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The formation of the early bronze-casting production in Baraba and the appearance of products of the Seima-Turbino type were completed within the 3rd — early 2nd mil. BC — during the existence of the Krotovo Cul-ture. Plenty of work has been devoted to its characterization; the presence of bronze-casting on the sites has been noted, but special studies of this type of sources are extremely few. The purpose of this paper is to present the characteristics of the production areas associated with the processing of non-ferrous metals, based on mate-rials of the Vengerovo-2 settlement of the Krotovo Culture. Production sites were studied in six dwellings of the settlement. The uniformity of the workshops has been revealed in terms of site planning and principles of organi-zation of the production, although differences in scale have been noted. The use of two types of the forges has been recorded. In all these workshops and in other sites of the culture, a multifunctional sub-rectangular hearth buried in the ground with the walls and floor lined with fragments of ceramics or clay coating was found (with di-mensions of 1.65×0.87–2.3×0.9×0.21–0.52 m). The second type of the forges is less common — a small round or oval pit (0.4–0.5 m in diameter) with the bottom and walls lined with baked clay or fragments. The smelting was carried out with forced air supply. The casting of the metal was taking place next to the forge. Crushed bones were used as fuel. The production complex demonstrates extensive external economic and commercial ties. This is manifested by penetration of significant volumes of non-ferrous metal into the ore-barren areas of the Central Baraba, as well as by the presence of imported foundry equipment (molds made of marl and talc). The simultaneous presence inside the casters’ dwellings of bones of taiga-zone animals and those living in the southern, steppe regions indicates significant length of the supply routes. The specific features and unification of the production of the manufacturing equipment, nature of the work carried out, volume of heats, and a large number of similar-type forms suggest specialization of the village in the bronze casting production.

This study focuses on areas evidencing bronze casting at the Odino culture site, Stary Tartas-5, in the Baraba foreststeppe. One such area is within dwelling 1 and has a smelting hearth and pits situated nearby; the other, outside the dwelling, has a smelting kiln. We provide characteristics of these areas and their archaeological context. Each artifact from the foundries is described in detail, parallels are listed, and results of binocular microscopy of the molding compound are outlined. Based on findings of thermogravimetric studies, we assess the functions of technical pottery represented by fragments, and the number of times various items of the casting set could have been used. Previously, crucibles shaped as straight-walled jars have not been found at Odino sites, with the exception of a single intact specimen from burial 286 at the Tartas-1 cemetery. Dwelling 1 at Tartas-5 and the workshop associated with it were apparently parts of a single household. The Odino bronze casting tradition was retained by the Krotovo population, who supplemented it with innovations, such as the use of oval cups with thicker bottoms adapted to their own casting practices. The Odino sites in the Baraba forest-steppe date to the first half of the third millennium BC. It is concluded that the evidence of the bronze casting industry found at Stary Tartas-5 is the earliest in that region, and that its level in the Odino culture was high.

We describe smelting furnaces found in southwestern Siberia, at the Tartas-1 ritual site, representing the eastern variant of the Pakhomovskaya culture. This is so far the only known site where the ritual complex, which includes post holes, and utility and ritual pits, adjoins a special manufacturing area with furnaces for smelting copper ore and processing bronze. The pits, differing in form, depth, and size, belonged to a structure. Furnaces are of two types: deep ones, dug into virgin soil, and shallow ones with domes. The former were destined for smelting ore, and the latter for processing metal. The construction of both types is described in detail. The smelting furnaces are peculiar and have no direct parallels in the Late Bronze Age settlements and sanctuaries of southwestern Siberia, while being somewhat similar to smelting furnaces of the Early Iron Age Itkul culture of the Trans-Urals. Furnaces of the second type resemble those of the local Late Irmen culture. Apparently, in the Baraba forest-steppe, where no copper ore outcrops are available, the ritual complexes included furnaces destined for both smelting ore and processing metal. The bronze metallurgy in the region may have been introduced by immigrants practicing both copper ore smelting and metal processing.

Purpose. Metalworking production of the Early Bronze Age in Western Siberia is discussed in this article. Results. The first signs of local production can be traced to the beginning of the third millennium BC in Odino culture settlements occupying a vast area of the Ob-Irtysh forest-steppe. At present, foundry production has been identified at Stary Tartas-5, Tartas-1 and Markovo-2 settlements. The materials of the first two complexes have been published. This article is devoted to the introduction of the Markovo-2 bronze casting complex, examination of the archaeological context of finding materials, and description of the structure and objects inside it. The traces of intensive foundry activity were found in only one dwelling at the settlement. This can be explained by specialization and concentration of production in the hands of certain groups within the settlement population. Planigraphic and stratigraphic analysis make it possible to reconstruct this dwelling as a surface structure with a slightly elongated oval shape. The production complex consisted of a smelter and a utility pit located in the central part of the dwelling. The finds from the filling are represented by fragments of at least five clay molds and two melting pots. For each bronze casting item, a complete description, data from binocular analysis of molding masses, analogies and reconstruction of the manufacturing method are provided. Conclusion. Based on the research, it was concluded that the metalworking traditions, techniques, equipment and tools formed in Odin culture are spread over the vast territories of the Siberian forest-steppe zone and continue to exist within Krotovo culture. The Odino sites in the Baraba forest-steppe date to the first half of the third millennium BC. It is concluded that the evidence of the bronze casting industry found at Markovo-2 is the earliest in that region, and that its level in Odino culture was high.

During the excavations at an Early Iron Age site of Kargat-4 in central Baraba, a foundry was discovered. The complex consisted of a melting furnace in the center of the structure and several utility pits. We give a detailed description of these features, the associated artifacts, and the archaeological context. Among the items from the infi ll are fragments of at least fi ve clay molds, three crucibles, drops of spilt bronze, a fragment of a spout, and bronze tongs. The casting kit included three stone utensils—two whetstones and a hammer. All the molds were destined for casting celts. The best preserved one had two valves, which were found inside a dwelling in a utility pit at the entrance and outside it. For each artifact, a detailed description, results of the analysis, and parallels are provided. Techniques of manufacturing molds and crucibles, such as those found at the site, are reconstructed. They are shown to have originated in areas situated west or southwest of Kargat-4. During the Early Scythian age they were practiced in northern Kazakhstan and eastern Urals, and they were apparently introduced to central Baraba by people associated with the Bolshaya Rechka culture during the Bronze to Iron Age transition, as evidenced by the Berlik and Krasnoye Ozero cultures.

Dated to the transitional period from the Bronze Age to Early Iron Age (fourteenth to eighth centuries BC), a unique site discovered at Tartas-1 in Western Siberia has yielded the remains of frame-and-post structures, metallurgic furnaces, votive bronze objects, pottery fragments, and animal and human bones. The authors argue that this site represents the first known cultic complex in Western Siberia.

An Early and Middle Bronze Age multicomponent burial ground at Ordynskoye-1 is described and interpreted with special reference to the chronology and cultural affinities of the two principal components – Krotovo and Yelunino.

Results of the statistical analysis of spatial distribution of ceramics at Chicha-1, Zavialovo-5, and Linevo-1 indicate ethnic heterogeneity and the presence of native and immigrant ceramic traditions within separate sites and even within single dwellings. The arrangement of pottery inside residence structures follows certain regularities. All residents, however, were apparently involved in the same manufacture.

The paper presents archaeological materials recovered from the Tartas-1 burial ground in 2010. The limited area of Tartas-1 contains burials, the stratigraphic position of which makes it possible to establish a periodization of Early and Middle Bronze Age cultures in the Baraba forest-steppe. The paper describes burials attributed to the Ust-Tartas, Odino, Krotovo, and Late Krotovo cultures.

This article focuses on the analysis of archaeological material attributed to the early stage of the Urilsky culture from the multilayered site of Bukinsky Kluch-1 on the Bureya River. The most signifi cant artifacts in this assemblage are an iron rod and a bronze palmate plate of the Karasuk type. The stone implements present in the assemblage indicate that hunting and fi shing were the site inhabitants’ main occupations. Numerous fl akes, spalls, cores, hammerstones, and anvils suggest that stone tools were produced at the site itself. Evidence of subsistence activities at Bukinsky Kluch-1, the absence of dwellings and the random distribution of charcoal accumulations all suggest that the site represents a seasonal hunting and fi shing camp subject to irregular usage. The article suggests that it is premature to speak of the Bronze Age as a separate stage in the prehistory of the Amur basin (at least in its western part) for several reasons. Firstly, the assemblage attributed to the Urilsky culture which replaced the Late Neolithic Osinovoe Ozero culture on the western Amur, includes bronze and iron artifacts that may be replicas of Karasuk prototypes. Secondly, there is evidence of local iron metallurgy. Thirdly, new radiocarbon dates suggest that the Urilsky culture emerged in the 12th cent. BC. It would appear that local culture bearers began producing bronze and iron simultaneously (in the late 2nd and early 1st millennia BC).