Excavations of a Late Iron Age settlement in the South-west of Kuzbass

The Prokopyevsk Museum of Local Lore expedition has completed excavations of a Late Iron Age settlement on the territory of the central estate of the “Guryev State Farm”, Kemerovo Region. The settlement is located on a gently sloping mountain on the right bank of the Steppe Bachat river. The total area of ​​the split was 4220 square meters. The settlement is single-layered. The cultural layer, 10 to 35 cm thick, contained crushed tubular animal bones, pottery, bronze, iron, bone, and stone items.                                                                                                 

54 hearths were found in the area of ​​the excavation. Around each hearth there are large accumulations of crushed animal bones. Directly at the hearth or in piles of bone waste is a sandstone slab with a heavily worn area, which served mainly for crushing bones. In the free layer of most hearths, many heavily burnt fragments of pottery were found. Burnt columns and pits from them have been preserved near five hearths. The position of the pits indicates that the posts were cone-shaped. Near the pits there is a mass of fine sandstone, which served as a blockage from the outside of the dwelling. Some charred logs reach 6 m in length.                                             

They have collected 34,000 animal bones. Among them are 69 horse jaws, cow skulls, elk and ram horns, pig jaws, and several dog skulls. Bone items are represented by arrowheads, a carved handle in the shape of a fish head made of deer horn, bridle decorations, and engraved bow trims.                                                   

 Many spindle whorls made of clay and stone, blocks of fine-grained sandstone with strong wear of the working area, and a plate of finely chased silver were found. Copper products include pieces from the walls of the boiler. Bronze items are not numerous: knives, arrowheads. Iron products of local production are very richly represented: arrowheads, knives, staples, buckles, chisels, loops, hammers, and other household items. In one of the semi-dugouts near the hearth, a crucible and the remains of non-ferrous casting slag were found. More than 300 kg of iron ore were collected in six places.                                                                                           

More than 4,000 fragments of pottery were found in the excavation area. The restored vessels are flat-bottomed. These are pots and pots with an ornament roughly applied using the deep stamp technique. According to the ornament, all the vessels are combined into nine groups. The entire complex of finds dates back to the second half of the 10th century.                                                                               

Discovery and research in 1966-1968 of Late Iron Age settlements are essential for clarifying the sequence of the historical process in the area. In addition, on the territory of the Belovsky district, there are Teleuts settlements (the ancient indigenous population), and the rich anthropological material from the excavations of burial mounds in this area, together with other data, will make it possible to clarify many aspects of the formation of this nationality.