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

List of issues > «Geoarchaeology, Ethnology, and Anthropology Series». 2014. Vol. 8

Early Neolithic Complex of V (lower) Cultural Layer of Settlement Sagan-Zaba II on Lake Baikal: Planigraphy and Dating

Full text (russian)

Author(s)
O. I. Goriunova, A. G. Novikov, A. W. Weber
Abstract
The article considers issue of planigrafic analysis and characteristics of the cultural complex of the V (lower) layer of multilayer settlement of Sagan-Zaba II, located on the western shore of Lake Baikal. Clear stratigraphic position, the presence of informative archaeological materials and the series of radiocarbon determinations allowed to date the complex in the Early Neolithic chronological cut of 7170–6650 cal BP. We have identified the systems for household purposes and are probably associated with ritual actions (burial seal bones) in the settlement. Analysis of archaeological materials, the composition of clusters and its planigraphy at autopsy area suggest that the parking was formed as a result of one activity and the situation reflects several consecutive different seasons periods of use, and low power of ashtray in fireplace and hearths indicates a relatively short visit. The abundance of seal bones, produced mainly from March to June, suggested a specialized seasonal nature of settlement (aimed at the breeding of the animal) and it connected with the spring.
New materials make improvements to the current understanding of the historical and cultural processes taking place in the early Neolithic Baikal region.
Keywords
Cis-Baikal, Olkhon region, Baikal, Early Neolithic, planigraphy, dating, pottery
UDC
902.24+902.6(571.53)