Поволжская археология

Archive » The Volga River Region Archaeology Vol.4 (18) 2016

Towards the Study of the Early Medieval Site Bashanta-II

Ochir-Goryaeva M.A., Sitdikov A.G. (Kazan, Russian Federation), Kiyashko Ya.A. (Volgograd, Russian Federation), Naga T. (Ürümqi, Republic of China).

UDC 902 + 069.4

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24852/pa2016.4.18.23.36

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The authors offer preliminary results on study of a new early medieval site discovered in the Gorodovikovo District (Kalmykia) during a field survey near Bashanta-I hillfort at Chapaevskoe Lake (or Tsagan nur in Kalmyk language). The new site is found 8 km to the south-west from Bashanta-I hillfort, on the bank of the Egorlyk River. The site is dated by two radiocarbon dates by the middle of the 7^th – late 8^th centuries, i.e. by the time of Khazar Khanate. Some preliminary studies on the site included topographical mapping, collection of stray finds and a few prospection pits. These activities yielded numerous ceramic sherds, roof tiles and debris of masonry. Judging by the existing cultural stratum, remains of stone structures made of shell stone blocks and numerous ceramic finds of good quality, the new site was a settlement of Saltovo-Mayaki Culture, presumably a satellite hillfort. The identity of ceramics and construction materials allowed the authors to name this new site as Bashanta-II.

Keywords

archaeologyVolga-Don regionearly Middle AgesKhazar KhanatesteppeSaltovo-Mayaki culturehillfortstone structuresPontic amphorae.

About the author(s)

Ochir-Goryaeva Maria A., Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan. Butlerov St., 30, Kazan, 420012, the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; mariaochir@rambler.ru

Sitdikov Airat G., Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology named after A. Kh. Khalikov, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan. Butlerov St., 30, Kazan, 420012, the Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation; sitdikov_a@mail.ru

Kiyashko Yakov A., Volgograd State University. Prodolnaya St., 8, Volgograd , 400062, Russian Federation; kiyashko.ya@gmail.com

Naga T., Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the People's Republic of China (PRC). Beijing Nanlu St., Ürümqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, PRC; nagateerbayier@sina.com