Peculiarities of the Atlym Ceramics Found in the Surgut Ob River Area(Based on the Materials of the Strelka Site)

Abstract

The Atlym culture was singled out by E. A. Vasilyev on the materials of the ancient fort of Maly Atlym 1. The researcher dated it as 12-13^th centuries BC and identified two chronological stages in its existence (12-10^th and 10-8^th centuries BC), which corresponded to two types of ceramics different in the form of vessels and ornamentation. In this article we consider some features of the Atlym culture ceramics of the Late Bronze Age based on the materials of the multilayered fort of Strelka located in the basin of the Bol’shoi Yugan River. Remains of the Late Bronze Age structure were found on the site of the ancient fort. The cultural layer associated with the construction of the Late Bronze Age was preserved on a small stretch between the Medieval moat and an additional rampart at the periphery of the site of the settlement. It is blocked by a rampart of an ancient Iron Age fort and the soil removed from the Medieval moat. During the five years of excavations, the most representative collection amongst the well-known Atlym collections in terms of the quantity of items has been gathered on this site. Purpose . We aimed at checking a working hypothesis about the existence of several groups within the ceramic complex using the methods of factor analysis and determining the place of the Late Bronze complex of the Strelka fort among Atlym sites. Results . Statistical analysis of the material revealed three stable characteristic groups where the type of the vessel profile is associated with a certain set of dies, the method of applying and arranging the ornament. Two roughly equal groups of Atlym ceramics of type II (according to Е. А. Vasilyev) and a small group of vessels attributed to the Gamayun culture, which was widespread in the Trans-Ural area during the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in the 10-4^th centuries BC, are distinguished in the complex. Our analysis of the material allocation in the layer showed a lack of significant differences in the occurrence of all ceramics groups. Similar groups were identified in the settlement Yendyrskoye VIII (the Atlym culture, 10-8^th centuries BC) in the Lower Ob River area, where they also existed simultaneously. Such groups were not singled out on the other Atlym sites. Conclusion . The two parallel traditions in the Atlym pottery manufacture are established based on the materials from the Strelka site. The Late Bronze complex of the fort Strelka corresponds to the type II of the Atlym ceramics (according to Е. А. Vasilyiev) and dates back to the 10-8^th centuries BC. The presence of the Gamayun type vessels indicates some contacts between the population of the Surgut part the Ob River area and the Trans-Ural region.