Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 38 (4) 2010

Annotation:  Three Scenarios of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition. Scenario 1: The Middle to Upper Paleo Kalavan-2 (North of Lake Sevan, Armenia): A New Late Middle Paleolithic Site in the Lesser Caucasus The Role of Science-Based Methods in the Study of Ancient Pottery as a Source of Historical Informa Physical and Chemical Properties of Ceramics from the Chronologically Transitional (Late Bronze – E The Utinka Burial Peat-Bog Sites in the Eastern Urals The Origin and Development of the Wucheng Culture (in the Context of Intercultural Contacts between Circle Dance Festival “Gorka”: Traditions and Innovations The Open Letters of Sergei Borisov: From the History of Photography in the Altai The Origins of the Andronovo (Fedorovka) Population of Southwestern Siberia, Based on a Middle Bron Models of Man’s Biosocial Adaptation in an Industrial Society   

The Utinka Burial

V.V. Bobrov, P.V. Volkov, and P.V. German.

New Middle Bronze Age fi nds are described originating in the Achinsk-Mariinsk forest-steppe, southwestern Siberia which represents a contact zone between the Okunev and Samus cultures. A burial discovered near Lake Utinka by local inhabitants, northeastern Kemerovo region, was found to contain steatite beads and unusual pendants in the form of a bear and a bird. The subsequent fi eld survey revealed characteristics of the burial construction and fragments of clay vessels. The designs on the vessels suggest that the burial was associated with the Samus culture. However, their manufacturing technology and the features of the steatite beads indicate Okunev affi nities. Based on the totality of available evidence, it is suggested that contact existed between the Samus and Okunev cultures in the Achinsk-Mariinsk forest-steppe area.

Keywords: Burial, Samus culture, Okunev culture, Achinsk-Mariinsk forest-steppe, contact zone.