Ekaterina Kashina

Деревянные весла из торфяниковых памятников Зауралья, Восточной и Западной Европы Статья посвящена анализу археологических деревянных весел Зауралья, Восточной и Западной Европы. Исследованы особенности морфологии предметов, в общих чертах реконструирована технология их изготовления. Проанализирован археологический контекст, высказаны предположения о времени бытования изделий. Представлен сравнительный обзор весел, найденных на памятниках каменного века европейских торфяников. Отмечено значительное разнообразие региональ-ных форм предметов при сохранении общей эволюции от широкой лопатообразной к узкой вытянутой лопасти. Выработ-ка оптимальных параметров весел, которые могли иметь двоякую функцию (отталкивание от дна и гребля), вероятно, завершилась в начале эпохи энеолита. Зауральские весла отличаются по форме лопасти от изделий Восточной Балтии (с листовидной лопастью и узким концом), хотя в обоих регионах подразумевается их использование на мелководных за-болоченных озерах. Материалы петроглифов позволяют предполагать, что восточно-балтийские весла могли использо-ваться при передвижении по иным водоемам. Возможно, ритуальную функцию в Восточной Европе и Зауралье выполняли немногочисленные весла, рукоять которых увенчана скульптурным изображением головы птицы. Серия зауральских весел эпохи энеолита и раннего бронзового века является, вероятно, самой представительной в мире. Ее своеобразие заключа-ется в значительной однотипности изделий, сохранении общих пропорций деталей, применении составной конструкции рукояти и фигурном оформлении наверший. Вероятно, часть предметов (с короткой рукоятью и малых/миниатюрных размеров) не использовалась в качестве весел, а могла иметь какую-то иную функцию и относиться, возможно, к сфере ритуала, игры, быта и/или производства. The study describes the morphology of prehistoric wooden paddles from the Trans-Urals and from Stone Age peat-bog sites in Eastern and Western Europe. Their general technological features are evaluated, the archaeological context is analyzed, and some proposals concerning chronology are made. Considerable regional variation notwithstanding, the general evolution of blades is from wide spatular to narrow elongate. Apparently, the optimal paddle shape, whereby it could be used for both rowing and pushing off, had been elaborated by the Early Chalcolithic. The eastern Baltic paddles differ from their Trans-Uralian counterparts by leaf-shaped blades with narrow tips. Although it has been traditionally believed that people in both regions mostly traversed shallow waterlogged lakes, certain petroglyphs point to a different use of Eastern Baltic paddles. The handles of certain Eastern European

The study describes the morphology of prehistoric wooden paddles from the Trans-Urals and from Stone Age peat-bog sites in Eastern and Western Europe. Their general technological features are evaluated, the archaeological context is analyzed, and some proposals concerning chronology are made. Considerable regional variation notwithstanding, the general evolution of blades is from wide spatular to narrow elongate. Apparently, the optimal paddle shape, whereby it could be used for both rowing and pushing off, had been elaborated by the Early Chalcolithic. The Eastern Baltic paddles differ from their Trans-Uralian counterparts by leaf-shaped blades with narrow tips. Although it has been believed traditionally that people in both regions mostly traversed shallow waterlogged lakes, certain petroglyphs point to a different use of Eastern Baltic paddles. The handles of certain Eastern European and Trans-Uralian paddles are shaped like heads of waterfowl; these rare specimens may have been destined for ritual purposes. The Trans-Uralian sample of Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age paddles may be the largest worldwide. Its distinctive features are standard proportions; and composite handles, occasionally decorated with ornithomorphic representations. Certain small paddles with short handles may have served for nonutilitarian purposes, possibly related to ritual, play, household, or manufacture.

Долбленая лодка с Дона в экспозиции Государственного исторического музея: история находки и проблема датировки Статья посвящена редкой археологической находке – большой долбленой лодке, обнаруженной на среднем Дону в 1954 г. Подробно описана история обнаружения, полевых работ и последующих событий, связанных с этим экспонатом из по-стоянной экспозиции Государственного исторического музея. Автор раскопок М.Е. Фосс сделала все, что было в ее силах, для полевой фиксации, транспортировки, консервации и музеефикации данной лодки. Это была первая доисторическая долбленка в СССР, исследованная в процессе археологических раскопок, тщательно отреставрированная и выставлен-ная на специально оборудованном мобильном постаменте. М.Е. Фосс, к сожалению, вскоре ушла из жизни и не успела всесторонне изучить находку. Вопрос о датировке этой лодки остается открытым по сей день. Хотя она выставлена в зале с материалами мезолита – энеолита и отнесена в публикациях к концу III – началу II тыс. до н.э., сейчас это может быть поставлено под сомнение из-за определенных особенностей контекста находки и отсутствия радиоуглеродных дат. В работе также представлен краткий обзор других лодок каменного века в Восточной и Западной Европе; обозначены проблемы, связанные с их обнаружением, реставрацией и экспонированием. A rare archaeological specimen from the Middle Don River, a large dugout found in 1954, is described. The history of discovery, fi eldwork, and conservation are outlined. The key role at all stages belonged to M.E. Voss, who did her best to unearth and preserve the specimen—the fi rst prehistoric dugout to be found, restored, and exhibited in the USSR. She died before being able to describe the boat in detail. Its age is still problematic. Though it is exhibited among the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Chalcolithic fi nds and has been tentatively dated to the third or early second millennium BC, certain facts relating to the archaeological context contradict this date, and no radiocarbon analysis has been conducted. A brief review of purportedly Stone Age dugouts from Europe is provided with reference to discovery, restoration, and exhibiting. Most appear to be younger than the Stone Age.

A rare archaeological find from the Don River (Central Russia), a large dugout found in 1954 is described. The history of discovery, fieldwork and conservation are outlined. The key role at all stages belonged to Maria Voss, who did her best to unearth and preserve this dugout - the first Prehistoric one to be found, restored and exhibited in the USSR. She passed away before being able to describe the boat in detail. Its age is still under question, certain facts relating to the archaeological context contradict the  old dating version (Neolithic-Early Bronze Age) and no C14 analysis has been conducted. A brief review of Stone Age European dugouts is provided.

Antler tools, looking absolutely as ancient Eskimo ones, were detected at the territory of Russian Plain in 3300-2500 BC cal. Some have the sculptured waterfowl bird heads at the top. Interesting example how good ideas way be absolutely convergent by its origin. I am very sorry for the bad quality of pdf - it was the provincial journal, and many years have passed. See also the attached presentation (year 2007).

North-Eastern European hunter-gatherer ceramic sculptures, relief sculptures and graphic images on vessels are discussed. Five groups of finds are distinguished according to their chronology (4000–2500 calBC) and the subject that is represented (birds, human heads, human figures, mammal heads etc.). We believe that the production of these items was a female craft; they were made for ritual purposes and their emergence was independent of any influence from pastoral / agricultural societies.

The data concerning bird bone finds in Mesolithic burials and bone bird sculpture finds in burials and dwellings/settlements are discussed. According to paleozoologists` idea, bird bones (mostly from wings and legs) were placed in burials to demonstrate some symbolic  connection between human and concrete bird specie, but surely not as after-death food supplement. Numerous finds of bird sculptural pendants give way to propose that this connection probably had a totemic essence. The analysis of sculpture` context and a row of bird species represented in it, allowed to point out different dimensions of relative/marital ties and to recognize the definite mobility and, at the same time, locality of totem clans. Taking into consideration economic (hunting) importance of birds, sedentary/migratory way of life and behavior features of different  bird species, which were common for forest zone, the same features of totem clans` way of life could be suggested. The steady symbol of a bird pair (male and female?) can also be distinguished by osteological and archaeological data. The totemic bird worship is well known by Urals and Siberian ethnographic data and now could be traced in Eastern European forest zone from the Late Mesolithic period. SORRY, THAT WAS NOT ME WHO DID THE FULL-TEXT TRANSLATION TO ENGLISH!!!

Snake sculptures are dated approximately 4000-2500 BC cal (except those of Yuzhny Oleniy Ostrov) and definitely were used as pendants in everydays life. Sometimes they occur in burials. Their territorial distribution points at the certain groups of sites in a number of regions (Latvia, Estonia, Upper Volga basin, Low Oka River basin, City of Vologda region), where those finds are not unique. This means that snakes, as also some other animal species (large waterfowl, capercaillie, fish, beaver, otter) could be worshipped in certain regions as totemic ancestors.

Ceramic sculpture originates from the multi-layered sites and usually is poorly preserved, also probably because of the hurried and careless manner of fashion. Nevertheless it is assumed that there existed particular sets of ceramic sculptures, including several zoomorphic (a waterfowl bird, a mammal, a snake) and anthropomorphic images, sometimes – a vessel with anthropomorphic head/whole figure on a rim or/and a vessel decorated with stamped waterfowl bird depictions forming a row under the vessel rim. Being concentrated in a small area (about 25 m²), sometimes in dwelling, usually near the hearth, these sets were probably connected with feminine activity, indicating some domestic rituals, concepts of home, family and birth, depicting the scheme of the Universe with levels symbolically represented by bird, mammal and snake and with anthropomorphic sculptures as impressions of ansestors.

Bone bird figurines used as personal adornments are very characteristic of the period around 3500–2700 cal BC in the territory of Central Russia – in the Moscow region and surroundings at the interfluve of the Volga and Oka Rivers. This material culture is known among researchers as the Volosovo culture and features a wide range of high-quality flint, bone, stone and even sometimes wooden artifacts and porous ceramics with an abundant organic admixture (mostly freshwater shells). Many excavated settlements give indications of a year-round habitation by Volosovo groups due to the numerous, large, semi-subterranean dwellings (usually measuring more than 100 square meters) that have been investigated. These dwellings are situated at shorelines or on small islands, where rivers flow into or run off the lake (or at river arms between lakes), as these are obviously the most abundant in fish. The evidence of intensive fishing is supplemented with that of intensive hunting, according to the collections of rich faunal remains that have been found. The investigation of these communities’ spiritual life became possible due to quite numerous finds of mobile art pieces, mostly small sculptured pendants, depicting humans and animals of different species and made of bone, flint and, extremely rarely, amber. One of the most numerous groups is that of bone pendants depicting bird images, which today consists of 89 pieces. Eighty-two of these are from settlement layers, five pieces are from burials and two pieces are loose finds. Several aspects of the bone bird pendants can be studied, such as: their regional variations in morphology, the interpretation of archaeological contexts and the ‘totem’ hypothesis concerning their symbolic meaning.

MESO 2015, Beograd. (oral presentation)
The data concerning bird bone finds in Mesolithic burials and bone bird sculpture finds in burials and dwellings/settlements are discussed. According to paleozoologists` idea, bird bones (mostly wing and leg ones) were placed in burials to demonstrate a certain symbolic  connection between a buried person and a concrete bird species, but surely not as after-death food supplement. Numerous finds of bird sculptural pendants permit to assume a totemic origin of this connection. The analysis of sculpture context and a number of represented bird species allowed to indicate various directions of relative/marital ties and to recognize the definite mobility and, at the same time, locality of totem clans. Taking into consideration the economic (hunting) importance of birds, the sedentary/migratory lifestyle and behavior features of different  bird species, common for the forest zone, the same features of the totem clan lifestyle could be traced. The steady symbol of a bird pair (male and female?) is also confirmed by osteological and archaeological data. The totemic bird worship is well known according to Urals and Siberian ethnographic data and could be traced in the Eastern European forest zone from the Late Mesolithic period.

В предлагаемом исследовании впервые представлены результаты анализа предметов искусства малых форм эпохи неолита-энеолита, найденных на территории Республики Беларусь, с точки зрения их функционально-смыслового значения и сопоставления их с комплексом предметов искусства малых форм соседних регионов. Материал происходит в основном с поселений Кривинского торфяника, так как здесь сохраняются органические материалы, однако на территориях Витебского, Гомельского и Могилевского районов также известны предметы искусства малых форм этой эпохи. Основные выводы работы сводятся к тому, что коллекция этих предметов характеризуется как сходными, так и самобытными чертами в сравнении с сериями искусства малых форм сосудних территорий, таких как страны Восточной Балтии, Псковская, Брянская и центральные области России. Изображения антропоморфных предков и змей из кости и рога несомненно принадлежат кругу циркумбалтийских скульптур 4 - начала 3 тыс. до н.э., резные подвески в виде птиц  - более самобытны и маркируют небольшой район родственных связей. Изображения птиц (и человека) на керамике имеют несколько разную культурно-хронологическую принадлежность и позволяют ставить вопрос о протяженном во времени и пространстве существовании данного сюжета в качестве орнамента сосудов особого назначения. Главной проблемой по-прежнему остается утчонение датировок предметов искусства малых форм, поскольку в условиях многослойности поселений пожалуй лишь прямая датировка образца AMS-методом позволяет разрешить ее окончательно. Однако данные артефакты слишком ценны, немногочисленны, имеют малые размеры и огромную музейную ценность.

Maria Foss is an outstanding researcher of the Stone and Bronze Ages in Northern and Central Russia. She worked in the SHM during 35 years. Beside her very important legacy as a researcher, the museum retains carefully her large archives including about 150 units. The appreciation of her work in archaeology has already been given in three publications by A. Formozov, S. Oshibkina and M. Yakushkina. The archive data, concerning her museum work were concidered here for the first time.