Middle Neolithic of the Kamchatka Peninsula

Abstract

Purpose. The study of archaeological sites of the Middle Neolithic of Kamchatka should offer a chronology and a set of criteria for identifying the period. Results. The research data is based on the materials of the studied cultural layer, buried dwellings and individual artifacts of 46 archaeological sites. It has been established that the average Neolithic of Kamchatka can be dated back to 4000-1500 cal BP. The sites were found on high water-glacial terraces with a height of 4 to 30 meters on the banks of large rivers and lakes, the sea coast of the eastern part of the peninsula. Their number had increased compared to the previous period. Dwellings had become more complex. Perhaps this is due to the need to have more reliable shelters in the conditions of the marine climate and frequent precipitation of volcanic ash. The ground buildings, semi-underground dwellings and workshops for the manufacture of stone tools were found at the sites. Near the dwellings, special fortifications in the form of artificial ditches and ramparts made of stones and soil were also found. These may have been defensive structures. The increased population size, its settlement mainly along the coast in order to develop marine resources, may have caused conflicts between certain groups of the population in the struggle for the best fishing sites. The stone industry is represented by cores (amorphous and prismatic knife-shaped blades) and primary cleavage products (knife-shaped blades of different sizes without retouching, with edge retouching and on both sides). Among the tools there were retouched triangular stone arrowheads without stem and with stem, leaf-shaped, including miniature, arrowheads; knives - narrow and wide-bladed with a dedicated handle, leaf-shaped oval; roughly beaten and polished sharp-edged adzes of different sizes with a sub-triangular and oval cross-section; end scrapers of various geometric shapes; calibrators of arrow shafts. The strategy of life support of society was aimed at hunting for marine mammals, fishing and gathering, including shellfish. In the sphere of spiritual culture, signs of ceremonial activity (labrets) and art (small figurines and ornaments) have also been identified. Conclusion. It is assumed that with an increased population size and changes in the environmental situation, a new way of life of the population developed, associated with a highly specialized and complex appropriating economy which essentially formed its own archaeological culture (Taryinskaya culture).