Paper abstract:

This paper focuses on the results of multidisciplinary study of the pottery of Kulai culture (Western Siberia, ca. 4th century BC – 4th century AD). Ceramics from the archaeological sites located in the Surgut Ob region (248 vessels) and the Novosibirsk Ob region (97 vessels) were analyzed. The study was carried out using interdisciplinary methods, including traceological analysis, petrography, X-ray difraction analysis, thermal analysis and 3D modeling. Previously, the ceramics of this culture had not been studied using an integrated interdisciplinary approach. I argue, that the Kulai culture in different territories was influenced by neighboring archaeological cultures, what was reflected in the traditions of ceramics manufacturing.

Complex analysis has revealed, that in the Kulai culture of Novosibirsk Ob region, ferruginous natural clays were used as raw materials for pottery. The most common clay paste composition was: clay + broken stone. The use of chamotte (grog) as an artificial additive to clay was much less often. Admixture of organics was rarely used. Vessels were molded using the patch building technique. The surfaces of vessels were processed by mechanical smoothing. Vessels were fired in a reducing or redox gas environment. In the Kulai culture pottery of the Surgut Ob region, ferruginous natural clays were used as raw materials. The most common clay paste composition was also: clay + broken stone, however, at some archaeological sites the dominant composition was: clay + chamotte (grog). Organic admixtures were also rarely used. Vessels were molded using the patch building and band building techniques. The mouth-rims of vessels were additionally molded with a thin roll up to 1 cm in diameter. Combinations of tools for surface treatment were diverse, for instance, at one settlement (Barsov gorodok I/4) 39 combination variants were discovered. At all archaeological sites of Kulai culture in Surgut region, the use of a specific method of smoothing the inner surface of the transition part between vessel shoulder and body with a notched tool was identified. Vessels were fired in a reducing or redox gas environment.

As shown by a comprehensive analysis of the studied materials, having common origin, the pottery traditions of the Kulai culture vary greatly in different regions, that is manifested in different compositions of artificial additives for clay pastes, different skills in sculpting vessels, different tools for processing vessel surfaces, etc., which indicates the influence of other cultures. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant no. 21-78-00039.