Ceramics from Novoilyinka III, a chalcolithic site in Kulunda, Western Siberia

Chalcolithic ceramics from Novoilyinka III in Western Siberia (early 3rd millennium BC) was analyzed in terms of manufacturing technology and decoration techniques with special regard to tools for applying decoration. Two ornamental traditions relating to clay selection and fabric processing are described. The principal tradition was the use of low-ductile ferrous clay tempered with fine sand, down, and organic matter. The less common practice was to use high-ductile clay tempered with grit and grog but not down. In decoration as well, two traditions are evident. Most vessels tempered with down are decorated with non-comb imprints such as pits. Vessels made of low-ductile clay and tempered with grit and grog but not down are mostly decorated with comb imprints. The latter technology, evidently attesting to a blend of traditions, is unusual and is paralleled by ceramics with comb-pit, pit-comb, and dimple decoration distributed from the forest zone of Eastern Europe to the Upper Ob. The closest resemblance is seen with ceramics of the Bairyk and Kiprino types from Baraba and the Upper Ob, respectively. The distinctness of the Novoilyinka III pottery may be explained by the peripheral (easternmost) position of the site within this community.