The Ceramics of Ekaterinovsky Сape Burial Ground (according to the materials of excavations 2013–2016 years)

Abstract

The authors first publish the ceramics of the Ekaterinovsky Сape burial ground of the Early Eneolithic. The ceramics were predominantly located on sacrificial sites in the shape of compact clusters of fragments. As a rule, such clusters were located above the burials, sometimes over the burials. Some of them were sprinkled with ocher. The authors have selected more 70 vessels. Some of the vessels have been partially reconstructed. The ceramics was made with inclusion of the crushed shell into molding mass. The rims of vessels had the thickened «collar»; the bottoms had a rounded shape. The ornament was located on the rims and the upper part of the potteries. Fully decorated vessels are rare. The vessels are ornamented with prints of comb and rope stamps, with small pits. A particularity of ceramics ornamentation is presented by the imprints of soft stamps (leather?) or traces of leather form for the making of vessels. The ornamentation, made up of «walking comb» and incised lines, was used rarely as well as the belts of pits made decoration under «collar» of a rim. Some features of the ceramics decoration under study relate it with ceramics of the Khvalynsk culture. The ceramics of Ekaterinovsky Cape burial ground is attributed by the authors to the Samarskaya culture. The ceramic complex under study has proximity to the ceramics from Siezzhee burial ground and the ceramics of the second phase of Samarskaya culture. The chronological position is determined by the authors as later period, than the period of ceramics from the Siezzhee burial ground and earlier than the chronological position of ceramics of the Ivanovka stage of the Samarskaya culture and the Khvalynsk culture.

Keywords

• archaeology
• Middle Volga region
• the Early Eneolithic
• the collar ceramics
• the Samarskaya culture
• the Khvalynsk culture
• the sacrificial sites