Ceramics of the Elshankaya Culture: First Results of Petrographic Studies

 Introduction. The paper presents results of a petrographic study into ceramic finds of the Elshankaya culture, a most ancient one from across the Neolithic forest-steppe area of the Volga Basin. Goals. The work attempts an analysis into the materials and additives identified by micromorphological surveys of pottery pieces from a total of five sites. To facilitate this, the article shall scrupulously characterize clay types, impurities and their shares in each particular sample, determine the firing procedures, and compare the newly obtained results to previous data. Materials and methods. A total of 55 ceramic fragments from the five archaeological sites ― Chekalino IV, Nizhnyaya Orlyanka II, Ilyinka, Bolshaya Rakovka II, and Lebyazhinka IV ― have been selected. The petrographic analysis conducted at the Herzen University has yielded mineralogical compositions of clay and leaners, data on temperature regimes and firing conditions, including supposed sources of raw material. Results. The analysis suggests a high level of consistency in the manufacturing processes employed at Chekalino IV, particularly in the selection of clay, determination of its composition, addition of sand, and control over firing conditions. In contrast, samples from Nizhnyaya Orlyanka II show more variability in the choice of clay sources, which may indicate the site was repeatedly inhabited by different groups during the Early Neolithic. The tradition of using chamotte in pottery manufacturing brings together the vessels excavated at Ilyinka and those of Nizhnyaya Orlyanka II, while in terms of clay types and sand proportions the samples from Ilyinka show similarities to the pottery of Chekalino IV. The divergence in clay types of Bolshaya Rakovka II may be explained by that the site was visited by different groups in different periods, which implies a dynamic interaction. In terms of raw materials, the pottery discovered at the Early Neolithic site of Lebyazhinka IV exhibits unique characteristics that distinguish it from that found at the other four sites. This suggests a certain level of temporal diversity and cultural variation within the region’s poorly decorated ceramics. Some of the examined vessels may even be associated with the Late Neolithic. Conclusions. The study has uncovered both general patterns and specific variations in the Early Neolithic ceramic tradition across the territory, as well as certain regional peculiarities. The findings align with the typological analyses conducted by previous researchers and stratigraphic data only to enhance our understanding of ceramic production practices in the Middle Volga region.

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