Электронная библиотека

The ancient fortified settlement of Amnya I is a unique site of the early Neolithic in the northern taiga zone of Western Siberia (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region, the Amnya River). It is located on a promontory and has three lines of defense and 10 dwelling depressions. The structures of the excavated dwellings are identical, though the artifact assemblage looks very heterogeneous. Spatial analysis of ceramics and lithicinventory was carried out. In dwelling 9 only round-bottomed ceramics with a incising and pricking ornament were found. In dwellings 2, 3 - with comb patterns, and in dwellings 1 and 4 both types are present, as well as flat-bottomed vessels with an incising and pricking ornament. Different categories of stone tools are found in each construction, although most of the flint microblades and cores are located in the eastern part of the settlement (defensive system III and dwelling 9), while most of polished slate arrowheads are deposited in its western part (dwellings 1 and 1A). Absolute dates does not allow chronology reconstruction of different objects and constructions. New AMS date is probably vulnerable to a significant reservoir effect. The abundance of questions related to chronological issues forces renewal of investigations on this unique site.