Iron Ore from Mound No. 51 of the Ust-Tartas Burial Ground. Sargat Culture

Purpose. The article presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of iron ore fragments found during the explorations of mound no. 51 of the Ust-Tartas site (Vengerovsky distric, Novosibirsk region). The fragments presented shapeless rock debris with ferruginous oxides and a specific. Two fragments turned out to be slag. Three fragments come from burial no. 17 while others were found in the mound fill and the arable layer, obviously moved from their original location. The samples were studied using binocular microscopy, X-ray phase analysis and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry.

Results. According to the study, the presented goethite ores samples were classified as sedimentary swamp-lake ores of regional and local origin, which is characterized by a lower melting point and high quality of smelted iron. Apparently, the region landscape features made it possible to extract bog ore in the immediate vicinity of the places where the craftsmen lived. It has been suggested that the identified artifacts the professional activity of a Sargat community related to metal production, buried in the investigated mound or participat in the funeral ceremony.

Conclusion. The studied site is of great scientific importance for the study of the Sargat culture, as a whole, and the phenomena associated with the Sargat society life. The importance of the methodological component of the samples study should also be emphasized.

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