Experimental Work on the Production of Ceramics of the Chirik-Rabat Culture

Abstract

The article introduces the results, descriptions and analysis of the experiment on the reconstruction of the molding mass and the manufacture of ceramic vessels of the Chirik-Rabat culture (3rd–2nd centuries BC). The site adjacent to the pottery workshops of the Babish-mola 7 archaeological complex (Eastern Aral Sea region) was used as a landfill. There is the Akkyr hill nearby, abounding in reserves of clay raw materials. The experiment was conducted during the field research of the Chirik-Rabat archaeological expedition of the Margulan Institute of Archaeology in 2022. The main objective of this experiment was to determine all aspects of the production cycle for the manufacture of ceramic vessels – from collecting raw materials for the manufacture of ceramics, designing vessels, firing and ending with obtaining the result. During the experimental work, a search was carried out for clay deposits near the Babish-mola oasis along the riverbeds. The process of collecting organic matter (cattle manure) was carried out in the nearest settlement, located 60 km from the Babish-mola monument, for the admixture of chamotte, featureless fragments of ceramics from the monument were used. The vessels were formed on a single-disc turntable.

Keywords

• archaeology
• eastern aral sea region
• syrdarya
• early iron age
• chirik-rabat culture
• babish-mola complex
• ceramics
• pottery workshop
• experimental work