Economic and production areas of the Krotovо culture at the Ust-Tartas-2 site

The site of Ust-Tartas-2 (the settlement of Karier-Tai-1) has a unique feature, - it contains a set of production areas of the Krotovo culture in addition to burial grounds of the Neolithic-Advanced Bronze Age. This study describes economic and production areas located outside of dwelling structures. Economic-production area 1 included a hearth, dwelling structure, and series of pits (No. 26, 31, 44-50, 63, 64, 79, 80, and 83-84). Hearth and dwelling were used for warming, cooking, and casting bronze. Hearth in economic-production area 2 was surrounded by three pits. Filling of the hearth and finds of various objects in it suggested that it was a heat generating device for household needs. The predominance of fish remains in household pits accompanying the hearth indicates that it was also used for fish processing. Economic-production area 3 was a workshop. Clay objects which have been found could result from experiments by ancient potters in testing raw materials for production of vessels. Economic-production area 4 consisted of a heat generating device with clay coated walls and bottom, and pit lined with “bricks” which served as a place for storing waste from cleaning the heat generating device. The object of such technical design has been found for the first time in the Krotovo culture. Economic-production area 5 was represented by a hearth and three accompanying pits. Its long-term use mainly for cooking has been established. The pits served as a place for storing waste. Identification and analysis of the areas used for household needs at the site provides new information for studying the methods of organizing life support among the Krotovo population.