Radiocarbon Chronology of Medieval Archaeological Sites from the Forest-Steppe and Subtaiga Tobol-Irtysh Region

Purpose. The article presents the results of an analysis of the radiocarbon date series (143 units) from archaeological sites of the forest-steppe and subtaiga Tobol-Irtysh region, characterizing the features of habitation, functioning, construction during different stages of the Late Iron Age and the Middle Ages (from the 1st to the 15th century AD). Results. The main method of summing up calibrated dates in the work was the Kernel Density Estimate (KDE) model. The nonparametric statistical analysis used in the work has demonstrated its effectiveness dealing with big data. As a result, six graphs of the distribution of calibrated dates were constructed, corresponding to the periods established in the scientific literature: the Late Sarmatian period, the Great Migration Period, the Early and Developed Middle Ages. The chronological stages and sequence of changes in archaeological objects described in the work are closely connected with modern ideas about the dynamics of the material culture of Western Siberia. Conclusion. When interpreting the obtained ranges, the context was used, reflecting the dynamic change of cultural types, monuments and structures over a period of 1500 years. Thus, the KDE method is an effective statistical tool when working with large data of radiocarbon dates, allowing verification of conclusions based on classical archaeological methods such as typology.