Archaeological findings on Suchu island (excavations of 1995)

This article describes excavation of dwelling 5 on the Amur island of Suchu in 1995. Stratigraphy and spatial distribution were analyzed for obtaining information on the dwelling and space between dwellings. Method of morphological typology was applied to lithic artifacts. Pottery was researched using binocular microscopy (MBS-10 microscope) from the viewpoint of cultural chronology along with objects of art and cult. Semi-dugout with ledge-like "bunks” along the perimeter inside the excavation pit was a frame-and-post structure. It had a tent-shaped roof with the hole serving as an entrance, which was typical for the Neolithic dwelling complexes of the Amur region. Analysis of the morphological typology of lithic artifacts revealed objects of primary reduction and tools with predominantly bifacial stone processing, manifesting sophisticated economy of dwelling inhabitants taiga hunters, river fishermen, and gatherers. Pottery demonstrated consistency in technological, morphological, and decorative features, and thus can be considered a single complex ofpottery tradition. Its specific features included presence offreshwater mollusk shells in the fabrics along with grog. A distinctive series of vessels was decorated with rich curvilinear patterns. The dwelling and whole complex which included nonutilitarian objects of art and cult, belonged to the Malyshevo culture. The material evidence suggests that the dwelling was inhabited for a considerable period of time and was abandoned in a peaceful situation, tentatively in the second half of the fourth millennium BC.