The Sintashta pottery typology: problems and prospects

Purpose: This article considers different typological schemes proposed by scholars as a result of investigation of pottery collections from fortified settlements of the Sintashta culture (South Urals, XXI-XVIII centuries BC). Results: The first task of the study is the comparison of various typologies in order to reveal the common and special features of ceramic assemblages from different sites. The second task is an attempt to estimate the prospects of using of typological approach for the Sintashta pottery systematization and to outline the scope of connected problems. Though the Sintashta culture sites have been studied by archaeologists during several decades, at the present time only four settlement collections are available for comparison. These are materials of Arkaim, Kamenny Ambar, Ust'e I and Sintashta fortified settlements. All the authors approached differently to the systematization of ceramics. Nevertheless, as a result of a comparative analysis eight types of utilitarian pottery were distinguished. Four types are represented by vessels with neck, classified on the base of distinctive morphological features of necks and bodies. The rest of types are the bowls, differentiated by morphology and specific decorative patterns. The share of each category considerably varies between different sites, as well as morphological and ornamental features of pots. Moreover, the internal diversity of types is very great. The problem of the Sintashta pottery variability was considered within the framework of the style theory, which allows us to interpret this phenomenon as a reflection of a horizontal differentiation of society and as an expression of well-defined concepts of group identity. Multicomponent structure of the Sintashta cultural tradition, recognized by all scholars, might be the ground for the horizontal differentiation of society. But composition of cultural components, their quantity and sources are heatedly discussed by archaeologists until now. Another reason might be found in the regional specificity of the different local groups of the Sintashta population. A great variability of wares and a high rate of fragmentation complicate systematization of settlement collections. The main task at the present time is the development of the unified typology of the Sintashta pottery and the search of reliable criteria of systematization. Conclusion: In this connection the system approach (that is the using of stable sets of morphological, technological and decorative features) seems like the most perspective.