Chronology by Zhanna Marchenko
RADIOCARBON CHRONOLOGY OF THE SOUTH URALS AND THE SOUTH OF THE WESTERN SIBERIA CULTURES (2000–2013-YEARS INVESTIGATIONS): PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROBLEMS, 2014
Purpose: The study focuses on reviewing the present state of development in radiocarbon dating as... more Purpose: The study focuses on reviewing the present state of development in radiocarbon dating as well as concepts concerning the chronological sequences of sites and cultures identified in the Urals and in the southern regions of Siberia, dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Over the last two decades, both quantitative and qualitative changes had occurred in archaeology with regards to establishing an absolute chronology for the Bronze Age sites and cultures. However, in spite of this fact, there are major differences which still remain as to a level of study. In some cases, an age determination is confined with dating a site; otherwise it is suggested to use the variants of radiocarbon cultural-chronological scales. The main focus of this study is on elucidating the dating results obtained for areas where the development of 14C scales has been carried out systematically based on a series of radiocarbon measurements and there are series of dates for reference sites and cultures as well.
Results: The study discusses radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences for the steppe, forest and forest-steppe areas in the Urals, the Baraba forest-steppe zone, the Minousinsk basin, the Upper Ob River basin, and the Russian Altai. Data on the Mongolian Altai and Northern Kazakhstan has been used for a comparative analysis. Due account of material used for the dating in addition to its taphonomy at site has been taken when analyzing radiocarbon sequences, as well as the dating approach (14C accelerator facility (AMS) or Conventional 14C counting facility). «Reservoir» and «old wood» effects have been taken care of when appropriate. The authors have registered a quantitative irregularity in accumulation of 14C dates with reference to different cultures. In a number of cases, the authors show that the use of «the old» isolated and serial 14C dates can be complicated for some of them appeared to be younger or older than those of the present-day dates. In addition, there has been distinguished a number of sites and cultures associated with the Seima-Turbino phenomenon.
Data resulted from an age determination of these sites has confirmed their contemporaneity within a time span ranging from c 2300 to 1900 cal BC. Conclusion: Results obtained from the dating of sites identified in the various regions confirm the all-Eurasian tendency to consider the Bronze Age complexes to be older. The study involves a comparative analysis of data derived from the different areas in the Urals and in the south of Siberia. As a result, the new chronological boundaries for some of cultures have been established. The analysis showed the contemporaneity of the Pit-Grave and Afanas’evo cultures, archaeological
complexes with Seima-Turbino bronze artifacts, as well as the Andronovo cultural-historical community throughout the whole area of its occupation from the Minousinsk basin to the Urals. General synchronicities also demonstrate sites of the post-Andronovo period (Beloklyuchevka complexes, Barkhatovo, Irmen’ and Karasuk cultures).
Keywords: Ural, Western Siberia, Bronze Age, radiocarbon dating, regional radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences.
Papers by Zhanna Marchenko
This article presents the results of radiocarbon dating and a chronology of the Preobrazhenka 6 ... more This article presents the results of radiocarbon dating and a chronology of the Preobrazhenka 6 site of the Odino culture (Baraba forest steppe, western Siberia). Currently available 14C data for the necropolis do not allow accurate determination of the presence or absence of reservoir effects, and as such, further research is needed. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of paired samples of terrestrial faunal and fish remains from a Neolithic pit suggest the absence of a reservoir effect in fish bone collagen. Middle Bronze Age burials have therefore been estimated to date to the 23rd–20th centuries cal BC. Pits with fish remains are dated earlier than burials, to the 63rd–61st centuries cal BC. Stable isotope measurements of human bone collagen (high δ15N and low δ13C values) indicate diets based on С3 plants and fish. Apparently, the role of animal protein in the diet was not significant. Dental paleopathology analysis has confirmed the important role of wild plants in human diet. Neolithic fish bones are elevated in δ13С [–13.5‰, average mean (n = 4)]. They are significantly different from the associated values of fish from the Late Bronze Age settlement of Chicha 1 [–22.5‰, average mean (n = 10)], which is also located in the Baraba forest steppe. The difference in δ13C values in fish bones may be determined by the origin of the samples, being derived either from lakes or rivers.
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Chronology by Zhanna Marchenko
Results: The study discusses radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences for the steppe, forest and forest-steppe areas in the Urals, the Baraba forest-steppe zone, the Minousinsk basin, the Upper Ob River basin, and the Russian Altai. Data on the Mongolian Altai and Northern Kazakhstan has been used for a comparative analysis. Due account of material used for the dating in addition to its taphonomy at site has been taken when analyzing radiocarbon sequences, as well as the dating approach (14C accelerator facility (AMS) or Conventional 14C counting facility). «Reservoir» and «old wood» effects have been taken care of when appropriate. The authors have registered a quantitative irregularity in accumulation of 14C dates with reference to different cultures. In a number of cases, the authors show that the use of «the old» isolated and serial 14C dates can be complicated for some of them appeared to be younger or older than those of the present-day dates. In addition, there has been distinguished a number of sites and cultures associated with the Seima-Turbino phenomenon.
Data resulted from an age determination of these sites has confirmed their contemporaneity within a time span ranging from c 2300 to 1900 cal BC. Conclusion: Results obtained from the dating of sites identified in the various regions confirm the all-Eurasian tendency to consider the Bronze Age complexes to be older. The study involves a comparative analysis of data derived from the different areas in the Urals and in the south of Siberia. As a result, the new chronological boundaries for some of cultures have been established. The analysis showed the contemporaneity of the Pit-Grave and Afanas’evo cultures, archaeological
complexes with Seima-Turbino bronze artifacts, as well as the Andronovo cultural-historical community throughout the whole area of its occupation from the Minousinsk basin to the Urals. General synchronicities also demonstrate sites of the post-Andronovo period (Beloklyuchevka complexes, Barkhatovo, Irmen’ and Karasuk cultures).
Keywords: Ural, Western Siberia, Bronze Age, radiocarbon dating, regional radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences.
Papers by Zhanna Marchenko
Results: The study discusses radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences for the steppe, forest and forest-steppe areas in the Urals, the Baraba forest-steppe zone, the Minousinsk basin, the Upper Ob River basin, and the Russian Altai. Data on the Mongolian Altai and Northern Kazakhstan has been used for a comparative analysis. Due account of material used for the dating in addition to its taphonomy at site has been taken when analyzing radiocarbon sequences, as well as the dating approach (14C accelerator facility (AMS) or Conventional 14C counting facility). «Reservoir» and «old wood» effects have been taken care of when appropriate. The authors have registered a quantitative irregularity in accumulation of 14C dates with reference to different cultures. In a number of cases, the authors show that the use of «the old» isolated and serial 14C dates can be complicated for some of them appeared to be younger or older than those of the present-day dates. In addition, there has been distinguished a number of sites and cultures associated with the Seima-Turbino phenomenon.
Data resulted from an age determination of these sites has confirmed their contemporaneity within a time span ranging from c 2300 to 1900 cal BC. Conclusion: Results obtained from the dating of sites identified in the various regions confirm the all-Eurasian tendency to consider the Bronze Age complexes to be older. The study involves a comparative analysis of data derived from the different areas in the Urals and in the south of Siberia. As a result, the new chronological boundaries for some of cultures have been established. The analysis showed the contemporaneity of the Pit-Grave and Afanas’evo cultures, archaeological
complexes with Seima-Turbino bronze artifacts, as well as the Andronovo cultural-historical community throughout the whole area of its occupation from the Minousinsk basin to the Urals. General synchronicities also demonstrate sites of the post-Andronovo period (Beloklyuchevka complexes, Barkhatovo, Irmen’ and Karasuk cultures).
Keywords: Ural, Western Siberia, Bronze Age, radiocarbon dating, regional radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences.