Preliminary excavations results for the Kuchchugunuur site in the Vilyui River Valley

The Vilyui River valley is known for its various archaeological sites, which have been studied since the mid-20th century. To date, regional roadmaps for the cultural development of the territory and typologies of individual artifact categories have been developed using the materials. The main factor prompting the exploration of such remote areas is the threat of their flooding associated with the development of the Vilyui hydroelectric complex. In 2024, an expedition of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS carried out excavations at the sites located in the flood zone of the Vilyui Hydroelectric Power Station III reservoir. Among others, the Kuchchugunuur site was partially explored. It was located on the riverbed ridge of the left bank of the Vilyui River at the confluence of the inflow having the same name. In the excavation area of1 255.46 sq. m, cultural sediments were studied lying at a depth of 0.3 to 1.8 m from the current surface, wherein 6 616 artifacts were found. The excavations at the Kuchchugunuur site detailed stratigraphic conditions of the occurrence of the artifacts, items from three cultural horizons were discovered, and the cultural-chronological attribution of the site was clarified. The prospects for studying the site and its artefacts include the search for cultural remains beyond its boundaries within the principal geomorphological structure; correlation of the identified vessel types, their chronology, and the stratigraphic context of occurrence at the site. Attributive analysis of the stone industry of the 3rd cultural horizon aimed to identify technical methods and strategies of adaptation of the ancient population to the natural environment is also important.