The paper presents the results of the first special technical and technological study of the oldest ceramics found during excavations of Late Pleistocene settlements on the Lower Amur River (Khabarovsk Krai). The applied methods of the historical and cultural scientific approach are formulated. Successive stages of the vessel manufacturing process are considered - from the selection of raw materials to the chemical and thermal treatment of their surface. As a result of a comparative analysis of the pottery traditions of the inhabitants of three settlements, their mixing in the selection of plastic raw materials was revealed, which was a consequence of the participation of carriers of different pottery traditions in the mixing processes. The established level of development of local pottery is attributed to the third phase of proto-pottery production, which is characterized by the use of "plain" or "mountain" silt as the main plastic raw material.

Keywords: Amur region, multi-layered settlement, Osipovka, Gasya, Gosyan, Early Neolithic, ceramics, pottery traditions, experiment, technology, analysis.

Introduction

The creation of clay vessels was one of the most important cultural achievements of ancient man. It is no coincidence that their appearance is considered by many researchers as one of the main criteria for the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind-the Neolithic. Initially, there was an opinion that the first ceramics appeared in the Middle East around the end of the VII millennium BC. e. and from there gradually spread almost all over the globe. However, around the mid-1960s, rare cases of clay potsherds were found on monuments that, according to all other signs, and especially on stone products, belonged to the Paleolithic era. Gradually, such facts accumulated, and in parallel there was an accumulation of radiocarbon dates of cultural deposits with these ceramics, and later dates obtained from the ceramics themselves. In the archaeological literature, from time to time there was information about the presence in different parts of the world (especially in Eurasia) on Upper Paleolithic settlements of pieces of baked clay, presumably originating from some artificially created structures; various clay products (in particular, on monuments of Moravia), etc.fragments and even whole vessels (Bahn, 1978; Vandiver et al., 1989; Shchelinsky, 1989; Praslov, 1992; Pavlov, 1994; Tsetlin, 2000).

To date, it can be considered established that the first vessels made of clay appeared (and did not interrupt their development in the future) not at the first stage of their development.

* The research was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 12-06-00186a "Ancient ceramics of Siberia and the Far East".

In the Middle East, and in East Asia, where researchers distinguish three regions with early ceramics: southern China, Japan and the Far East. According to the most reliable published data, the earliest dates were obtained from sites in Southern China (Xiarendong-14,610 ± 290 BP (BA-93181), Miaoyang-13,710 ± 270 BP (BA-92034-1)), and slightly later-from sites in the Russian Far East (Hummi-13,260±100l. n(AA-13392), Quenching-12,960±120l. n (Le-1781))June Japan(Fukui-12,700±500 BP (GaK-950), Kamikuroiwa-12,165 ± 600 BP (1-944)) [Jall et al., 1998; Kuzmin et al., 2000; Kuzmin, 2003, 2004]. Thus, in the south of China, the first clay vessels can probably be attributed to 15-14 thousand years ago, in the Far East-to 14-13, and in the south of the Japanese Islands - to 13 thousand years ago. Due to the uniqueness of the phenomenon itself, researchers ' attention for several decades has been focused, on the one hand, on proving the unusually early age of ceramics, and on the other, on finding out the reasons for its appearance in these areas and at this time. Simply put, the main focus was not so much on a comprehensive study of ceramics itself, but rather on the general neolithization process in East Asia and more generally throughout Eurasia (see, for example, Jordan and Zvelebil, 2009; Kaner, 2009).

Since in most cases early ceramics on monuments are represented by several dozen small fragments, various natural science methods were mainly used to study them, which required small sample sizes for analysis (see, for example, [Hommel et al., 2009]). Traditional visual studies were conducted, as a rule, by archaeologists based on the materials of those monuments that they excavated. Thus, the study of early ceramics was carried out almost exclusively within the framework of emotional-descriptive and formal-classification approaches. As a result, preliminary conclusions were obtained concerning certain aspects of the oldest pottery production. Due to the fact that in the future the article will present the results of a special technical and technological study of ceramics from the settlements of Osipovka, Gosyan and Gasya, here we briefly summarize the observations made earlier only on these monuments.

Results of previous studies

All the monuments under consideration are located in the lower Amur valley (Figure 1). The settlements of Gosyan and Gasya are located at a distance of about 350 m from each other, and Osipovka is about 75-80 km upstream of the Amur River on the outskirts of Khabarovsk.

Fig. 1. Monuments of the Lower Amur region, the materials of which were subjected to technical and technological analysis.

Osipovka settlement. This multi-layered monument was studied under the supervision of A. P. Okladnikov in the early 1960s. The lower layers were attributed to the Mesolithic period by the nature of flint products. The monument gave its name to a special culture of this period. Later, in connection with the discovery of the oldest ceramics in a number of settlements, which will be discussed below, the Osipov culture began to be considered as early Neolithic.

Many years later, when analyzing the collections of Osipovka, V. E. Medvedev drew attention to four fragments of ceramic vessels that were previously attributed to late materials along with other sherds. However, it has now become obvious that they are close to the ceramics of the Gasya settlement, which had a very early radiocarbon date. These fragments are characterized by rough dressing, rather loose, burnt at low temperatures, and have a rough surface with traces of blurring, especially on the outside. The clay contains a large number of probably artificial mineral inclusions (pieces of crushed rock), traces of burnt organic impurities (chopped grass), "pieces of chamotte are clearly visible". In the fracture and inside, the shards are mostly black in color, mostly dark gray on the outside, sometimes with dark orange spots. Presumably, they originate from two vessels (Medvedev, 20086, pp. 118-119).

Gosyan settlement. Multi-layered monument, the lower horizon of which belongs to the Osipov culture, in 1979-1980. It was studied by A. P. Okladnikov and V. E. Medvedev. Later, while analyzing the received materials, V. E. Medvedev found in one of the cases that he had received a copy of the report.

The packages contain numerous, mostly very small, shapeless ceramic pieces collected in the lower Osipov layer in 1980. "The ceramics are extremely loose and crumbled. It belonged to no less than two or three lightly burned vessels of dark brown and dark color. On some fragments... there are narrow grooves. Shards with grooves marked in the form of an oblique grid are marked... there are also fragments with faint prints of a wicker object (basket?)."[Medvedev, 2003, p. 42]. Probably, it was the latter phrase expressed in the form of an assumption that allowed I. S. Zhushchikhovskaya to conclude that "basket-type texture imprints" were recorded on the surface of the wreckage [2004, p. 32].

Gasya settlement. It was studied by A. P. Okladnikov and V. E. Medvedev in 1975, 1976 and 1980, and by A. P. Derevyanko and V. E. Medvedev in 1986-1990. Several dozen small fragments of ceramics from the Osipov culture were found in two excavations (Okladnikov and Medvedev, 1983; Derevyanko and Medvedev, 1992, 1993). These ceramics are described in detail (Medvedev, 2008a). The description is given separately for each excavation site. The recorded differences in the ceramics of each of them are emphasized.

In excavation 1, fragments of at least three vessels were found. It is indicated that they are made of clay with an admixture of fine-grained sand, presumably introduced artificially. Occasionally, there is a small rounded gravel, even less often "roughly fragmented angular fragments of black and dark gray rock with a diameter of 0.2 - 0.4 cm" [Ibid., p. 158]. In the fractures of the shards, both in vertical and horizontal cross-sections, layering is clearly visible, which, combined with the absence of traces of soldering of clay tapes, may indicate the formation of vessels on the template. The surface of the products was "covered with a thin layer of specially prepared pure clay" [Ibid.], and then smoothed out. Firing is uniform, although layers of different colors are observed in the fractures: from dark or almost black to reddish.

In shape, these are open vessels of simple outlines in the form of a truncated cone or situla, at least 20-22 cm high and approximately the same diameter, with a flat bottom. Under the corolla, they had a horizontal row of holes located at a distance of 1.4-1.7 cm from each other. The shards are covered with a layer of carbon deposits, which indicates the use of vessels for cooking on fire.

Judging by the wreckage, there was a grooved or grooved-fluted pattern on the outer and inner surfaces of the tanks, which was applied by careful dragging or combing with a fine-toothed comb. Oblique parallel rows of rectangular impressions of a three-pronged comb are marked. Three groups of fragments are distinguished by the direction of the grooves on the outer and inner surfaces: 1) with vertical grooves from the outside, horizontal from the inside; 2) vertical and inclined from the outside, horizontal from the inside; 3) inclined from the outside and from the inside.

Ceramics from excavation 2, represented by 10 small fragments, visually look more archaic [Ibid., p. 159]. The clay contains "otoshchitel" in the form of a significant artificial admixture of crushed sharp-angled rock pieces of mostly dark color, up to 6 - 7 mm in size, as well as presumably chopped herbaceous stems. The fractures of shards are layered, indicating that the vessels were made on a template, as well as ceramics from excavation 1. The firing of products is uniform, low-temperature, the color of the fractures is black, rarely dark gray.

The vessels were flat-bottomed, simple in shape, with a diameter of at least 25 cm. They were probably also used for cooking. On the outer surface there was a grooved-striped ornament applied with a comb. According to its nature, three groups are distinguished: 1) with horizontal rows of cord impressions, probably wound on a rod; 2) with inclined and vertical cord and nail impressions; 3) with a combination of narrow wavy grooves and rows of cord or, most likely, nail impressions. The interior surface is also ornamented, but the decor is simpler and has a technological character (these are horizontal smooth or slightly wavy narrow grooves).

In addition to the description of ceramics from the Gasya settlement made by V. E. Medvedev (with the participation of N. N. Dobretsov), there are also the results of studying individual potsherds from one vessel, which was carried out on his own initiative by I. S. Zhushchikhovskaya and P. Vandiver [Zhushchikhovskaya, 2004, pp. 27-29]. According to researchers, the molding mass contains natural mineral inclusions (quartz, feldspar, mica) of different sizes and a plant admixture (from the sedge family) [Ibid., p. 27]. The two-layer pattern observed in the fracture is due to the successive build-up of the walls. On the surface of the potsherds, the prints of the stems of plants from the sedge family are recorded. Roasting is also low-temperature, presumably in the range of 450-550 °C [Ibid., p. 29].

Historical and cultural approach to the study of ceramics

In 2008 at the II Archaeological Congress in Suzdal it was decided to conduct a special comprehensive study of the oldest ceramics Dal-

The study of the History of the Russian Far East from the point of view of the historical and cultural approach developed by A. A. Bobrinsky in the laboratory "History of Ceramics" of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The meeting was attended, on the one hand, by archaeologists who conducted excavations and first studies of ceramic complexes on the monuments of the Amur region and Primorye (V. E. Medvedev and A.V. Garkovik), and O. V. Yanshina, who studied coastal ceramics, and on the other - specialists in ancient pottery (I. N. Vasilyeva, N. P. Salugina and Yu. B. Tsetlin).

This article presents the first results of cooperation on special analysis of the oldest ceramics from the settlements of Osipovka-1 (two samples from the excavations of A. P. Okladnikov in 1960), Gasya (32 samples, excavations of A. P. Okladnikov and V. E. Medvedev in 1980, A. P. Derevyanko and V. E. Medvedev in 1986) and Gosyan (17 samples, excavated by A. P. Okladnikov and V. E. Medvedev in 1980). Due to the fact that most of the fragments were quite small, their belonging to the same or different vessels had to be judged mainly by technological data.

Before proceeding to the presentation of specific results of the analysis, it is necessary to briefly describe the main content of the historical and cultural approach and its differences from others. In the history of archaeology, three methodologically different research approaches to the study of ancient ceramics were consistently developed: emotional-descriptive, formal-classificatory, and historical-cultural. They reflect the development of the process of cognition of ceramics as a source of historical information from an unformed to a partially and fully formed state. Thus, the emotional-descriptive approach (the earliest one) considers it as an integral cultural phenomenon, the formal-classification approach - as a "set" or "bundle" of features and types, and, finally, the historical-cultural approach-as the result of a system of cultural traditions formed in a natural-historical way in ancient societies, transmitted to them from ancient peoples. from generation to generation and changed in time and space in accordance with strictly defined patterns.

The historical and cultural approach was developed in the 1970s by A. A. Bobrinsky [1978, 1999] and representatives of his school [Ancient Pottery..., 2010]. It was based on three groups of data: 1) the results of the study of archaeological ceramics; 2) ethnographic information about pottery; 3) the results of a scientific experiment in this field. The historical and cultural approach is based on the fact that any labor activity is systematically organized, because only then can it be successful, i.e. ensure the existence of a person and society in the world around them. Since ceramic vessels are the result of a systematically organized potter's work, they contain in some specific form information about all activities related to pottery. A new research approach is focused on obtaining this information. Therefore, each studied ancient vessel is considered as the result of certain cultural traditions in the field of its manufacture, distribution and use in everyday life. The source for the reconstruction of these traditions are special "traces" on the surfaces and in the fractures of clay shards formed during the manufacture and use of vessels. Their study is carried out during the study of ceramics using an MBS binocular microscope (various modifications). The results are compared with experimental samples stored in the laboratory "History of Ceramics". To analyze the degree of iron content of the initial plastic raw materials, some features of the composition of molding masses and heat treatment modes, small fragments of the studied samples are subjected to secondary firing in a muffle furnace at a fixed temperature. Interpretation of data on cultural traditions is based on knowledge of the patterns of their behavior in different cultural and historical situations, for example, in the conditions of isolated existence of human collectives, when they mix with each other or have different cultural contacts between them. Naturally, depending on the degree of preservation of "traces" on ceramics, the completeness of information about the cultural traditions of ancient potters will vary.

The general system of technical and technological analysis of archaeological ceramics within the framework of the historical and cultural approach includes 13 consecutive stages, or narrow technological problems solved by potters in the manufacture of vessels. Ten of them are mandatory and are present in any both ancient and modern productions, and the last three are additional. These tasks are combined into three stages of production: preparatory, creative and fixing.

Mandatory narrow technological tasks: stage I-preparatory:

stage 1-selection of raw materials, stage 2-its extraction and transportation (not available for study according to archeology), stage 3 - processing of raw materials, stage 4-preparation of molding mass; stage II-creative:

step 5 - manufacture of the vessel filling, step 6 - construction of the hollow body of the container, step 7-giving the vessel the necessary shape, step 8-mechanical surface treatment;

stage 3-fixing:

step 9-strengthening the vessel.

step 10-elimination of moisture permeability of the walls.

Additional narrow technological tasks:

step 11-construction of service parts of the vessel (handles, spouts, drains, legs, etc.),

Step 12-decorating,

step 13-chemistry-heat treatment.

The technical and technological study of ceramics is conducted in accordance with this general structure. The" traces "on ceramics discussed above are identified using a special set of methods: microscopic analysis of fractures and surfaces of vessel fragments; additional heat treatment of small fragments; scientific experiment, including a comparative analysis of" traces " on archaeological ceramics and on reference experimental samples.

The results of technical and technological analysis of ceramics are presented in the following sequence. First, the data obtained on the cultural traditions of potters of each settlement are presented separately, and then they are compared with each other.

Results of technical and technological analysis of ceramics

Osipovka settlement. Only two small ceramic fragments were studied, which, despite a number of differences, turned out to be quite close to each other.

Raw materials and molding compound. Both vessels are made of iron-coated clay-like raw materials in a moist natural state. By the nature of its natural admixtures, it can be qualified as "lowland" silt, containing single inclusions of brown ironstone and a huge amount of plant remains of water origin, judging by the fineness of the prints, algae. On the one hand, the differences in raw materials were manifested in the concentration of rounded undissolved lumps of high-plastic clay (for the vessel 1 - 1 : 2 ... 1 : 3, for the vessel 2 -1 : 5 ... 1 : 6), on the other hand, in the admixture of natural sand (in vessel 1, it is practically absent, and in vessel 2 there are individual particles of slightly rolled coarse sand (2 - 3 mm in size). Due to the shape features of some of the voids, it can be assumed that some special organic solution was introduced into the molding mass of both vessels; no other artificial additives were recorded. The marked similarities and differences of the raw material allow us to conclude with certainty: it was extracted within the same conventional area, but from different deposits [Bobrinsky, 1999, p. 25-26].

Design of vessels. A patchwork of shapeless pieces of silt was used. On the outer surface of the vessel 1, static prints are noted, presumably associated with the use of a special shape-the container (the material from which it was made is not clear), such traces could not be established in the vessel 2. The inner surface of the vessel 1 is smoothed with a bunch of grass, and the vessel 2 is smoothed with fingers.

Giving vessels strength. Both vessels were subjected to special heat treatment below the hot clay temperature (i.e. below 550 °C) by firing for a long time in a semi-regenerative environment. Vessel 1 was most likely used for cooking over a fire.

Thus, it can be concluded that the studied ceramic samples come from different vessels, which were most likely made by different individuals who used the same cultural traditions in the field of pottery production.

Gosyan settlement. 17 ceramic fragments from an unknown number of vessels were studied:

Raw materials. Two distinctly different traditions are highlighted. The first is the use of clay-like raw materials with high iron content and low plasticity, containing a sufficiently large amount of natural sand (sharp-angled particles up to 2 mm in size) in a concentration of 1:3 ... 1:4 (Figs. 2, 1), lumps of highly plastic clay that is not dissolved, and some plant residues of water origin. It can be defined as "mountain" silt (one case). The second tradition is the use of clay-like plastic raw materials with lumps of undissolved high-plastic clay, but containing a large amount of very thin plant residues of water origin (Figs. 2,2-4), very little natural sand and slightly rolled inclusions of shale clay. This raw material qualifies as "plain" silt (16 cases). According to the degree of its ozheleznennost and plasticity, three types can be distinguished: medium ozheleznennost and high plasticity (samples N 1 - 3, 5, 9 - 11, 14, 16, 17), medium (samples N 4,6, 8,15) and high (samples N 7,12) iron content and plasticity.

Fig. 2. Types of initial plastic raw materials. Gosyan settlement. 1 (sample N 13) - "mountain" silt; 2 (N 2), 3 (N 3), 4 (N 11) - "plain" silt.

Thus, judging by the materials studied, the potters of the Gosyan settlement used to make vessels raw materials extracted from two different conditional areas-the deposits of" mountain "and" plain " silt, and within the framework of the latter, three mining sites were developed. This suggests that at least four individuals (or groups) who made pottery probably lived in the settlement at different times.

Molding mass. In all cases, it is made up of clay-like plastic raw materials in a wet natural state with the addition of an organic solution. No other artificial impurities were detected. It is acceptable to assume that two types of organic solution are used. From one shard in the cavities, shiny black films were preserved (samples N 1 - 3,8,10,13 - 15), and from another -a kind of silver coating on the walls of voids (samples N 4 - 7, 9, 11, 12). In two cases, the presence of some solution can only be assumed. This also indicates the heterogeneity of pottery traditions among the inhabitants of this settlement.

Design of vessels. In all cases (except one where it was not possible to find out), a patchwork seal was used (Fig. 3). Due to the small size of the vessel fragments, it is not possible to establish a program for constructing the filling. In eight cases, direct or indirect evidence of the use of the form-model was found (samples N 7, 9,11-14,16,17). Direct impressions of treated leather preserved on certain areas of the surface (sample No. 7) can be attributed to direct ones, and cases of strong smearing of the molding mass during the construction of the walls can be attributed to indirect ones. It is possible that both base forms (presumably six cases) and container forms (two cases) were used. If this conclusion is correct, then it is possible to assume the presence of representatives of different cultural groups in the composition of the settlement's inhabitants (again, most likely, at different times).

4). The outer surface of 11 samples and the inner surface of five were severely damaged, so the method of processing them could not be determined. The outer surface in three cases (samples N 13, 16, 17) is smoothed with a bundle of grass and in three (samples N 2, 6, 14) - with some hard tool with a combed working edge, and the inner surface in nine cases (samples N 4, 7, 9, 12-17) - with a bundle of grass, in two (samples N 1,3) - a bundle of grass and fingers, in one (sample N 2) - a combed tool. Giving vessels strength. Based on the color features of the surface and fractures of the studied samples, it can be concluded that two heat treatment modes were most likely used. The first one is long-term low-temperature (below the hot clay temperature) firing in a reducing or semi-reducing medium (samples N 1 - 4, 9, 10, 12, 15 - 17). Tests for residual plasticity showed that the temperature was on the order of

Fig. 3. Traces of the use of patchwork plaster. Gosyan settlement. 1 - sample N 14; 2-sample N 12. a-horizontal fracture; b - vertical.

4. Traces of vessel smoothing with a tool with a combed working edge (1-3) and a bundle of grass (4). Gosyan settlement. 1 (sample N 2), 46 (N 13) - inner surface; 2 (N 6), 3 (N 14), 4a (N 13) - outer surface.

5. Corollas of vessels with traces of ornament on the end face. Gosyan settlement. 1 - sample N 4; 2-sample N 11.

300-400 °C. The color of the fracture surface ranges from dark brown to gray and light gray, the central part is dark, and the border between the color layers is usually blurred. The vessels were cooled directly in the firing device. Cases when the so-called semi-regenerative medium is detected, it is more legitimate to refer to the first variant of the gas medium, which turned out to be disturbed for some random reasons. The second mode is short firing in an oxidizing environment above the hot clay temperature (samples N 5 - 8, 11, 13, 14). Judging by the thickness of the clarified surface layer, the heat treatment could last from a few minutes to a maximum of half an hour. It is important to emphasize that in some cases, the vessels were immediately removed from the firing device (a sharp border between the color layers in the fracture), and in others, they were left in it until cooling (a blurred border). All these features point to different cultural traditions in the heat treatment of vessels.

Use in everyday life. In 10 out of 17 cases, quite reliable evidence of the use of vessels for cooking food on fire was recorded: the presence of carbon deposits on the inner or outer surface (samples N 1,4, 6, 7), more significant calcination of shards on the outside (samples N 2, 3, 8,12,15-17). One more vessel had its inner surface calcined, which indicates its special purpose (possibly for storing fire).

An ornament. There is very little data on the traditions of decorating vessels, reliable data is available only for two fragments (Fig. 5). One is a part of the corolla (sample N 4), ornamented along the end face with paired depressions of an oval shape measuring 2x4 mm. The second fragment may also be from the corolla (sample No. 11). Regular oblique depressions of oval shape have been preserved along its end face. Judging by other technical and technological characteristics, these fragments most likely belong to different vessels.

The results of mechanical treatment of the external surface of vessels described above (smoothing with a tuft of grass or a hard tool with a combed working edge, a total of six cases) can be interpreted as the master's desire to give the surface of vessels a technologically decorated state [Tsetlin, 2012, p. 188].

Conclusions. The whole complex of data considered suggests that the pottery traditions of the inhabitants of the Gosyan settlement, on the one hand, were very close, and on the other, they had some rather significant features that indicate the existence of several potters or their groups

with different cultural traditions. Summarizing the above, we can note the following.

1. According to the characteristics of the initial plastic raw materials, four variants are distinguished, and two of them have significant differences. Only the tradition of using high-plastic "plain" silt of medium iron content can be considered relatively more widespread.

2. The molding mass in all cases is very close: one of two types of organic solution was added to the plastic raw materials that were in a wet (sometimes slightly dried) state. Both traditions are represented almost equally.

3. The construction of vessels in all cases was carried out by patchwork, often with strong smearing of the flaps. It is acceptable to assume the use of both base forms (more frequent) and container forms, which indicates deep cultural differences between the carriers of these pottery traditions.

4. Surface treatment techniques are represented by smoothing with a bunch of grass (more massive) or some kind of hard tool with a combed working edge. Judging by the shallow depth of the grooves, such an edge could have formed in a wooden tool and naturally as a result of its wear.

5. Two quite different traditions of heat treatment of vessels have also been identified : long firing in a reducing or semi-reducing medium and short firing in an oxidizing one.

All these data indicate, firstly, the obvious cultural heterogeneity of the population of the Gosian settlement, and secondly, the absence of obvious signs of mixing of pottery traditions, which may indicate their relative diversity.

Gasya settlement. 31 ceramic fragments from an unknown number of vessels were studied (one sample was accidentally counted twice, so N13 was omitted):

Raw materials. According to the studied materials, five types are distinguished. The first is clay-like raw materials with high iron content and low plasticity with a large amount of fine sand (sharp-angled particles mainly up to 1 mm) in a very high concentration (about 1 : 2), containing an insignificant natural organic admixture of water origin, or without it (Figs. 6, 1, 3). It qualifies as "mountain" silt of type 1 (samples N 12, 14-18, 30). The use of clay - like raw materials of medium iron content and plasticity with a natural admixture of complex sand (sharp - angled or slightly rolled particles up to 3-5 mm in size) at a concentration of 1 : 4 ... 1 : 5 was recorded in six cases (samples N 5-10) (Fig. 6, 2, 4). It contains a large number of high-plastic oolite inclusions.

Fig. 6. Types of initial plastic raw materials. Gasya settlement. 1 (sample N 15), 3 (N 18) - "mountain" silt of type 1; 2 (N 5), 4 (N 7) - "mountain" silt of type 2; 5 (N 11), 7 (N 19) - "plain" silt; 6 (N 48 (N 20) - presumably a mixture of" plain "and" mountain " silts.

clays, the concentration of which in some samples reaches 1: 2, and a little organic admixture of water origin. This raw material qualifies as "mountain" silt of type 2. Three samples (N 11, 19, 29) showed the use of "lowland" silt (Figs. 6, 5, 7) of medium iron content and plasticity in the wet natural state, which contains different (large and very large) amounts of plant admixture of water. oolitic inclusions of more plastic clay, as well as some slightly rolled sand (particle size up to 2 mm) and brown ironstone (type 1) are also of natural origin. In two cases (samples N 31, 32), the initial raw material is also "plain" silt, but probably extracted in another place, since it, in addition to the noted features, is characterized by the presence of a natural admixture of very large (up to 5-6 mm in diameter) particles of dry and shale clay in a concentration of approx. 1: 4, as well as single inclusions of coarse slightly rolled sand and stones with a diameter of approx. 3-4 mm (view 2). By 13 samples (N 1 - 4,20 - 28 6, b, 8), which combines the features of "lowland" and "mountain" silts, shows the use of a very peculiar raw material of medium iron content and plasticity. In particular, the presence of a rather significant amount of plant admixture of water origin and lumps of highly plastic clay speaks in favor of the former, and the presence of sand in the form of uncalibrated sharp - angled particles speaks in favor of the latter. In addition, this raw material contains inclusions of shale clay and brown ironstone. Until the peculiarities of the composition of silts in the vicinity of the Gasya settlement are studied, it is impossible to say with complete certainty whether we are dealing with a special natural raw material or with the fact of combining "lowland" and "mountain" silts when composing the molding mass. In the latter case, we can talk about a mixture of two pottery traditions. This possibility is indicated by the presence of initial components for this mixture in the settlement of Gasya.

Molding mass. In the composition of the molding mass of all the studied ceramic samples, there was some kind of thick organic solution, as evidenced by the voids of smoothed outlines with specific traces of "streaks" inside. The nature of this solution cannot be determined. The introduction of any solid non-clay artificial impurities (mineral or organic) into the molding mass was not reliably recorded. Only in three cases were clay particles detected, which can hypothetically be considered as chamotte. However, there are no strong arguments in favor of this conclusion.

Thus, in 18 cases, only wet natural muddy raw materials of different composition were used for composing the molding mass, and in 13 cases, presumably a mixture of two different types of wet clay raw materials was used. In any case, judging by the studied materials, it is possible to assume the existence of at least five potters or groups of them with different traditions of selecting raw materials and forming molding masses in the composition of the inhabitants of the Gasya settlement.

Design of vessels. Depending on the degree of preservation of the samples, the construction techniques were recorded with more or less detail. Thus, for all the fragments studied, the use of patchwork molding was noted, most likely from shapeless or flat-shaped (samples N 19, 21) pieces of molding mass. Sometimes there is a strong smearing of flaps (Fig. 7), which can only be associated with the use of a mold-model covered with some material in order to avoid clay sticking to it. You can talk about using a form model without detailing its type in eight cases (N samples 12, 14, 15, 24 - 28), and in 13, it was found out that it was a base mold (Fig. 8,1), on which the molding mass was stuck from the outside (samples N1, 2, 5), or a container form (Fig. 8, 2), which this mass covered from the inside (samples N 6, 7, 10,11,20-23,29,30). Only two samples (N21,22) showed faint traces on the outer surface, indicating that there was a pad of treated leather between the molding mass and the mold container. Thus, although the study of the design features of vessels revealed a small number of details, they clearly indicate the existence of potters with different cultural traditions in this area of pottery technology among the inhabitants of the settlement.

Mechanical surface treatment. Since all the samples are small in size, it cannot be assumed that the technique recorded on the fragment was used to treat the entire surface of the vessel, and not a separate part of it. The outer surface of six ceramic fragments was chipped, which made it impossible to determine the processing techniques. In other cases, this was possible, but with varying degrees of detail. The outer surface of 14 samples (N 9,12,14,15,17,18,20,21,23-26,28,30) was smoothed with a hard tool with a combed working edge (Fig. 9,1 - 4). In six cases (samples N 1 - 5,8), traces of rolling with a tool with a raised working part were preserved (Fig. 9, 5, 6). While it is difficult to say for sure whether it was a carved stamp or a smooth one, wrapped in some soft material with a relief structure. Only implicit static prints were detected on five samples (N 6,7,10,11,22). Inner surface in 22 cases (N samples 4, 7, 11,12,14 - 28, 30 - 32) it was smoothed with a tool with a combed working edge, in seven (samples N 1 - 3, 6, 8, 10, 29) - a bunch of grass. Three samples (N1,5,9) show only some static prints. It should be noted that, as a rule, the outer surface was smoothed out

7. Traces of the use of patchwork plaster (sample No. 20). Gasya settlement. 1 - vertical break; 2 - horizontal.

Fig. 8. Traces of the base shape on the inner surface of the vessel (1) and the container shape on the outer surface (2). Gasya settlement. 1 - sample N 1; 2-sample N 20.

9. Traces of smoothing the outer surface with a tool with a combed working edge (1-4) and rolling with a tool with a raised working part (5, 6). Settlement of Gasya. 1-sample N 12; 2-N 14; 3-N 17; 4-N 18; 5-N 3; 6-N 8.

in the vertical direction, and the inner one-in the horizontal direction, although sometimes both were processed diagonally, but also in opposite directions.

Giving vessels strength. It is possible to talk about the use of local potters at least three modes of heat treatment. The most widely used method is long-term low-temperature (below the temperature of clay burning) roasting in a reducing or semi-reducing medium (samples N1,6, 8, 12, 14, 15, 19 - 24, 26, 28 - 32). Shards in these cases are either dark (or black), or have a different thickness of gray or light gray layer near the surface. A special test of the samples showed no residual plasticity. Much less frequently, relatively short, also low-temperature roasting in a reducing medium was used (samples N 2-5, 9-11). In this case, a thin light gray layer is fixed in the fracture either only on the inner side, or on both sides, and the central part remains black. The residual plasticity of the shard is preserved to varying degrees. Cases noted (N samples 7, 16 - 18, 25, 27), when, after firing in a reducing medium of different duration, the vessels were subjected to thermal treatment for a short or very short time above the hot clay temperature in an oxidizing medium. In this case, the subsequent cooling of the products occurred already outside the roasting device. This is confirmed by the sharp boundary between the lightened surface layers and the black or light gray central layer observed in the fracture.

Chemical and thermal treatment of the surface of vessels. In nine cases (samples N 5, 7, 12, 20 - 23, 26, 27) traces preserved on the surfaces and in the fractures suggest that the vessels were subjected to special scalding after heat treatment. According to A. A. Bobrinsky, it could be carried out for ritual purposes [1999, pp. 98-99].

Use in everyday life. The bulk of the pottery fragments studied come from vessels that were used in everyday life to cook food over a fire. This, in particular, is indicated, firstly, by traces of carbon deposits (samples N 1, 20, 26), and secondly, by a thicker clarified layer on the outside of the vessels (samples N 3,12,14,15,18 - 20,24,28 - 30). In three cases (samples N 7,16,17), such a layer was located on the inner side, which indicates a special use of vessels, possibly for storing hot coals. For eight samples (N 5, 10, 11, 21 - 23, 25, 27) the conclusion about their belonging to the containers in which hot food was prepared can only be made presumably, and for the remaining nine, even such a conclusion is impossible due to the absence of any traces. It should also be noted that the vessels of the inhabitants of the settlement had a certain value, since in some cases (samples N 15, 26, 29) there were traces of their repair (Fig.

An ornament. The small size and insufficiently well preserved surface of many of the ceramic fragments studied make it difficult to make a strict conclusion about the purposeful decoration of these vessels. Nevertheless, such a conclusion, although in a tentative form, can be made with respect to samples with traces of rolling the outer surface with a solid cylindrical tool with a raised working part (four cases) and a "comb" stamp (two cases). As for the above-mentioned relief traces of smoothing the external surface with a solid tool with a combed working part (14 cases), they can be considered as the result of purposeful giving the surface of vessels a technologically decorated state [Tsetlin, 2012, pp. 188-189].

Conclusions. Despite the significant similarity, the pottery traditions recorded in the settlement of Gasya are characterized by a noticeable diversity, which indicates a complex cultural composition of its inhabitants, who lived there either simultaneously or in different (albeit close in time) chronological periods. Summarizing the above data, we can conclude the following.

1. The use of different types of initial plastic raw materials for the manufacture of vessels indicates the existence of at least five different potters or their groups on the settlement, which, apparently, were carriers of two deeply different pottery traditions associated with the use of" plain "and" mountain " silts, and the latter was dominant.

2. As for the composition of the molding masses from which the vessels were made, there are three traditions based on the use of different types of initial plastic raw materials, to which in all cases some thick organic solution of unknown origin was added. The introduction of any mineral additives into the molding mass according to the studied materials was not reliably recorded. The above data suggest that initially there were two cultural groups of the population in the settlement of Gasya: one that made dishes according to the recipe" mountain mud + organic solution", the other - according to the recipe "plain mud + organic solution". Most likely, it was as a result of their cultural contacts and mixing that the third tradition of composing molding masses - "mountain silt + plain silt + organic solution" - spread. The fact that this happened in this particular settlement is confirmed by the presence of the initial components for such mixing.

3. The methods of constructing vessels were very similar and were associated with the use of patchwork molding from shapeless pieces of clay, which, as a rule, were strongly smeared in the shape of the model when building up the walls. Judging by the indirect data, it can be assumed that the potters used both base forms and container forms, and the latter predominated. If this conclusion is correct, then this fact also indicates a culturally complex composition of the inhabitants of the Gasya settlement.

4. Mechanical treatment of vessel surfaces was carried out by various methods and tools. Most widely potters used a solid tool with a combed working part. Judging by the low relief of the traces, it could not be a specially made "comb" stamp, but a wooden "knife" with a blade naturally worked as a result of friction. Much less frequently used were smoothing with a bundle of grass (only for the internal surfaces of vessels), as well as rolling with the same "comb" tool or a cylindrical tool with a raised working part.

5. The strength of the vessels was given by their purposeful heat treatment. In most cases, this was a long-term low-temperature firing under conditions of reducing or semi-reducing temperature.-

10. Traces of repair of vessels in the form of holes drilled after their firing. Gasya settlement. 1 - sample N 15; 2-sample N 26.

recovery environment. Sometimes the vessels were placed for a short time in an oxidizing gas environment and subjected to thermal treatment above the clay's burning temperature. Some products were scalded in a special organic solution. The last two methods can be considered as ritual measures aimed at magically cleaning the vessels before using them for cooking.

6. Based on the materials studied, it can be assumed that the traditions of purposeful decoration of vessels were just beginning to take shape among the potters of the Gasya settlement. The actual ornament was recorded only on two fragments of corollas and presumably on six samples with traces of rolling tools with a raised working part. In all other cases, the external surface of the vessels was given a technologically decorated state as a result of relief mechanical processing, reflecting only the partial formation of ornamental traditions.

Comparative analysis of ceramics from three monuments

The expediency of this analysis is due to the fact that all three monuments are located on the right bank of the Amur River, in its lower reaches, and the settlements of Gasya and Gosyan are located next to each other. The difficulty lies in the insufficient volume of materials studied for a reasoned comparison (especially for the settlement of Osipovka). Nevertheless, a comparison of the data obtained allows us to draw some interesting conclusions. The comparison will be carried out according to the same parameters as the results of studying ceramics from settlements are presented (see the table).

Initial plastic raw materials and molding mass. The traditions of the Osipovka and Gosyan potters are almost identical in their choice of "plain" silt as a raw material. In contrast, "mountain" silt was much more widely used in Gas, as well as, as can be assumed, a mixture of "plain" and "mountain". Rut-

Comparative analysis of ceramics from settlements

Note: the first digit is the number of samples, the second is the percentage.

the enchanters of all the settlements added some kind of organic solution to the plastic raw materials.

Design of vessels. All the craftsmen used a patchwork quilt for the design. It is interesting to note that the potters of Gosyan mainly made vessels on base molds, and Osipovki and Gasi-in container molds.

Mechanical surface treatment. Here again, the great affinity of the pottery traditions of Osipovka and Gosyan is revealed, which are characterized by smoothing the surfaces of vessels with a bundle of grass, while the potters of Gasi smoothed the surfaces mainly with a tool with a combed working edge, and only they used rolling with a solid tool with a raised working part.

Strengthening of vessels and chemical and thermal treatment of their surface. In all three settlements, the tradition of heat treatment of vessels by low-temperature long-term roasting in a reducing or semi-reducing medium dominated. In addition, Gosian potters widely used short high-temperature roasting in an oxidizing medium, and Gasi potters-scalding of red-hot vessels. It is acceptable to assume that both of these methods served the function of ritual purification of new vessels before their use in everyday life.

An ornament. There are no data on the decoration of vessels based on the materials of Osipovka, but they turned out to be very similar for the ceramics of Gosyan and Gasi. In particular, the potters of both settlements were dominated by the traditions of giving the outer surface of vessels a technologically decorated state, and only in isolated cases the actual ornament was applied to it.

Thus, a comparative analysis of the pottery traditions showed that the settlements of Gosian and Osipovka, on the one hand, and Gosian and Gasya, on the other, are similar in most respects. The mixing of traditions in the choice of plastic raw materials, which was shown in the materials of the Gasya monument, could be a consequence of mixing with the inhabitants of the Gosyan settlement and others with similar pottery traditions, possibly located more closely than Osipovka.

Conclusion

In general, the level of development of local pottery identified from the studied materials should be attributed to the third phase of proto - pottery production, which is characterized by the use of "plain" or "mountain" silt as the main plastic raw material in combination with low-temperature or very short or short high-temperature heat treatment of finished products [Bobrinsky, 1999, pp. 75-85].

Summing up the results of the technical and technological analysis of ceramics from the settlements of Osipovka, Gosyan and Gasya, it seems necessary to state that the new facts obtained (from the history of both the oldest pottery technology and the local population) should be considered only as preliminary. Further expansion of the source base will make it possible to clarify and concretize not only the regularities of the formation of the most ancient pottery production, but also the history of those collectives within which it took place.

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The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 17.10.12, in the final version-on 10.12.12.

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