Broomcorn Millet Impressions on Early Iron Age Ceramics from Тоrtoba Burial Mound in Western Kazakhstan

Yuka Sasaki, Saule Rakhimzhanova, Akhan Onggar, Arhat Kairmagambetov, Eiko Endo, Paula Doumani Dupuy, Madina Makulbekova, Robert Spengler, Shinya Shoda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The article presents the first results of the study of vessels found in the monuments of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages of Kazakhstan by removing silicone replica from the surface of ceramic vessels. The method consists in finding and identifying traces of seeds, insects and other three-dimensional objects on the surface of pottery sherds. The study of pottery impressions allows: 1. identify which types of plants were used in the past; 2. establish which tools were used to make pottery; 3. discover organic materials used by ancient societies, etc. In total, 103 pottery sherds were analyzed from the Saba burial ground (Kostanay region), where vessels of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages were found, as well as from the Early Iron Age burial ground of Tortoba (Aktobe region). As a result of the study, it was possible to successfully identify broomcorn millet at the Early Iron Age burial ground of Tortoba using the method of silicone replicas to pottery impressions. The discovered samples of millet of the Early Iron Age from Western Kazakhstan are the first example of millet fixation in the form of an impression in the walls of pottery sherds. This work is the first experimental study of impressions in sherds of the Early Iron Age of Western Kazakhstan. The result not only sheds new light on the use of broomcorn millet in this era, but also highlights the success of the application of this analytical technique in this geographical area.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)116-132
Number of pages17
JournalKazakhstan Archeology
Volume2022
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Keywords

  • archaeology
  • Bronze Age
  • burial ground
  • casting
  • early Iron Age
  • impressions
  • millet
  • pottery
  • Saba
  • Tortoba

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Archaeology
  • Archaeology

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