Pottery raw materials from the mountainous and forest-steppe Altai and the adjacent territories (based on pottery assemblages of the Neolithic-Early Iron age)

The article analyzes raw materials used in pottery production in different landscape zones (mountains, foothills, steppe, and forest-steppe of the Altai, Tuva, Khakassia, and Mongolia). Pottery of the Neolithic-Early Iron Age has been studied following historical and cultural approach and the methodology of A.A. Bobrinsky. The research has shown that ferruginized raw materials were usually used, and sometimes non-ferruginized raw materials were employed. Two traditions of using raw materials with different plasticity since the Neolithic have been identified: 1) of low and medium plasticity, and 2) of high plasticity. Both traditions were widespread in the mountainous areas, while high plasticity clays prevailed in steppe and forest-steppe areas. The features distinguishing low and medium plasticity raw materials of the mountainous, steppe and forest-steppe areas have been identified. The differences in the choice of raw materials by the potters of different archaeological cultures in mountainous areas are discussed.