Settlement complex of the andronovo (fedorovo) culture in the Tai locality in Baraba forest-steppe

This article describes first results of studies at the Tartas-5 settlement (Vengerovsky District, Novosibirsk Region), located on the collapsing part of the floodplain terrace of the left bank of the Tartas River, in the Tai locality, which, both in ancient times and nowadays, is completely flooded. This circumstance makes it extremely difficult to identify cultural layers. The upper out of two cultural layers at the site contained the finds tentatively attributed to the Early Iron Age. The lower cultural layer and adjacent layers contained cultural remains of the Advanced Bronze Age. Thick, archaeologically sterile deposits were between the two cultural layers. Preliminary analysis has revealed extremely insignificant finds in the upper layer, represented by finely fragmented pottery fragments undecorated with ornamental patterns. Several weakly protruding rims were decorated with the row of pearls or were left undecorated. When studying the lower cultural layer of the Bronze Age, the remains of several post pits cut into the sterile soil have been found. In addition, there were traces of two small fireplaces containing pottery fragments and crushed vessels. A large amount of pottery and animal bones with traces of cutting were in the cultural layer and especially in the ash pit. According to preliminary identification, the bones belonged to domestic animals, including cow, sheep and, to a lesser extent, horse. The shapes and ornamentation of vessels was typical of classic Andronovo (Fedorovo) pottery. This complex did not differ in any way from the funeral pottery of Baraba, well known from excavations at numerous Andronovo (Fedorovo) burial grounds.