Nonferrous casting as a socio-economic development factor of Kulay culture

Kulay archeological culture with developed bronze casting manufacture was formed at the beginning of the Early Iron Age in the forest territory of West Siberia. Its cultural identity was expressed in specific forms of religious metal casting, armament supplies and ceramics. The socio-economic structure of the society bore insular nature at the Early Vasygan stage of Kulay culture. The main focus of foreign economic relations was bronze import. The homogeneity of the industrial organization of Early Kulay society was determined by its cultural isolation, not receptive to foreign innovations. The low level of development of productive forces and production relations, narrow technical base, traditional character of Early Kulay metalworking techniques were typical for simplest forms of work organization - home production. Requirements in metal products were met within the patriarchal family. Mastering of nonferrous metalworking skills by the community masters occurred gradually, through trials and errors, upon receipt of metal in the environment of the forest population. Therefore, casting defects can often be found among the Early Kulay casting products. For example, out of 67 recorded bronze items originated from the Sarovsk cult place, only 16 can be considered successful. In varying degrees casting defects are inherent for Stepanovsk, Kulay, Murlinsk and other artifacts. Usually casting defects are caused by procedural violations, due to careless preparation of the alloys, non-compliance with temperature regulations in the process of casting and also due to the poor condition of molds. Kulay culture reached its fullest flower at the Sarovsk stage. The process of total reorganization of the material and technical base is coming to an end - iron becomes the main industrial raw material for the production of leading implements and weapons. An increase in labor productivity, regulation of division of labor in a community leads to wealth disparity in its population. Castings become a part of clothing and harness. Castings with volume elements equipped with loops for attaching to any basis are becoming popular. The socio-economic system of the Kulay society acquires open nature. The exchanging and cultural ties with neighboring cultures are growing. Domestic metal production for internal requirements becomes secondary, ceases to be mass. Due to specialization of labor in metalworking and metallurgy the resulting product is realized not only within the family community, but also beyond.

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