Results of research in Northern Kazakhstan

The North-Kazakhstan detachment of the Khakass archaeological expedition of the Moscow State University carried out archaeological work in the Kokchetav and Pavlodar regions.

In the Kokchetav region, two Neolithic sites were surveyed. In the Enbekshilder region, not far from the village of Madanyat, on the second floodplain terrace of the Arbashi-Bulak River to the north-west of Lake Tas-Shalkar, lifting material was collected: arrowheads, rounded and oval scrapers on flakes, flint and quartzite bits of various sizes and core-shaped fragments, as well as a large flake and two tools, apparently belonging to the Paleolithic.

The most interesting material was obtained from a Neolithic site on the banks of the Iman-Burluk River, 1.5 km from the village of Nikolskoye. Many scrapers, knife-like blades, arrowheads and spears, core-like fragments, flakes, and a significant number of cores have been collected on the surface. Two chronological stages are traced in the cultural layer. At a depth of 0.6-0.8 m, the early cultural layer contains small cores, knife-like blades, punctures, incisors, and flakes. Of particular note is a small stone iron with an ornament in straight drawn lines. The center of the later site was in the western section closest to the modern bank of the river, which is now washed out. Here, at a depth of 0.1-0.6 m, many spearheads and arrowheads, axes and extensive chopping tools, various scrapers, knife-like plates, cores were found. The most significant amount of osteological material and ceramics covered with a ridge and incised ornament were found in the same area.

The area was inspected and pits were laid 8 km west of the village of Aigabak. Here, at the foot of the hillocks, geologists found a copper ax-celt, a piece of copper wire, copper fish hooks, a stone pestle and a stone bead. At a depth of 0.5-0.9 m, fragments of ceramics, accumulations of bones, flakes and flint tools were found.

In the Pavlodar region in "Penki" settelment, 8 km south of the village of Novokuzminki, Zhelezinsk district, control pits were laid, lifting material was collected. In some areas with a preserved cultural layer, it was possible to determine its stratigraphy. A large number of flint tools, cores, arrowheads and spears, as well as pottery fragments with pit-comb ornaments were obtained.