Potter's auxiliary wooden tools in the Albazin fortres (Amur region)

Purpose: The article presents the results of comprehensive trasology and comparative-typological analyses of wooden artifacts obtained during the first archaeological research on the territory of fortress Albazin (XVII century) in the Amur region in 1975-1976. The importance and necessity of introducing artifacts from raw collections obtained during the study of archaeological objects many years ago into scientific circulation is indisputable. Every scientist remembers it and strives to describe the artifacts obtained in details. New information received from the source by means of comprehensive analysis expands our horizons and overcomes the limits of knowledge about the object of the research. It provides additional information about the previously unknown aspects of life and activities of the population, handmade things created in the region and their cultural potential. Results: Classification of objects according to their functional purpose determines not only their range, but allows scientists to distinguish their groups, types of products, etc. Studying methods and ways of each artifact manufacturing gives us important information about the level of production development with reference to products of a certain kind. It also informs us about the emergence and transformation of technological traditions, about the intricacies and peculiarities of the processed materials as well as the tools used by ancient masters. The entire collection of wooden artifacts found in Albazin numbered more than one hundred pieces. There we about half fully preserved products and the rest were large and small fragments. The functional analysis applied to the artifacts revealed that they could be divided into certain categories of goods: household items, weapons, artisans’ tools and auxiliary potter's tools. Conclusion: There are many items relevant to making pottery in a rather extensive collection of wooden artifacts from the Albazin fortress. In terms of manufacturing technology, a special set of modeling tools used for various purposes deserves special attention. All these products have a long stick with complex curved working parts at the ends. They are carefully carved with a special carving knife. We managed to identify traces of a knife applied for smoothing the surface and some traces of recycling The stacks, the scrapers, the knives, the spoons and the other tools of Albazin fortress are similar to auxiliary potter's tools from other sites, for example from the pottery center in Oposhnya (Ukraine). This article is devoted to studying and introducing into scientific circulation the items made of wood from Albazin fortress (17th century) in the Amur region, which were found during excavations in the mid-seventies of the previous century.