On the Question of Cultural and Chronological Homogeneity of Blizhnie Elbany VII Complex (based on the State Hermitage Museum materials)

This work is aimed to analyze cultural and chronological complex of the Fominskii stage of the Kulaiskaya culture from the burial ground Blizhnie Elbany 7 (BE-7) on the basis of significantly expanded sources. It is the first publication of materials presented by fragments from 32 vessels from the cultural layer of BE-7 burial ground, which are stored in the State Hermitage Museum. The introduction of these sources into scientific circulation allowed to reconsider the materials of BE-7 site in a new way. The data on the average saturation of the cultural layer with finds from the Kulaiskaya culture settlements, the presence of remains of funeral feasts on other memorial and funeral monuments of the Fominskii stage of Kulaiskaya culture, the nature of the finds distribution in the cultural layer, led to a conclusion about the presence of the settlement complex on the site of BE-7. Previously considered as homogeneous, the complex was divided into 2 typologically and culturally-chronologically different monuments. The first is presented by the settlement, the materials of which are related to the transition from the Sarovskii to the Fominskii stage, the second -to chronologically later burial ground of the Fominskii stage of the Kulaiskaya culture. Based on the analysis of singlelayer materials from the settlements, such as Soshnikovo 1, Ust-Chumysh 1, Chudatskaya Gora , Malougrenevo 1, Yeniseiskoe, Biyskoe Gorodishche 2, Biyskoe gorodishche 4, Biyskoe gorodishche 6, Troitsk-1, Fominskoe, Malyi Itkul 1, Kislanskii Rybak-1, a comprehensive characteristic of quite a uniform ceramic complex of the Fominskii stage of the Kulaiskaya culture was given for the first time. The main characteristics are the following: the presence of weakly profiled, with the emerging neck, transitional to potted forms; the complete absence of mouldings on the crowns; all the pearls formed during making pits on the inside of the vessel are smoothed out either completely or partially; the absence of ornamental elements applied in a dynamic manner; the absence of varieties of "figured" (in the form of a ring or with a partition in the middle) pits; a limited number of ornamental elements used in ornamental composition; the absence of classical Kulaiskaya duck. Characteristics distinguishing Sarovskii and Fominskii materials were singled out. The way of development of the ceramic complex from Sarovskii to Fominskii stage was shown. It revealed itself in appearance of pot-like weak-profiled forms, simplification of ornamental compositions, disappearance of complex motives, decrease in the number of ornamental elements in ornamental compositions, widely used at the Fominskii stage smooth S-shaped stamp, disappearance of classic Kulaiskaya duck, use of S-shaped stamp as the only ornamental element. Work with the inventory complex allowed to slightly move forward the lower chronological boundary of the Fominskii stage to the beginning-the first half of the 2nd century. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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