Kurmanakovo IV Site of the Final Eneolithic and Late Bronze Age in the Lower Reaches of the Mesha River (preliminary study results)

Abstract

The author publishes the results of excavations conducted in 2014 and 2017 at Kurmanakovo IV site located in the lower reaches of the Mesha river, the right tributary of the Kama river. Four cultural and chronological horizons were identified by the author at the site. The dune accommodating the site was initially populated in the final Eneolithic (late 3rd Millennium B.C.). The territory was subsequently inhabited by representatives of the late Pozdniakovo сultural traditions strongly influenced by the Srubnaya cultural and historical community (18th – 15th centuries B.C.). Then, according to stratigraphic observations, a dugout pit up to 1 m deep was constructed at the site. Considering the characteristic ceramics discovered in the bottom portion of the dwelling dugout and in household pits, the site was populated at that time by representatives of two cultural traditions of the Middle Volga region – the culture of textile ceramics and the Atabaevo stage of Maklasheevka culture (14th–13th centuries B.C.). As indicated by the discovered Maklasheevka ceramics, the territory of the site was also populated in the final Late Bronze Age (12th – 10th centuries B.C.).

Keywords

• archaeology
• roller ceramics of final Eneolithic
• “Srubnaya” tradition ceramics
• Pozdniakovo culture
• Maklasheevka culture
• Atabaevo stage
• culture of textile ceramics