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Humanitarian sciences in Siberia

2020 year, number

EARLY NEOLITHIC OF KAMCHATKA PENINSULA

I.YU. PONKRATOVA
North-Eastern State University, 13 Portovaya str., Magadan, 685000, Russian Federation
Keywords: Камчатка, ранний неолит, орудия на пластинах, шлифованные орудия, керамика, плетение, мелкая пластика, Kamchatka, early Neolithic, tools on blades, grinded tools, ceramics, weaving, small sculptures

Abstract

30 archaeological sites and locations had been discovered in the continental and coastal regions of Kamchatka by the beginning of the XXI century, for which seventeen 14C dates were obtained. Using stratigraphic, tephrochronological, radiocarbon analysis data and radiocarbon dates calibration, the chronological frameworks of the period were determined as 7800-4500 years ago. The period criteria were identified based on the materials of the most studied sites of Ushki I, II, V, Avacha I and others, as well as findings of artifacts. The author revealed that the Early Neolithic objects were located at the river banks, lake or sea coasts, ridge spurs. There were typical sites with rounded dwellings settled during the short- and long-term periods; burials, sites-workshops and utility pits. The strategy of the society life support was aimed at hunting, fishing and gathering during the period. The stone industry was based on the primary splitting technique based on the reduction of conical and prismatic cores. The dominant products of splitting are small and medium-sized blades, which used to make the tips of throwing tools, knives, cutters, and scrapers. Bifacial tools are represented by leaf-shaped knives, arrowheads with rhombic, triangular sections. The combination of blade and bifacial technologies can be a marker of the technique of making stone tools for Early Neolithic of Kamchatka. Chopping tools (adzes, axes with an intercept butt) are various in size, shape, and design methods. Products with fully polished sides (axes, adzes) indicate a well-developed grinding technique. Obsidian, flint, basalt, sandstone, quartzite, and jasper were the raw material base for making stone tools. Ceramics and weaving were the most important innovations of this period. Small plastic items, as an individual type of finds, illustrate the spiritual and everyday culture of society and can be characteristic features of the Early Neolithic of Kamchatka. Materials of the Early Neolithic of Kamchatka correlate with archaeological complexes of the Mesolithic - Middle Neolithic of Yakutia and Chukotka, the Middle Neolithic of Primorye, the Early Neolithic of the Middle and Lower Amur, and Sakhalin Island.