Radiocarbon chronology of the south Urals and the south of the Western Siberia cultures (2000-2013-years investigations): principles and approaches, achievements and problems

Purpose: The study focuses on reviewing the present state of development in radiocarbon dating as well as concepts concerning the chronological sequences of sites and cultures identified in the Urals and in the southern regions of Siberia, dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Over the last two decades, both quantitative and qualitative changes had occurred in archaeology with regards to establishing an absolute chronology for the Bronze Age sites and cultures. However, in spite of this fact, there are major differences which still remain as to a level of study. In some cases, an age determination is confined with dating a site; otherwise it is suggested to use the variants of radiocarbon cultural-chronological scales. The main focus of this study is on elucidating the dating results obtained for areas where the development of 14C scales has been carried out systematically based on a series of radiocarbon measurements and there are series of dates for reference sites and cultures as well. Results: The study discusses radiocarbon cultural-chronological sequences for the steppe, forest and forest-steppe areas in the Urals, the Baraba forest-steppe zone, the Minousinsk basin, the Upper Ob River basin, and the Russian Altai. Data on the Mongolian Altai and Northern Kazakhstan has been used for a comparative analysis. Due account of material used for the dating in addition to its taphonomy at site has been taken when analyzing radiocarbon sequences, as well as the dating approach ( 14C accelerator facility (AMS) or Conventional 14C counting facility). «Reservoir» and «old wood» effects have been taken care of when appropriate. The authors have registered a quantitative irregularity in accumulation of 14C dates with reference to different cultures. In a number of cases, the authors show that the use of «the old» isolated and serial 14C dates can be complicated for some of them appeared to be younger or older than those of the present-day dates. In addition, there has been distinguished a number of sites and cultures associated with the Seima-Turbino phenomenon. Data resulted from an age determination of these sites has confirmed their contemporaneity within a time span ranging from c 2300 to 1900 cal BC. Conclusion: Results obtained from the dating of sites identified in the various regions confirm the all-Eurasian tendency to consider the Bronze Age complexes to be older. The study involves a comparative analysis of data derived from the different areas in the Urals and in the south of Siberia. As a result, the new chronological boundaries for some of cultures have been established. The analysis showed the contemporaneity of the Pit-Grave and Afanas'evo cultures, archaeological complexes with Seima-Turbino bronze artifacts, as well as the Andronovo cultural-historical community throughout the whole area of its occupation from the Minousinsk basin to the Urals. General synchronicities also demonstrate sites of the post-Andronovo period (Beloklyuchevka complexes, Barkhatovo, Irmen' and Karasuk cultures).