Discovery of the Early Neolithic complex at the Stary Tartas-1 site

Research at the Stary Tartas-1 site in 2023 gave new information on the Early Neolithic in the Ob-Irtysh region, and made it possible to include another site into the objects of the Baraba culture. So far, the site is represented by a small set of pottery fragments with technical and technological markers of the Baraba culture, such as traces ofpatchwork molding and of a binding cord in the upper part of vessels and a bottom band. New evidence was supplemented by information about the fabric revealing "pure” recipes (clay + chamotte and clay + organic matter of plant origin). The main finding was a tool made of elk shoulder blade which was shaped and stylized to look like a bird. Similar items have been discovered at the Tartas-1 and Ust-Tartas-1 sites, and have been identified as swan figurines based on a similar intact object from a sanctuary. The well-defined working edge on the tool indicates that it was used as a scraper. A specially formed comb-like ledge consisting of three teeth of sub-triangular shape was on the upper part opposite to the blade. The collection of such objects differs only in terms of sizes and number of pronounced triangular notches on the back side of these tool-sculptures. It has been observed that similar objects have not yet been found at any other Neolithic (including Early Neolithic) complexes ofEurasia, although tools of similar function made of elk shoulder blades ("broad knives ”) were quite common at the Transurals Neolithic sites. Pottery complexes from the Stary Tartas-1 site have parallels in the pottery of the Late Neolithic Artyn culture as well as the Pit-Comb historical and cultural community and Krotovo culture of the Bronze Age.