extended abstracts - Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology

Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology
pit the miner village with metallurgical industry evidences in the form of slags with
chromites which are similar to inclusions in ore.
During the researches in Siberia Au from Khakarinsky dol (Altai Krai) and Arzhan
2 (Tuva) burial grounds were studied in collaboration with archaeologists from
Hermitage Museum and Altai University. In Au items from these burial grounds Os
inclusions differed from similar minerals of Urals monuments were established. Experts
from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS and Irkutsk University help
and discuss our researches. Major articles on geoarchaeological themes were published in
«Archaeology, ethnography and anthropology of Eurasia» Journal [2].
Kazakhstan. The project of ancient mines of Western Kazakhstan study was
carried out in collaboration with experts from Aktyubinsky Research Mining Oil Institute.
The places of Cu ores extraction in Mugodzhary Mountains were studied and the
publication about Mugodzhary Mining-Metallurgical Center was prepared. Ore resources
extracted from the Western Kazakhstan mines, and smelt metal quantity were
estimated [3]. Au compositions from the Kazakhstan Central State Museum collection,
including Issyk («Gold soldier») and Chiliktinsky burial grounds, Zhalauly and
Pokrovsky buried treasures, were studied. Au study from Taldy-2 burial ground was
meaningful and carried out in collaboration with experts from the Institute of
Archaeology of Margulan [4]. The review article titled «Ancient gold of Kazakhstan»
was prepared.
Turkmenistan. The works were executed in Gonur-Depe administrative and
cultural center existed in XXV-XVIII BC. These researches were carried out in
collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography RAS and Margiana
archaeological expedition. The aim was to analyze the petrofond of stone industry of
Margiana center.
Ukraine. The study of artifacts composition from Belsky settlement and
Pessochinsky burial ground near Kharkov was carried out in collaboration with
archaeologists from Kharkov National University and Kharkov local-history museum.
Brass and lead bars produced in the Early Middle-Ages workshops, were established. The
information about Au item compositions from Berdyansky, Tolstaya mogila, and
Alexandrovsky burial grounds was obtained from experts of the Institute of Geochemistry
and Ore Formation UAS (Kiev). Geologists from Donetsk National University gave the
data about Au compositions from Nagolny Mountain Ridge deposits.
Bulgaria. The researches were carried out in collaboration with experts from the
Institute of Archaeology, Museum of Bulgarian Science Academy, Vrats Museum and
Ada-Tepe Gold-Mining Company. Ancient Cu pits in SE Bulgaria were sampled and
analyzed. The publications about gold compositions from Au- and Ag of Vilchitryn,
Mogilanska mogila, and Rogosen buried treasures were prepared.
Conclusion. According to obtained data the monograph «Geoarchaeology» was
published [5], which devoted to geological methods application in archaeological
researches. In the monograph, except for «Uralian» objects, information about geological
expeditions to Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia and Eastern Europe is used. The
methodology of petrographical, mineralogical and mineragraphical study is demonstrated
to determine raw material sources where used by ancient metallurgists. The tutorial is
intended for students of archaeology and geology. Monograph in Internet is:
http://baseserv.ilmeny.ac.ru/files/OFIC/REPOSITORY_F/1947.pdf. In what follows
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