Aleksandr F. Shorin*, Anastasiya A. Shorina**

Institute of History and Archaeology, Ural Branch of the RAS, Yekaterinburg, Russia

*E-mail: shorin_af@mail.ru
**E-mail: aashor@mail.ru

Keywords: Trans-Urals, Koksharovsky Hill, Yuryino settlement, Eneolithic, Ayat culture, Shuvakish type of pottery, chronology.

The article analyzes the Eneolithic ceramic complex from the archaeological site Koksharovsky Hill – Yuryino settlement in the forest area of the Middle Trans-Urals. The assemblage is represented by two cultural types: the Ayat and the Shuvakish ones. They are characterized by round-bottomed, weakly profiled ware with simple linear, often repeating, patterns made mainly by comb stamping. However, the ornamental scheme of a number of Ayat vessels also includes geometric patterns: chains of overlapping and shaded triangles facing upwards, shaded rhombuses, a rhombic grid, etc. It is possible to trace the continuity of the Eneolithic ware from the Late Neolithic cultures – both Basyanovsky and, especially, Poludenka. At the same time, new features emerged in comparison with the Neolithic period. These include a non-pronounced short neck in the shape of Eneolithic ware, the disappearance of massive bulges from the inner side of the vessels, especially characteristic of the Poludenka pottery, and the inclusion of the horizontal row of pits in the vessel ornamental composition. These pits located in the neck to shoulder transition area on either the outside or inside surface form “pearls” on the opposite side of the vessel wall. Radiocarbon dates (2σ) 4452–4050 and 4274–3938 BC obtained from two fragments of Ayat pottery correspond to the late Neolithic and choronologically locate this site in the beginning of the Eneolithic in the region.

DOI: 10.31857/S086960630009721-2