siberia and Northern China: Proceedings of the 13th International scientific conference. Ulaanbaatar, Institute of Archaeology MAS Publ., 2025, pp. 113–119.
  5. Lokhov D. N., Rogovskoi E. O., Dudariok S. P. Severoangarskii variant keramiki khaitinskogo tipa [The North Angara Variant of the Khaita type ceramics]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya Geoarkheologiya. Etnologiya. Antropologiya [Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series]. 2013, Vol. 1 (2), pp. 116–132. (In Russ.)
  6. Saveliev N. A., Ulanov I. V. Keramika epokhi neolita multisloichatogo mestonakhozhdeniya Gorelyi Les (Yuzhnoe Priangarie) [Neolithic Pottery of the Multilayered Site Gorelyi Les (South Angara Region)]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya Geoarkheologiya. Etnologiya. Antropologiya [Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series]. 2018, Vol. 26, pp. 46–85. https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2018.26.46 (In Russ.)
  7. Saveliev N. A., Ulanov I. V. Keramika rannego neolita multisloichatogo mestonakhozhdeniya Ust-Khaita (Yuzhnoe Priangarie) [Early Neolithic Pottery of the Multilayered Site Ust-Khaita (Southern Angara Region)]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya Geoarkheologiya. Etnologiya. Antropologiya [Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series]. 2019, Vol. 29, pp. 38–72. https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2019.29.38 (In Russ.)
  8. Saveliev N. A., Ulanov I. V. Keramika posolskogo tipa mnogosloinoi stoyanki Ust-Khaita (Yuzhnoe Priangarie) [Posolskaya-type Ceramics of the Multilayered Site Ust-Khaita (Southern Angara Region)]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser. Geoarkheologiya. Etnologiya. Antropologiya [Bulletin of the Irkutsk State University. Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series]. 2020, Vol. 34, pp. 38–48. https://doi.org/10.26516/2227-2380.2020.34.38 (In Russ.)
  9. Saveliev N. A., Ulanov I. V. K voprosu o vzaimodeistvii dvukh traditsii izgotovleniya keramiki v rannem neolite Yuzhnogo Priangariia (po dannym stoyanok Gorelyi Les i Ust-Khaita) [About interaction between the two ceramic manufacturing tradition in the Early Neolithic of the Southern Angara Region (according to the Gorelyi Les and Ust-Khaita sites)]. V poznanii dopismennogo perioda istorii [In understanding the Pre-literate Period of History]. Kemerovo, 2021, pp. 65–72.
  10. Saveliev N. A., Tetenkin A. V., Igumnova E. S., Abdulov T. A., Ineshin E. M., Osadchii S. S., Vetrov V. M., Klementiev A. M., Mamontov M. P., Orlova L. A., Shibanova I. V. Mnogosloinyi geoarkheologicheskii obiekt Ust-Khaita (predvaritelnye dannye) [Multilayered geoarchaeological object Ust-Khaita (preliminary data)]. Sovremennye problemy Evraziiskogo paleolitovedeniya [Current problems in the Eurasian Paleolithic]. Novosibirsk, 2001, pp. 338–352. (In Russ.)
  11. Ulanov I. V. Drevnee goncharstvo yuga Baikalo-Eniseiskoi Sibiri: kulturnye i tekhnologicheskie traditsii : dis. … kand. ist. nauk [Ancient pottery in the south of Baikal-Yenisey Siberia: cultural and technological traditions. Cand. histor. sci. syn. diss.]. Irkutsk, 2022, 378 p. (In Russ.)
  12. Ulanov I. V., Berdnikov I. M., Sokolova N. B. Eksperimentalnoe modelirovanie sosudov epokhi rannego neolita Baikalo-Eniseiskoi Sibiri [Experimental modeling of the Early Neolithic vessels from the Baikal-Yenisei Siberia]. Drevnie kultury Mongolii, Baikalskoi Sibiri i Severnogo Kitaya [Ancient cultures of Mongolia, Baikal Siberia and Northern China]. Ulan-Ude, 2018, Vol. 1, pp. 64–69. (In Russ.)
  13. Vorobieva G. A. Pochva kak letopis prirodnykh sobytii Pribaikaliya: problemy evolyutsii i klassifikatsii pochv [Soil as a chronicle of natural events of the Cis-Baikal: problems of evolution and classification of soil]. Irkutsk, ISU Publ., 2010, 205 p. (In Russ.)