Research on the Atagay River

The Kostanay Pedagogical Institute expedition detachment explored 13 monuments on the Atagay river (the right tributary of the Ubagan). One of them (Duzbai 1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 13) is located in a compact group 3–3.5 km southeast of the village of Duzbay near the Shuragali reservoir, created in the Atagai channel. Others (Duzbay 3, 4, 7, 10, 11) are located 2 km from the reservoir downstream. Excavations were carried out at three sites.

At the settlement of Duzbay 1 with ​​about 20 thousand square meters and on the right bank of the Atagai (68 sq. m). Stratigraphy: at the top, a layer with recent finds (10–30 cm); below it is a dark layer (80-140 cm), which is divided into layers of brown, dark brown and black (animal bones, ceramics of the Bronze and Early Iron Age, flint objects were found) below - a layer of dark yellow sand (10-30 cm) and the pits that cut through it, filled with gray sand (the main flint finds of the lamellar industry); even lower there is a white clay layer (5-10 cm) and yellow sand.

The Duzbay 2 site is located 0.2 km northeast of site 1 (184 sq. m). Stratigraphy: at the top, a layer with modern finds (20–40 cm); below it is a cultural layer in gray sand (20-40 cm); below is yellow sand. The cultural layer is cut in places by late pits. The collection is dominated by flint finds. These are symmetrical trapeziums, beveled points, incisors, plates with a blunt back. Most of the pottery is Neolithic. The clay is dense, with an admixture of sand. The ornament was applied mainly with a jagged stamp. There are a small number of pottery fragments from the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (?).

The Duzbay 3 site is located on the left bank (height 6 m) of the Atagay, 2.2 km southwest of site 1. Its area is over 10,000 sq. m. m. Excavated 60 square meters. Stratigraphy: at the top, a layer of light gray sand (10–30 cm); below it is a cultural layer in gray sand (10-15 cm); below is yellow sand. Flint finds predominate: asymmetric and symmetrical trapeziums, beveled points, incisors, blades with a blunt back, scrapers, and an iron. There are fewer fragments of sharp-bottomed vessels with a neck bent outwards. The ornament was applied mainly with a jagged stamp.