The main task of the work is to reconstruct the pottery traditions of the carriers of the newly identified Mariinsky culture, which existed in the Early Neolithic (VIII-VIIth centuries BC) in the Lower Amur region. The results of a comprehensive analysis of ceramics within the historical and cultural approach to the study of ancient pottery are presented. Common pottery traditions are highlighted, indicating a high cultural homogeneity of the population that left the Mariinsky monuments. The work should be considered more as a methodological study that shows the promising possibilities of applying this approach.

Keywords: Lower Amur region, Early Neolithic, ceramics, reconstructions of pottery traditions, technique, technology, experiment.

Problem statement

The Mariinskaya culture, which existed in the Lower Amur basin (Khabarovsk Krai) in the VIII-VII millennia BC, belongs to the Early Neolithic and follows in time directly after the oldest Neolithic Osipovskaya culture. Its study is at an early stage, and researchers do not yet have a consensus on the question of its historical and cultural relations with other cultures. For example, V. E. Medvedev believes that the Mariinskaya culture is close to the Novopetrovskaya culture of the Middle Amur Region in a number of features [2008, p. 248] and therefore the search for close kinship between the Osipovskaya and Mariinskaya cultures is futile [Medvedev and Filatova, 2014, p.20]. According to other researchers, the closest thing to the Osipovsky ceramic complex "is the ceramics of the Mariinsky type, which may be an argument in favor of their direct continuity "[Shevkomud and Yanshina, 2012, p. 244]. A. P. Derevyanko, adhering to a more cautious point of view, noted in the Mariinsky culture "elements of the oldest Neolithic culture in the Far East". - osipovskaya" [Derevyanko et al., 2014, p. 16].

One of the most important sources that allows us to reconstruct the connections between ancient cultures on a modern level is ceramics (Bobrinsky, 1978; Tsetlin, 2012). This is due to a number of circumstances. First, since the Neolithic period, pottery has been a necessary household item in almost every household. Secondly, its production is a complex systemically organized technical and technological process, the performance skills of which are not only transmitted from generation to generation strictly through related channels, along the male or female line [Bobrinsky, 1999, p. 50], but are also fixed in society by a certain system of cult ideas [Kalinina, 2010]. Third, the distribution methods and rules for using pottery, judging by the inr-

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 12-06-00186A.

Based on the ethnographic data collected, they have a deeply traditional character and therefore cannot change randomly.

Currently, it is proved that the systems of pottery expressed in specific cultural traditions, with the relatively isolated existence of ancient human collectives, are surprisingly stable. They can be broken only by foreign cultural influences or contacts with carriers of other pottery traditions [Bobrinsky, 1999, p. 48-53]. Special attention should be paid to the fact that in the conditions of pre-milled and especially ancient pottery production, which includes materials from the Mariinsky culture, differences in the cultural traditions of potters can be considered as an unquestionable evidence of the cultural characteristics of the local population as a whole (Bobrinsky, 1978, p.242).

The main task of this work is to reconstruct the pottery traditions of native speakers of the Mariinsky culture. In the future, this will allow us to discuss the nature of its relations with other Neolithic cultures of the Far East in a more evidence-based way.

1. Ceramics of the Mariinsky culture from the settlement on Suchu Island. A - from excavation IX; B-from excavation XII.

Materials used

The Mariinsky culture in the Neolithic period of the Far East has been identified relatively recently and is still represented by a small number of monuments. The most extensive excavations (512 ^m2) were carried out on the Suchu Island settlement near the village of Mariinsky, where two excavations - IX (1999) and XII (2002) - yielded expressive ceramic materials of this culture (Fig. 1). In addition, several samples of Mariinsky ceramics come from the settlement on the island near the village of Petropavlovsk* (Fig. 2). The materials of these two monuments became the object of special study. The article presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of the ceramics of the Mariinsky culture within the framework of the historical and cultural approach to the study of ancient pottery developed in the laboratory "History of Ceramics" of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Bobrinsky, 1978, 1999). 75 samples from the Suchu Island settlement and 8 specimens were examined. from the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov (from a dig site in 1969).

Despite the fact that the preservation of the Mariinsky ceramics is noticeably better than the earlier Osipov ceramics, it was difficult to determine exactly from which number of vessels the sherds found originated for several reasons. Firstly, the fragments are not very large, secondly, the surfaces of many fragments were severely destroyed during washing ceramics due to weak firing, which prevented the clarification of processing techniques, and thirdly, the skills of selecting the initial layer-

* Since several archaeological sites are known in the area of this village on the right bank of the Malyshevskaya Channel of the Amur River, the complex under study on the island located on its left bank will be more correctly called Petropavlovsk-Ostrov.

2. Ceramics of the Mariinsky culture from the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov.

The composition of the primary raw materials and molding masses of the Mariinsky ware was not very diverse. All this made us use the number of fragments rather than vessels when discussing numerical data.

Study Program

The study of samples of ceramics of the Mariinsky culture was conducted in four directions: 1) technique and technology, 2) ornament, 3) natural structure of vessel shapes, 4) areas of use of tableware. Reconstruction of pottery traditions in the field of engineering and technology involves finding out: a) skills in selecting the initial plastic raw materials, including an assessment of their relative iron content and plasticity; b) the composition of the molding mass at qualitative and quantitative levels; c) techniques for designing vessels (including technological operations and technical devices); d) skills in processing their external surface and internal surface; e) techniques for making vessels strong and watertight. The study of an ornament includes determining its style, the type of ornamenter, and the way it works. Analysis of the natural structure of the vessel shape is to find out what functional parts it consists of. When determining the scope of use of cookware, the presence or absence of its contact with an open fire in the process of domestic use was taken into account.

It should be noted that the completeness and reliability of reconstructing the cultural traditions of potters and consumers of tableware in all four directions depends, first, on the preservation of ceramic material, and secondly, on the presence or absence of special technological and other traces on the surface and in the fractures of potsherds that carry information about these traditions. It was not possible to obtain a complete data set for all the ceramic fragments. Therefore, the information obtained from different fragments seemed to complement each other. Tracological study of traces on the surface and in the fractures of shards was carried out using an MBS-2 binocular microscope and their subsequent comparison with reference experimental samples stored in the laboratory "History of Ceramics". To assess the degree of iron content of raw materials, ceramics were re-fired at a temperature of 850 °C and compared with the reference color scale of clay iron content. Preliminary rejection of samples that had been re-exposed to the fire, special thermal analysis of the remaining fragments and analysis of the "residual plasticity" of raw materials made it possible to determine the firing temperature of the Mariinsky ceramics.

Results of studying ceramics

Suchu Island settlement, excavation IX. 24 samples of Mariinsky ceramics were studied.

Raw materials. For the manufacture of dishes, natural clay of weak (52 %) and medium (44 %) iron content, mainly high (75 %) and less often medium (17 %) plasticity was used. In addition, the use of non-ironed clay and so-called mountain silt was recorded (one case each), as well as raw materials of low plasticity (two cases).

Molding mass. In almost all samples, it consisted of natural clay, coarse or medium chamotte, and some kind of organic solution. The latter, most likely, was introduced into the molding mass to give it a state of working plasticity. It is important to note that the tradition of using chamotte was very stable, since in many cases it also contains chamotte. The bearers of the above-mentioned traditions of using clay of medium and weak iron content coexisted in the settlement, as evidenced by the presence of medium-iron content in weakly ironed chamotte and vice versa. An important feature of traditions is the proportion of chamotte in the molding mass. Most often (88 %) it is present at a concentration of 1: 4 or 1:5. A higher or lower chamotte content may be due to poor mixing of the molding compound during its preparation.

Design of vessels. Patchwork was used in almost all cases (83 %). For some reason-

only the use of riveting technology without further specification was established for some samples. The build-up was carried out on a form-based basis (21 %) according to a capacitive or capacitive-bottom program for designing beginnings (8 %). In two cases, it was found that the padding between the base mold and the molding mass was leather. Unfortunately, all this information was obtained only for a small number of fragments.

External surface treatment. Most often, it was smoothed out with some kind of hard tool (67 %). Judging by the hollows left on the surface, it could have been pebbles. On a large number of fragments, such smoothing was combined with knocking out a smooth beater (22 %). Much less often, the surface was smoothed with some soft material (11 %). the nature of which could not be determined.

Internal surface treatment. The techniques and their combination are similar to those described above. However, it is important to note that for the treatment of the inner surface, smoothing with a hard object was used much more often (84%), and the use of soft material for this purpose was noted on one sample. In three cases, static prints from the base mold were preserved.

Decoration of the external surface. The ornament in all cases was located only in the upper part of the vessel and was applied with stamps. The most widely used comb stamp with five or six teeth (10 cases), with a large number of them (8, 9, 10 and 13) recorded in one case. Most often, a single row of prints was applied with a slope to the right (57 %), less often - to the left (28%). One case of applying a number of vertical comb and smooth impressions, as well as shaped stamp prints, was recorded.

Decorating the end of the corolla. Here, the traditions of applying a comb stamp to prints with a slope to the right and left are equally represented (36% each), vertical (19 %) and horizontal (9 %) impressions are less common.

Giving vessels strength and waterproofness. The solution to this problem was provided by heat treatment of products. According to the studied materials, almost the same use of two firing modes was recorded. The first one is long-term low-temperature (below the hot clay temperature) firing in a reducing medium (42 %). Judging by the absence of the phenomenon of residual plasticity, the vessels were fired at 470-550 °C. The second mode also involves at the first stage a long low-temperature firing, and then a very short or short one in an oxidizing medium at a hot clay temperature (58 %). With this heat treatment, a thin clarified layer with a thickness of fractions of a millimeter to 1-2 mm is formed on both surfaces of the vessels. A sharp boundary is fixed in the fracture between it and the inner dark layer. According to A. A. Bobrinsky, the second mode is associated with the ritual (magical) purification of vessels by fire before using them in everyday life [1999, p. 102-104].

Structure of the vessel shape. Because of the small size of the fragments of the upper parts of the vessels, it is possible to judge the natural structure of the forms only approximately and at a fairly general level. We can only talk about the composition of the functional parts of the site that has been preserved. According to the studied materials, the following types of structure of vessel shapes are recorded:: 1) lip + body + base of the body (23 %);

2) lip + forearm + trunk + base of the body (46 %); 3) lip + cheek + forearm + trunk + base of the body (31%). It should be noted that due to the absence of the bottom parts of the vessels, it is impossible to judge whether the base of the body is expressed in the structure of the shape or is in a fused state with it.

Scope of use of vessels. This can also be judged so far on a very general level. There are two areas of use of dishes: "hot", which is apparently associated with cooking on fire, and "cold", which does not involve the contact of vessels with an open flame. 87% of the wreckage belongs to the former, and 13% to the latter. The use of cookware for cooking on fire is indicated by the carbon deposits on some fragments of ceramics, the greater calcination of the outer surface of the fragments compared to the inner one, and the smooth color transition from the clarified layer of the outer surface to the darker central part of the fracture of the shard. Accordingly, the absence of these traces indicates the use of vessels in everyday life or religious practice without systematic contact with fire. It is important to emphasize that the studied materials failed to reveal the relationship between the complexity of the natural structure of the mold and the scope of application.

Conclusions. The studied materials allow us to identify the dominant cultural traditions of the population that made and used these dishes: 1) the use of high-plastic clay raw materials of low and medium iron content; 2) making a molding mass from a mixture of clay, coarse and medium chamotte in a concentration of 1: 4 or 1: 5 and some specially prepared organic solution;

3) production of dishes using patchwork molding, most likely on a mold-based basis, followed by knocking out with a smooth mallet; 4) smoothing both surfaces of the vessel with a hard tool, presumably pebbles; 5) more frequent use of long-term low-temperature firing compared to the same firing, but in combination with subsequent short exposure of products in an oxidizing environment

high temperature environment; 6) decoration of the outer surface and end of the corolla with inclined impressions of a comb stamp; 7) lack of connection between the complexity of the natural structure and the scope of use of dishes; 8) use of vessels almost exclusively for cooking hot food on fire. Despite the high level of unity of the selected cultural traditions, some features indicate that the local population included groups with different pottery traditions in detail.

Suchu Island settlement, excavation XII. 51 samples of Mariinsky ceramics were studied. Most of the fragments, judging by the upper parts, come from different vessels.

Raw materials. The most widely represented fragments of vessels made of weak clay (76%), less often of medium (24 %) iron content and high plasticity (94 %).

Molding mass. In all cases, it consists of natural clay, coarse and medium chamotte in a concentration of 1: 4 or 1: 5 (98 %) and organic solution. The tradition of adding chamotte was very stable: the presence of chamotte in its composition was noted in 55 % of cases. Often it was possible to determine the degree of iron content of the raw material from which the vessel was made, which went to the manufacture of chamotte.

Let's look at how the traditions of selecting plastic raw materials with different degrees of iron content have changed over time. The data obtained for the shard itself reflects the latest state of traditions (level zero), the chamotte recorded in the shard-the previous one (level one), and the chamotte present in it - even earlier (level two).

The data presented in Table 1 suggest that at an earlier time, slightly ironed clay was preferred. Later, as a result of the influx of a new group of inhabitants to the settlement, they began to use mainly clay of medium iron content, and in an even later period the situation returned to its original one.

Changes in the traditions of raw material selection over time, Table 1. %

* In this case, we mean the presence of chamotte from both weak and medium-ironed clay.

In any case, it is quite obvious that the bearers of these different traditions lived on the settlement at the same time.

Design of vessels. The most widespread, and most likely almost the only one, was the tradition of making vessels with patchwork molding (68 %) on a mold-based basis (its use was noted in 35 % of cases). Approximately 1/3 of the samples does not allow us to specify the method of construction, we can only conclude that the adhesive technology was used. One very small vessel, only 5 cm in diameter, was made with a circular tapeworm. In two cases, the use of a bottom-capacitive design program was recorded for the fragments of the lower parts of vessels, and in three cases - a capacitive or capacitive-bottom design program. Such a serious difference in the design principles may indicate significant cultural features of the groups of inhabitants who lived in the settlement (Bobrinsky, 1978, pp. 114-153).

External surface treatment. The construction of vessels on a mold-based basis by patchwork was accompanied by the predominance of the tradition of knocking out their outer surface with a smooth mallet (48 %). In addition, smoothing was applied both with a hard tool (presumably pebbles) and with some soft material (26% each).

Internal surface treatment. Here, smoothing with a hard tool prevailed (46 %), soft material was used less often (27%). Some of the wreckage (27 %) shows static impressions from the base mold. According to four fragments, it can be assumed that leather was used as a pad.

Decoration of the external surface. Most often, a single row of right-sloping comb prints was applied under the corolla of the vessels (72%), less often the same prints and also in one row were applied with a slope to the left (11 %). In approximately 14 % of cases, two rows of comb - shaped impressions were created: the upper one with a slope to the right, and the lower one to the left. It is interesting that in one case, marking was made before applying the ornament (see Figs. 1, B, 3). This fact indicates the instability of skills (possibly youth) of the person who made the ornament. Other types of stamped decoration were used much less frequently.

Decorating the end of the corolla. It was also dominated by right-angled comb stamp prints (61 %). Significantly less common are impressions with a left slope (4 %), vertical and horizontal (9% each). There are also smooth stamp prints that are vertical (9%) or tilted to the right (4 %).

Giving vessels strength and waterproofness. Almost equally applied

two firing modes described above: long low-temperature (48 %) and the same in combination with short high-temperature (52 %). Another method of ritual purification of vessels before using them was scalding (Bobrinsky, 1999: 98-99), which was recorded in 16% of samples.

Structure of the vessel shape. The following types were identified: 1) lip + trunk + trunk base (30 %); 2) lip + forearm + trunk + trunk base (59%); 3) lip + cheek + forearm + trunk + trunk base (3%). On the lower parts of the vessels, the "torso + torso base" design is fixed (8 %), therefore, it can be assumed that at least in a number of vessels, the "torso base" is a separate functional part in the shape structure. This is also evidenced by the photographs of restored Mariinsky vessels given in the monograph by V. E. Medvedev and I. V. Filatova [2014, p. 37, Figs. 13, 3, 4].

Scope of use of vessels. Almost the same use of cookware was recorded both for cooking over a fire (42 %) and for other needs not related to systematic contact with an open flame (58%). Based on 30 fragments of ceramics, it was possible to establish some connection between the structure of vessel shapes and the scope of their application. Given in the table. 2 the data suggest that three-part vessels, similar in shape to deep bowls, were mainly used in the economic sphere that did not involve contact with fire, and four - part vessels were used in both.

Using some corolla fragments that retained sufficient curvature, it was possible to determine the approximate diameter of the vessels in the upper part:

Judging by these data, containers with a diameter of 16-20 cm were most widely distributed, vessels with a diameter of 11-15 and 21-25 cm are in second place, and very small and larger ones were used much less frequently. Now let's try to find out whether the scope of use of vessels depends on their size. Of course, the available data (tab. 3) very modest, but they suggest that for cooking mainly used vessels with a diameter of 16 - 20 cm. In the economic sphere, which is not connected with systematic contact with fire, dishes of two sizes were used: with a diameter of 11 - 15 and 21 - 25 cm. It is acceptable to assume that the vessels with a volume of about 1.5 liters were intended for individual use, and the large ones (about 9 liters) were intended for some other needs, possibly for storing food.

Additional information. In addition to the wreckage of vessels, two clay crafts were subjected to technical and technological analysis. One of them is a whole disk with a diameter of 4 cm and a thickness of 1 cm. It is made of slightly ironed clay of medium plasticity, to which large chamotte is added (it also contains an admixture of chamotte) and organic solution. The disk was subjected to prolonged low-temperature firing in a reducing medium. Thus, this product in its technological characteristics completely coincides with the ceramics from this excavation. The second object is a fragment of a disk with a diameter of 6-7 cm and a thickness of 1.5 cm. It is made of "mountain" silt of medium iron content and low plasticity. This raw material contains natural impurities: a large number of sharp-angled particles of fine sand and a few small plant residues. No artificial additives were detected. The item was also subjected to prolonged low-temperature firing. Its composition is not similar to that of the Mariinsky ceramics, but it is practically identical to the ceramics of the earlier Osipov culture (Medvedev and Tsetlin, 2013).

Conclusions. The following traditions can be attributed to the dominant ones in local pottery:: 1) the predominant use of weakly ironed high-plastic clay for the manufacture of vessels;

Relationship between the structure of vessel shapes and the scope of their use, Table 2. %

Table 3. Dependence of the scope of use of vessels on their size

2) composing a molding mass of clay, chamotte in a concentration of 1: 4 and 1: 5 and organic solution; 3) designing dishes with patchwork molding on a mold-based basis; 4) knocking out the outer surface of the vessels with a smooth mallet and smoothing the inner surface with a hard tool; 5) predominantly decorating the outer surface and the end of the corolla of vessels with impressions of a comb stamp with an inclination to the right; 6) the use of equally long low-temperature firing and its combination with a short high-temperature firing in an oxidizing environment; 7) the manufacture of vessels mainly of only two types of structures; 8) the use of dishes with a simpler shape structure mainly in the field of everyday life, which did not involve contact with fire, but with a more complex one - for a variety of household needs; 9) preferential use of vessels with a diameter of 16-20 cm for cooking, and vessels with a diameter of 11-15 and 21-25 cm for meeting other needs. In general, it seems that the pottery traditions identified by the ceramics from excavation XII reflect a greater cultural unity of the inhabitants of the settlement.

Petropavlovsk-Ostrov settlement. On this monument, we have rather modest information - eight fragments of the upper parts of the vessels (corollas with part of the walls) have been studied so far.

Raw materials. Clay of strong iron content (63%) was mainly used, less often - medium (37 %), in all cases of high plasticity.

Molding mass. It consisted of clay, coarse and medium chamotte (88%) and organic solution (100 %). Chamotte was more often administered at a concentration of 1 : 5 (42 %), less often - 1 : 4 and 1 : 6 (29% each).

Design of vessels. In most cases, it was made by patchwork taping (63 %), in the rest it was possible to record only the fact of using taping technology.

External surface treatment. Most often, it was smoothed out with a soft material (68 %), less often knocking out with a smooth mallet was used (32%).

Internal surface treatment. In all cases, smoothing with a hard tool was recorded. As noted above, it was probably a small pebble.

Decoration of the external surface. Only the drawing of one row of impressions of a comb stamp with a slope to the right under the whisk was recorded.

Decorating the end of the corolla. In one case, a series of horizontally arranged oval indentations is marked, in the other-the prints of a smooth stamp with a slope to the left.

Giving vessels strength and waterproofness. Judging by the studied materials, long-term low-temperature firing in a reducing medium prevailed (88 %), and subsequent short exposure of products in an oxidizing medium at high temperature was rarely used (12%). In addition, the vessels were magically purified by scalding in an organic solution (25%).

Structure of vessel shapes. Products with a four-part structure predominated: lip + forearm + torso + torso base (63 %). In two cases, a five-part procedure was recorded: lip + cheek + forearm + trunk + base of the trunk.

Scope of use of vessels. Vessels for cooking on fire (57 %) and for "cold" use (43%) are approximately equally represented.

Conclusions. The small number of ceramic samples studied allows us to speak only with a large degree of conventionality about the dominant pottery traditions. However, these include the use of: 1) highly ironed and highly plastic clay as a raw material, 2) molding mass with the addition of chamotte in a concentration of 1: 5 and organic solution, 3) a patchwork layer, probably based on the shape, as can be indicated by knocking out the outer surface with a mallet, 4) smoothing this surface with a soft material, and the inner surface is smoothed out. - a solid tool, 5) a "comb" ornament on the outer surface of vessels, 6) low-temperature firing in a reducing medium, 7) a more complex structure of the form, 8) vessels both for cooking and for other needs that do not involve contact with fire. In general, the pottery traditions are characterized by uniformity, and the noted particular differences cannot be related to the cultural characteristics of the population.

Comparative analysis of pottery traditions

Since a number of features have been identified between the ceramics from excavations IX and XII at the Suchu Island settlement, these two groups of materials will be considered different. Comparative analysis of pottery traditions revealed in the study of ceramics can be carried out both on a qualitative and quantitative level. Let's start with a high-quality one.

3). While some inhabitants of the Suchu Island settlement (excavation IX) almost equally widely used both low-and medium-ironed clay of high plasticity, others (excavation XII) mainly used low-ironed clay of the same plasticity, and in the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov they preferred highly ironed clay. and medium-plastic. It is obvious that the differences recorded on the first monument are due to it-

3. Iron content and plasticity of the feedstock, a -Suchu, excavation IX; b-Suchu, excavation XII; c-Petropavlovsk-Ostrov.

Fig. 4. Composition of the molding compound. See Figure 3 for additional information.

The first stage is characterized by some cultural features of the population, and the special traditions identified at the second stage are primarily related to the specifics of local raw materials.

4). Its composition in all the studied materials is almost identical. Differences were noted only in the concentration of chamotte, which is slightly lower in ceramics from the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov.

Construction of vessels (Fig. 5). In both settlements, vessels were made by patchwork molding on a mold base.

6). Despite the fact that the Mariinsky potters used the same techniques for processing the external surface of vessels, their ratio was different. So, some inhabitants of the settlement on Suchu Island (excavation IX) used mainly smoothing with a hard tool, and others (excavation XII)-knocking out with a mallet, on the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov smoothing with some soft material prevailed.

6). A significant similarity of techniques was recorded based on the materials of the excavation of the IX monument on Suchu Island and the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov. Notable processing features were identified from ceramic samples from Excavation XII on Suchu Island.

7). All the materials studied indicate the dominance of the tradition of creating a comb ornament in the upper part of the vessel. However, the ratio of prints of different orientations is not the same, and the proportion of prints with a right slope increases in

Fig. 5. Techniques for designing vessels. See Fig. 3 for reference.

Fig. 6. Methods of surface treatment of vessels. See fig. 3 for the standard description.

Fig. 7. Orientation of the comb ornament. See fig. 3 for reference.

Fig. 8. Vessel firing modes. I - long low-temperature in a reducing medium; II - the same with a subsequent short high-temperature in an oxidizing medium. See Figure 3 for other technical specifications.

9. Structure of the vessel shape. G - lip, GC-cheek, PP-forearm, T-trunk, OT-base of the trunk. See Figure 3 for other technical specifications.

collections of ceramics from excavation IX to excavation XII on Suchu Island and to the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov.

Decoration of the end of the corolla (Fig. 7). The tradition of applying a comb ornament here is noted only for the settlement on Suchu Island. On the vessels from excavation IX, impressions with a slope to the right, left and vertical were equally common, and on the dishes from excavation XII-exclusively with a slope to the right.

Giving vessels strength and waterproofness (fig. 8). The inhabitants of the Suchu Island settlement (excavations IX and XII) equally widely used two modes of heat treatment of vessels: long-term low-temperature firing in a reducing medium and the same, but followed by a short high-temperature firing in an oxidizing medium. At the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov, potters used mainly the first one. Vessel scalding was also used to varying degrees.

9). Four-part vessels consisting of the lip, forearm, trunk, and base of the trunk were the most widespread in the Mariinsk settlements. But at the same time, in the materials of excavation IX on Suchu Island and the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov, they were supplemented with vessels of a more complex design (lip + cheek + forearm + body + base of the body), and in the collection from excavation XII on Suchu Island-simple (lip + body + base of the body).

Use of vessels (fig. 10). Vessels on Suchu Island from excavation IX were mainly used for cooking food on fire, and from excavation XII and from the settlement of Petropavlovsk-Ostrov-both for cooking and for its consumption and storage.

Thus, the speakers of the Mariinsky culture have the following common pottery traditions: 1) preparation of molding masses from clay, chamotte and organic solution, 2) production of vessels by patchwork molding on a mold-base, 3) decoration of the upper part of vessels with a comb stamp. The similarity of these substrate and adaptive traditions indicates a high cultural homogeneity of the population that left the monuments of the Mariinsky culture.

Local pottery traditions include: 1) skills of selection and use of initial plastic raw materials, 2) methods of processing the external and internal surfaces of vessels, 3) features of orientation of the comb stamp prints in the decoration of dishes, 4) skills of decorating the end face of the corolla of vessels, 5) modes of heat treatment of ceramics, 6) breadth of application of methods of ritual purification of vessels, 7) features of using dishes in everyday life. The identified local features indicate, firstly, the great closeness of traditions within the settlement on Suchu Island, and secondly, a certain cultural specificity of the population groups that left the monuments of the Mariinsky culture.

Now let's compare the pottery traditions of the inhabitants of the studied settlements on a quantitative level. The degree of similarity (CS) between the three settlements was calculated using the formula

KC = ΣK_min + M_min + ... + N_min [Telegin, 1977],

where K, M, and N are indicators used to assess the similarity of pottery traditions of the inhabitants of each of the compared settlements.

Fig. 10. Use of vessels in everyday life. Usl. obozn. see Fig. 3.

11. Graph of links between the studied monuments of the Mariinsky culture by the degree of similarity of pottery traditions.

by types of information, degree of similarity (CS) between the monuments of the Mariinsky culture Table 4. %

Based on the results of a quantitative analysis of the degree of similarity of pottery traditions (tab. 4), it is possible to supplement and refine the data obtained at the qualitative level (Figure 11). In particular, it confirms the proximity of traditions among the inhabitants of different parts of the settlement on Suchu Island (77 %) and the great distance from them of the pottery traditions of the population who left the Petropavlovsk-Ostrov monument (61 and 63%).

In conclusion, it should be noted that further purposeful study of the ceramics of the Mariinsky Culture will significantly supplement and refine the results presented here. Therefore, this article should be considered more as a methodological study, the purpose of which is to show the current possibilities of applying a historical and cultural approach to the study of the history of ancient pottery and the population.

List of literature

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Bobrinsky A. A. Potter's technology as an object of historical and cultural study // Actual problems of studying ancient pottery. Samara: Samara State Pedagogical University . un-t Publ., 1999, pp. 5-109.

Derevyanko A. P., Lamin V. A., Elert A. Kh., Simonov D. G. United Research Project "History of Siberia". RGNF. - 2014. - N 1. - p. 12-28.

Kalinina I. V. Historical-cultural and semantic-technological approaches in studying the technology of ancient ceramics // Drevne goncharstvo: itogi i perspektivy izucheniya [Ancient pottery: results and prospects of study], Moscow: IA RAS, 2010, pp. 42-45.

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The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 22.07.14.

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