The use of natural scientific methods in the study of ceramic sinkers of the Vezhi settlement (Kostroma oblast)

The article considers one of the kinds of specialized fishing equipment of the Vezhi settlement - ceramic sinkers. They are relevant to the groups of Kostroma ceramics: red ware, gray ware, and black-glazed. The sinkers are divided into oval and spherical forms. On the territory of the Vezhi settlement numerous red ware oval sinkers are found in the layers of the second half of the XVII - middle of the XIX centuries. Gray ware and black-glazed spherical sinkers are found in the layers of the first half of the XV - middle of the XIX centuries. The sinkers in focus didn't become widespread. All of them were made by local potters. In order to make a precise determination of the composition of molding material the following scientific methods were used: heat treatment, binocular microscopy, chemical and X-ray fluorescence analysis. The potters of Vezhi used wet clay as their basic plastic material. Moreover, the bulk of the sinkers was made of over sanded and iron materials without any artificial additives. The remaining sinkers consisted of artificial impurities - sand and landwaste. While making sinkers some potters of Vezhi used fat and poor silica clay. Oval and spherical ceramic sinkers were used to equip small dragnets because their shape could easily adapt to the river bottom while overcoming obstacles.