Late Krotovo (Cherno-ozerye) burials with casting molds from Tartas-1, Baraba forest-steppe

We describe five burials with casting molds from the Late Krotovo (Cherno-Ozerye) cemetery Tartas-1 in the Baraba forest-steppe. Three of them form a distinct group belonging to two parallel rows of graves. One of the reconstructed molds was destined for casting Seima-Turbino-type celts, the other, for manufacturing thin rods, round in section. One kernel was used for making a hollow in a tiny chisel-like tool. All molds are made of clay and bear traces of prolonged use. They were made using a bottom board; molding mixture was smoothed and tamped, excessive material was removed with a narrow-bladed cutting tool, and lines were drawn on the raw surface. Certain graves with molding tools were single, others were collective. All basic age and sex groups are represented: adults, adolescents, women and children, apparently suggesting that all were involved in manufacture, and the skills were transmitted from one generation to another. Because children were involved too, status was heritable. Emphasis on bronze casting in the funerary rite, virtually without traces of other specializations, indicates a separate social stratum, whose share was no higher than 4 %. Obviously, not all its members were professional casters; some may have participated occasionally.