Papers by Ekaterina Dolbunova
The Dnepr-Dvina region was one of the first areas in the forest zone where pottery appeared durin... more The Dnepr-Dvina region was one of the first areas in the forest zone where pottery appeared during the first half of the 7th mill. BC. The analysis of samples of ceramic paste and raw materials together with reconstruction of other stages of the production chain allowed us to find out the role that raw materials and paste recipes played in the technology of the first pottery in this region. XRF-analysis, petrographic analysis, PCA and cluster analysis were carried out. The local lake sediments located near the archaeological sites were used for pottery making. Lake water fluctuations were one of the reasons for the availability of raw sources. The choice of raw material sources for pottery production in the Dnepr-Dvina region in the 7-6th mill. BC depended strongly not only on the availability of such materials, but also on technological traditions.
Acta Geographica Lodziensia, 2020
The article presents the results of a study on sediment deposition processes in the palaeolake sh... more The article presents the results of a study on sediment deposition processes in the palaeolake shore zone, at the multilayered
Serteya II archaeological site in Western Russia. In recent years, geomorphological, palaeopedological and palaeoecological
research was undertaken in strict cooperation with archaeological fieldwork. The Serteya II site occupies a substantial
area of a kame terrace and biogenic plain within a palaeolake basin. From an archaeological point of view, the site is represented
by few Mesolithic artefacts, but mostly by remnants of hunter–gatherer–fisher communities attributed in the Russian scientific
tradition to the Neolithic period and dated from 6300 BC to 2000 BC. Later, the area was used by people in the Bronze Age,
Early Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. The integration of archaeological and multidisciplinary palaeoenvironmental research
allowed the natural and human induced deposition of mineral-organic and minerogenic sediments to be reconstructed, as well
as the development of structures in the lake shore zone. The changes from lacustrine to fluvial system were documented and
the human impact is recorded mostly in the acceleration of slope processes.
Royal Society Open Science, 2020
The introduction of pottery vessels to Europe has long been seen as closely linked with the sprea... more The introduction of pottery vessels to Europe has long been seen as closely linked with the spread of agriculture and pastoralism from the Near East. The adoption of pottery technology by hunter-gatherers in Northern and Eastern Europe does not fit this paradigm, and its role within these communities is so far unresolved. To investigate the motivations for hunter-gatherer pottery use, here, we present the systematic analysis of the contents of 528 early vessels from the Baltic Sea region, mostly dating to the late 6th-5th millennium cal BC, using molecular and isotopic characterization techniques. The results demonstrate clear sub-regional trends in the use of ceramics by hunter-gatherers; aquatic resources in the Eastern Baltic, non-ruminant animal fats in the Southeastern Baltic, and a more variable use, including ruminant animal products, in the Western Baltic, potentially including dairy. We found surprisingly little evidence for the use of ceramics for non-culinary activities, such as the production of resins. We attribute the emergence of these sub-regional cuisines to the diffusion of new culinary ideas afforded by the adoption of pottery, e.g. cooking and combining foods, but culturally contextualized and influenced by traditional practices.
ACTA GEOGRAPHICA LODZIENSIA, 2018
The article presents the results of recent archaeological and geomorphological research conducted... more The article presents the results of recent archaeological and geomorphological research conducted on Middle to Late Neolithic site Serteya II in the Serteysky microregion of the Dnepr-Dvina region (NW Russia). The interaction of archaeological and multidisciplinary palaeoenvironmental research allowed for the reconstruction of the natural environment transformations and the natural conditions of the activity of the ancient communities in the lower Serteyka River valley, the left-bank tributary of the Western Dvina River. The terrain relief of the area was formed after the recession of the Weichselian (Valdai) Ice Sheet. The present day Serteyka River valley occupies a subglacial channel that was earlier occupied by a few lake basins of almost two
generations. The water basins of the first generation existed within glacial crevasses and between blocks of dead ice, and second generation lakes developed after the melting of dead ice in the Late Valdai. Throughout the entire Holocene, the Serteyka River drained several lake basins as a result of headward river erosion. The Neolithic Serteya II site occupied the surface of a kame
terrace and biogenic plain within the palaeolake basin. The pile-dwelling settlement functioned there in a period when palaeolakes
existed and were affected by transgression and regression of the water table. The main phase of pile-dwelling development is dated to ca. 4200–3800 cal BP and existed for almost 140 years. It was part of a wider settlement structure in the period of domination of a hunter–gatherer economy and the beginning of agriculture.
165 years after the discovery of pile dwellings in Switzerland, this meeting in Bern should be an... more 165 years after the discovery of pile dwellings in Switzerland, this meeting in Bern should be an occasion to relate archaeological waterscapes to their surrounding landscapes. Due to their inherent fluidity and their impact on cultural phenomena, waterscapes are destined to make us look beyond rigid paradigms, dichotomies, and categories, in order to dissolve them and merge the results into something new.
Relating and integrating the various aspects of life in waterscapes and landscapes, as well as their transitional areas, creates new and unexpected narratives. Archaeological remains in waterscapes, (in or at lakes and sea, in peatlands, bogs etc.) must be seen in their relationship to and their symbiosis with water. The traditional territorial models, which saw dwellings or infrastructure sites as simply located by the water, limited the field of vision.
In order to understand waterscapes, the microarchaeological frog’s eye perspective, which examines the local aquatic environment, must be supplemented with a broader perspective, for water does not separate – it connects. Thus, archaeological sites must be viewed in relation to the water- and landscapes around them, in relation to each other, and as part of a wide and far-reaching network of similar relationships.
There is a wide variety of methods (e.g. from the field of landscape archaeology or network analysis) to investigate the relationships between terrestrial and aquatic areas and the transitional fields between them as well as the “amphibious” networks created by them. These networks are the result of a lively, diverse and constantly changing interplay between different actors (humans, animals, plants and other matters), factors, and forces. The focus of this session is on this interplay between water and land as well as its specific taphonomical, ecological, economical, climatic and cultural factors (which may result in pollution or overexploitation) regardless of restricting time or space frames.
The characteristics of the oldest pottery in Eastern Europe, located in three main regions, the L... more The characteristics of the oldest pottery in Eastern Europe, located in three main regions, the Lower Don and Lower and Middle Volga, and a description of different Early Neolithic types of pottery production are described in this article. We present ideas on how and when the oldest pottery traditions were distributed through Eastern Europe according to radiocarbon dates. Also, models of the Neolithisation of Eastern Europe are suggested based on archaeological evidence and absolute chronology. IZVLE∞EK -V ≠lanku predstavljamo zna≠ilnosti najstarej∏ega lon≠arstva in zgodnje neolitske kera-mi≠ne tipe v treh vzhodno evropskih regijah: Spodnjem Donu, Srednji in Spodnji Volgi. S pomo≠jo radiokarbonskih datumov pojasnjujemo, kako in kdaj so se najstarej∏e lon≠arske tradicije ∏irile prek Vzhodne Evrope. Predlagamo model neolitizacije Vzhodne Evrope, ki temelji na arheolo∏kih podatkih in absolutni kronologiji.
Neolithic and Bronze Age wetland sites around the Alps (so called pile-dwellings, Pfahlbauten or ... more Neolithic and Bronze Age wetland sites around the Alps (so called pile-dwellings, Pfahlbauten or palafittes in German/French) are of outstanding universal value (UNESCO-world heritage since 2011). Typical sites are in lakes, rivers and bogs, dating between 5300 and 800 BC. Of common character is the perfect conservation of wood, textiles from plant fabrics and many other organic materials. Larger quantities of sub-fossilized wood, as in the peri-alpine sites, offer the possibility of high-precision dating by dendrochronology. Research in these wetland sites started in the mid-19th century. Through large scale rescue excavations since the 1970s and the evolution of underwater archaeology in the same period the Swiss accumulated a thorough experience with these specific sites. Research in wetland sites is shared between cantonal institutions and universities and led to a worldwide unique accumulation of knowledge. Comparable sites exist outside of the Alpine area, but in much smaller quantities. Regions like Russia (small lakes in NW-Russia) and Macedonia (medium size lakes in the border zone of Macedonia, Albania and Greece) have a high scientific potential; rivers in Ukraine are supposed to have the same type of sites.
Radiocarbon dating and research into offset correction for freshwater reservoir effect were condu... more Radiocarbon dating and research into offset correction for freshwater reservoir effect were conducted at the pile-dwelling site Serteya II, located in the Dvina-Lovat' basin (northwestern Russia). Cultural layers of this site are situated underwater, hence the unique state of preservation of material culture of the 3rd millennium cal BC. 14 C dating of different organic materials [wood, hazelnut (Corylus avellana), and elk bones] from this site allows their ages to be correlated and 14 C age offsets caused by freshwater reservoir effects (hardwater effects) in the dating of materials such as organic crust, pottery, bones, and lake sediments to be estimated. Consideration of the late Neolithic subsistence strategy underpinning the archaeological finds from this site and analysis of lipid components in ceramic vessels, as well as the determination of 14 C activity of modern aquatic and terrestrial samples, allows us to calculate the local freshwater reservoir effect and 14 C age offset for charred food crusts from different ceramic vessels more precisely.
Территория Днепро Двинского междуречья, приуроченная к местам существования прилед никовых водоем... more Территория Днепро Двинского междуречья, приуроченная к местам существования прилед никовых водоемов и наследующих их в голоце не озер, насыщена археологическими памятни ками, которые образуют своеобразные районы, получившие название археологических микро регионов (Сертейский, Усвятский, Жижицкий и Сенницкий). Здесь были найдены разнообраз ные типы памятников: свайные поселения, ры боловные заколы среднего позднего неолита, расположенные в торфяниках и под водой, а так же поселения раннего неолита, приуроченные к торфяникам. В отличие от этих памятников, где благодаря особым условиям залегания сохраня ются многочисленные остатки материальной культуры, памятники раннего позднего неоли та, расположенные на песчаных бортах котловин, бедны подобными находками, здесь очень плохо сохраняется древняя органика, следы конструк ций, ямы, кострища. На этих памятниках процес сы почвообразования шли крайне медленно, культурный слой, как правило, не превышает 20 30 см. Однако они также скрывают богатую ин формацию о жизни древнего населения, но, что бы обнаружить эти «невидимые» свидетельства прошлого, спрятанные песками, необходимо при менение разнообразных методик исследований.
ДРевнейшие КеРамичесКие тРаДиции восточной евРоПы мазуркевич а. н., Долбунова е. в., Кулькова м. а.
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Papers by Ekaterina Dolbunova
Serteya II archaeological site in Western Russia. In recent years, geomorphological, palaeopedological and palaeoecological
research was undertaken in strict cooperation with archaeological fieldwork. The Serteya II site occupies a substantial
area of a kame terrace and biogenic plain within a palaeolake basin. From an archaeological point of view, the site is represented
by few Mesolithic artefacts, but mostly by remnants of hunter–gatherer–fisher communities attributed in the Russian scientific
tradition to the Neolithic period and dated from 6300 BC to 2000 BC. Later, the area was used by people in the Bronze Age,
Early Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. The integration of archaeological and multidisciplinary palaeoenvironmental research
allowed the natural and human induced deposition of mineral-organic and minerogenic sediments to be reconstructed, as well
as the development of structures in the lake shore zone. The changes from lacustrine to fluvial system were documented and
the human impact is recorded mostly in the acceleration of slope processes.
generations. The water basins of the first generation existed within glacial crevasses and between blocks of dead ice, and second generation lakes developed after the melting of dead ice in the Late Valdai. Throughout the entire Holocene, the Serteyka River drained several lake basins as a result of headward river erosion. The Neolithic Serteya II site occupied the surface of a kame
terrace and biogenic plain within the palaeolake basin. The pile-dwelling settlement functioned there in a period when palaeolakes
existed and were affected by transgression and regression of the water table. The main phase of pile-dwelling development is dated to ca. 4200–3800 cal BP and existed for almost 140 years. It was part of a wider settlement structure in the period of domination of a hunter–gatherer economy and the beginning of agriculture.
Relating and integrating the various aspects of life in waterscapes and landscapes, as well as their transitional areas, creates new and unexpected narratives. Archaeological remains in waterscapes, (in or at lakes and sea, in peatlands, bogs etc.) must be seen in their relationship to and their symbiosis with water. The traditional territorial models, which saw dwellings or infrastructure sites as simply located by the water, limited the field of vision.
In order to understand waterscapes, the microarchaeological frog’s eye perspective, which examines the local aquatic environment, must be supplemented with a broader perspective, for water does not separate – it connects. Thus, archaeological sites must be viewed in relation to the water- and landscapes around them, in relation to each other, and as part of a wide and far-reaching network of similar relationships.
There is a wide variety of methods (e.g. from the field of landscape archaeology or network analysis) to investigate the relationships between terrestrial and aquatic areas and the transitional fields between them as well as the “amphibious” networks created by them. These networks are the result of a lively, diverse and constantly changing interplay between different actors (humans, animals, plants and other matters), factors, and forces. The focus of this session is on this interplay between water and land as well as its specific taphonomical, ecological, economical, climatic and cultural factors (which may result in pollution or overexploitation) regardless of restricting time or space frames.
Serteya II archaeological site in Western Russia. In recent years, geomorphological, palaeopedological and palaeoecological
research was undertaken in strict cooperation with archaeological fieldwork. The Serteya II site occupies a substantial
area of a kame terrace and biogenic plain within a palaeolake basin. From an archaeological point of view, the site is represented
by few Mesolithic artefacts, but mostly by remnants of hunter–gatherer–fisher communities attributed in the Russian scientific
tradition to the Neolithic period and dated from 6300 BC to 2000 BC. Later, the area was used by people in the Bronze Age,
Early Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. The integration of archaeological and multidisciplinary palaeoenvironmental research
allowed the natural and human induced deposition of mineral-organic and minerogenic sediments to be reconstructed, as well
as the development of structures in the lake shore zone. The changes from lacustrine to fluvial system were documented and
the human impact is recorded mostly in the acceleration of slope processes.
generations. The water basins of the first generation existed within glacial crevasses and between blocks of dead ice, and second generation lakes developed after the melting of dead ice in the Late Valdai. Throughout the entire Holocene, the Serteyka River drained several lake basins as a result of headward river erosion. The Neolithic Serteya II site occupied the surface of a kame
terrace and biogenic plain within the palaeolake basin. The pile-dwelling settlement functioned there in a period when palaeolakes
existed and were affected by transgression and regression of the water table. The main phase of pile-dwelling development is dated to ca. 4200–3800 cal BP and existed for almost 140 years. It was part of a wider settlement structure in the period of domination of a hunter–gatherer economy and the beginning of agriculture.
Relating and integrating the various aspects of life in waterscapes and landscapes, as well as their transitional areas, creates new and unexpected narratives. Archaeological remains in waterscapes, (in or at lakes and sea, in peatlands, bogs etc.) must be seen in their relationship to and their symbiosis with water. The traditional territorial models, which saw dwellings or infrastructure sites as simply located by the water, limited the field of vision.
In order to understand waterscapes, the microarchaeological frog’s eye perspective, which examines the local aquatic environment, must be supplemented with a broader perspective, for water does not separate – it connects. Thus, archaeological sites must be viewed in relation to the water- and landscapes around them, in relation to each other, and as part of a wide and far-reaching network of similar relationships.
There is a wide variety of methods (e.g. from the field of landscape archaeology or network analysis) to investigate the relationships between terrestrial and aquatic areas and the transitional fields between them as well as the “amphibious” networks created by them. These networks are the result of a lively, diverse and constantly changing interplay between different actors (humans, animals, plants and other matters), factors, and forces. The focus of this session is on this interplay between water and land as well as its specific taphonomical, ecological, economical, climatic and cultural factors (which may result in pollution or overexploitation) regardless of restricting time or space frames.
Neolithic and Bronze Age wetland sites around the Alps (so called pile-dwellings, Pfahlbauten or palafittes in german/french) are of outstanding universal value (UNESCO-World Heritage since 2011). Typical sites are in lakes, rivers and bogs, dating between 5300 and 800 BC. Around the Alps more than 750 sites exist, whereas Switzerland owns 430. Of common character is the per-fect conservation of wood, textiles from plant fabrics and many other organic materials. Larger quantities of sub-fossilized wood offer the possibility of high-precision dating by dendrochro-nology (actually more than 100’000 samples). Research in Pfahlbauten-wetland sites started in Switzerland in the mid-19th century. Large scale rescue excavations since the 1970ies and the evolution of underwater archaeology in the same period accumulated a thorough Swiss experi-ence with these specific sites. Research in wetland sites is shared between cantonal institutions and universities and led to a worldwide unique accumulation of knowledge. Comparable sites exist outside of the Alpine area, but in smaller quantities. Regions like Russia (small lakes in NW-Russia) and Macedonia (medium size lakes in the boarder zone of Macedonia, Albania and Greece) have a high scientific potential; rivers in Ukraine are supposed to have the same type of sites.
The general aims of the proposed Institutional Partnership (IP) is to build up a scientific network in Neolithic and wetland archaeology and the transfer of knowledge from Switzerland, as one of the worldwide leading countries in this field, to the participating Eastern European (EE) coun-tries. The further aims of the planned IP are to concentrate on an improvement of archaeologi-cal field techniques (mainly underwater archaeology/documentation under water/diving secu-rity) and dating methods. Dendrochronology is by far the most precise dating method available, but this method is not yet applied in Russia, Macedonia and Ukraine. The combined application of locally developed dendrochronological calendars and radiocarbon dating is most promising. All EE-sites have the potential to give new insights on the process of the Neolithisation of Eu-rope.
To achieve the aims of the IP proposal several jointly organized central events are scheduled (field-week in Russia, strategic workshop in Macedonia, conference in Ukraine). Further a course to improve diving security is planned (European Scientific Diver course) and internships for participants from EE countries in Switzerland are proposed (dendrochronology/under water archaeology). To improve knowledge about EE archaeology, members of the consortium will teach a seminar at Bern University and a lecture tour in all four participating countries is sched-uled. A major outcome is to establish close ties between a gender and age mix consortium that is willing to develop further research projects. Collaboration between Macedonia, Russia and Ukraine did never exist before in the field of archaeology and under the actual political circum-stances close collaboration on the individual and scientific level is most desirable.
The workshop will bring together scientists who are involved in the research of pile-dwellings within largely expanded boundaries in Europe. The organizers invite contributions with a focus on human-environment interactions, origin and (dis)continuity of European pile dwellings, regional methodological distinctions and regional peculiarities of pile-dwellings sites. This workshop will also examine possibilities and limits of interpreting cultural remains of the pile dwellings from multidisciplinary perspectives. The number of multidisciplinary research of recent years has provided new data about anthropogenic influence on the landscapes of Neolithic-Bronze Age pile-dwellings, which allows to characterize the lifestyle of inhabitants, peculiarities of the ecological niche and human and environment interaction in more detailed ways. The widely discussed phenomenon of European pile-settlements suggests such approaches on their origin and evolution as a reaction on natural changes or new symbols of changing societies, as well as underlines existence of specific architectural forms and other evidences in culture (art, weaponry, adornments, utilities etc.).