A05_P06

Absolute chronology of the pile-dwelling constructions at Seretya II site (Western Russia) and palaeoecological context

Krapiec M ¹,  Mazurkevich A², Kittel P³, Dolbunova E², Bernard V⁴, Maigrot Y⁵, Szychowska-Krąpiec E¹

¹AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland, ²The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, ³University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland, ⁴Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France, ⁵CNRS-Université Paris 1 Panthéon – Sorbonne, Nanterre, France

Results of several years archaeological research of the Serteya II site revealed the use of the area by hunter-fisher-gatherer socialites from the Mesolithic, through the Early Neolithic until the Mid- and Late Neolithic. Extremely important are the wooden constructions of Late Neolithic pile-dwellings of domestic structures, which are well-preserved within lacustrine sediment along with reach artefacts and ecofacts. The archaeological layer, at a depth from ca. 80 to ca 150 cm b.s.l. within coarse detritus gyttja, was excavated using underwater and wetland archaeological methods. Until now, six pile-dwellings, with floor remains made from large wooden bark placed on poles and wooden planks, as well as fireplaces with sand bases, were discovered. The accompanying artefacts were attributed to the Zhizhitsa Culture (ca. 2900–2000 BC). The archaeological layers are also rich in ecofacts, as: fish remains, shells of hazelnuts, water chestnuts, acorns, bones.

The radiocarbon date set shows that these constructions could have existed between 2900 and 2000 cal. BC, while the heydays of the pile-dwelling settlement took place ca. 2470–2270 cal. BC. The archaeological and palaeoenvironmental contexts suggest that they functioned in a palaeolake shore zone with seasonal(?) water table fluctuations. The disappearance (or at least a decrease in the importance) of the pile-dwelling settlement coincided with the 4.2 ka BP cooling event, resulted in an increase of palaeolake water table.

The research project was financed by grants from the National Science Centre, Poland based on the decision No. 2017/25/B/HS3/00274.