The chronology of neolithic-eneolithic in the steppe zone of the Volga basin

The chronological division between the middle and later stages of the Orlovskaya culture at the Algay site is the group of dates in the interval of 5640-5374 calBC (Tabl. 1,9-11). The dates were obtained on charcoal, bones, and ceramics and have a good correlation between them. A similar date on charcoal was determined on the Oroshaemoe site (Tabl. 1,31). This interspace corresponds also with the date from the 2A layer of the Varfolomeevskaya site. At the same time, there are some particularities. From deposits of level (100 cm), the samples of charcoal, bones, and charred crusts on ceramics were dated. The dates on bones and charred food crusts have good matching and they lay in the interval of ca.5360-5210 calBC, but the date on charcoal of5600-5480 calBC is older (Tabl. 1,9). At the Oroshaemoe site, the radiocarbon dates from the levels of 39 and 31 have a good correlation but they are divided by the interval (Tabl. 1,3031). Besides them, several dates from upper levels were obtained in the range of ca.5560- 4986 calBC. The upper limit of one of the dates is 4843 calBC occurred because of the large uncertainty of 120 years and can not be accepted. At the same time, the upper chronological level of the dates obtained on the charred crusts on ceramics for the 2A layer of the Varfolomeevskaya site is ca.4950 calBC. There are some dates in the interval of5300-4986 calBC which had not been determined earlier both at the Varfolomeevskaya and the Algay sites. The sterile interlayer separates the layer of the Cis- Caspian culture. There are two dates of 47964347 calBC and 4552-4224 calBC which were obtained from the lower and upper soil horizon containing the artifacts at the Oroshaemoe I site (Tabl. 1,35-36).

They are a good correlation with the stratigraphy of the site. But they are characterized by wide intervals. The first date on ceramics is 5056-4462 calBC (Tabl. 1,33) with an uncertainty of 120 years. The date on bones of 50604547 calBC is matching with the date on ceramics. The AMS date on the domestic sheep is ca.4724-4557 calBC corresponding with the date on the lower soil layer. The dates on materials from the Algay site can be considered for comparison. During excavations in 2015-2017, the dates on bones from upper levels with materials of the Orlovskaya and the Cis-Caspian cultures had been obtained (Tabl. 1,22-23). They lay in the interval from 4856 to 4340 calBC. Such a wide interval is because of the uncertainty of 120 years. During excavation in 2019-2020 the age of bones from the Cis-Caspian layer has been defined (Tabl. 1,20,21,24). They are in the range from 4853 to 4534 calBC. One of the dates (49954711 calBC) is older than others but it has a good agreement with the set of dates on bones and ceramics from the Oroshaemoe I site. So, a series of dates obtained on different organic materials from two sites allows establishing the reliable framework of the Cis-Caspian culture in this region from 4900 to 4600 calBC. In this context it is interesting the date of ceramics of the Cis- Caspian type from the Kumyska site, that is 5870±70 ВР (Ki - 16271) (4860-4540 ВС) [30, p. 115, Tabl. 1,2]. This date is identical to the last dates. There also is the date of the charred food crusts on pottery of the Orlovskaya culture of 5800 ± 150 ВР (SPb - 939) (5050-4300 calBC) from the upper layer of the Varfolomeevskaya site. The calibrated date lay in a wide range of meaning but it includes the interval of4900-4600 calBC. This layer contents the ceramics of the Cis-Caspian type. Such chronology suggests some synchronicity of both cultures. But it is possible another interpretation. The presence of the Orlovskaya pottery inside of a layer of the Cis-Caspian horizon can be evidence of rejuvenation of the date because of humic acids from soil influence. The examples of the influence of humic acids of soils on the age of ceramics and bones are known at the Baibek site [8, p. 153].

In the upper levels at the Algay and Oroshaemoe I sites the artifacts of the Khvalinskaya culture were found. For this layer for the Algay site the date lays in the range of 4710-4359 calBC (Tabl. 1,25). At the Oroshaemoe I site the date is 4725-4336 calBC (Tabl. 1,37). On the other hand, there is an overlap of the lower boundary and upper chronological border of the Cis-Caspian antiquities. It can be evidence of a short chronological gap between these cultures. At the same time, there is a sterile interlayer between these cultural layers. The thickness of the interlayer is less than between the Orlovskaya and the Cis-Caspian cultural layers. The AMS date of the charred food crusts on pottery of the Khvalinskaya culture is 4252-4050 calBC (Tabl. 1,38). This date is younger and it also can be evidence that the Cis-Caspian culture is much older. In this connection, it should be considered yet another example. Several dates were obtained on the different organic materials for the 2A layer of the Varfolomeevskaya site. They lay in the interval from 4370 to 3950 calBC. These dates are contractionary with the chronological framework of the Orlovskaya culture. There is some discrepancy with the chronology of the Cis-Caspian culture. In this layer the copper plate has been found and that A.I. Yudin is attributed with the Khvalinskaya culture [29, с. 161]. Therefore these data allow us to consider this date as belonging to the Khvalinsk period. The date on pottery of the Khvalinskaya culture from the Kumyska site is 5260 ± 80 ВР (Ki - 16273) (4260-3940 calBC) [30, p. 115, Tabl.1,7] that can be another proof of it.

Results. Analysis of stratigraphy, typology of artifacts, and the set of radiocarbon dates obtained on charcoal and animal bones from both sites of the steppe zone of the Volga basin allows us to conclude firmly that the Neolithic period in this region began at 6270-6000 calBC. This earlier age was also supported by the results of the techniques-technological analysis of pottery that gives the possibility to characterize one of the ancient techniques of ceramic making [12, p. 13]. The period from 5900 to 5600 calBC is the middle stage of the Orlovskaya culture. In agreement with the data obtained the end of the Orlovskaya culture can be dated to 5500-5000 calBC. Such earlier chronological boundary can be traced in the materials of the Northern Cis- Caspian [14, p. 147], for example, for the Kelteminarskaya, Rakushechnoyarskaya, Surskaya [18, p. 18-19, Tabl. 1], and Elshanskaya cultures [19, p. 47]. The chronological framework of the development of these cultures may not be the same as the Orlovskaya culture what depends on the specifics of their dynamics. The Northern Cis-Caspian Neolithic finished at 5400 calBC, but in the forest-steppe zone of the Volga basin, the date of ending is 5500 calBC. The beginning of the Neolithic probably is dated at the same time in both regions.

The Cis-Caspian culture belongs to the transitional period from the Neolithic to Eneolithic [15, p. 69] and, in accordance to new stratigraphical, typological and radiocarbon data this period can be dated to 4900-4600 calBC. It is important not only in the question about the relation between the Orlovskaya and the Cis- Caspian antiquities. Regarding new data, the most ancient features of domestication in Eastern Europe were registered in the earlier Cis-Caspian culture in comparison to the Khvalinskaya culture [13, p. 365]. The bottom boundary of the Khvalinskaya culture is dated to 4700 calBC. Therefore, it is possible to suggest a linking of the most later Cis-Caspian complexes and the earlier Khvalinskaya stage. But the dates of the Eneolithic culture relate to the later period (46004400 calBC). The presence of a sterile interlayer separating these layers is evidence of this.

Note

¹ The research was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation within the framework of the scientific project "Neolithization of the Lower Volga Region: an Interdisciplinary Approach".

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