On Early Pottery-Making in the Russian Far East

Eastern Asia is considered to be an important area of early pottery-making. This is especially true for the Japanese archipelago. A series of sites containing archaic ceramics was discovered as early as the 1960s and more sites continue to be discovered today. Most of these sites are dated between 12,000 and 10,000 B.P. and are attributed to the Incipient Jomon period according to current archaeological conceptions (Hanamiyama 1995; Kobayashi 1983; Kurishima 1995; Sensiten Nihon no rekishi 1993; Serizawa 1976; Suda 1995). In the Russian Far East, the problem of pottery-making origins has been explored only recently (Derevyanko and Medvedev 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995; Garkovik and Zhushchikhovskaya 1995; Golubev and Zhushchikhovskaya 1987; Zhushchikhovskaya 1995a, 1995b). Sites containing simple ceramics were discovered in the Amur River basin, the Primorie (Maritime) region, and on Sakhalin Island. These sites are widely dated from between 13,000 to 6000 B.P. In this paper, the expression early ceramics has two meanings. First, early ceramics refers to the assemblages that are determined as early according to their absolute or relative datings. Second, early ceramics are identified as such from their characteristics reflecting the level and complexity of pottery-making technological development. This study of early ceramics assemblages in the Russian Far East is intended to examine the correlation of these two positions and to introduce the reader to an area of Asia not generally represented in the English-language archaeological literature. The research area of this article includes the Russian Far East territories bordering on the Japan Sea, especially the lower Amur River basin, Primorie (Maritime) region, and Sakhalin Island (Fig. 1). My primary purpose in writing this article is to present and interpret the archaeological data on early ceramics assemblages in the Russian Far East that may not be otherwise available to archaeologists working in Asia. Also, I consider some of the reasons and conditions pertaining to the origins of pottery-making in this research area. [Figure 1 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA Lower Amur River Region Two of the most interesting sites containing early ceramics were discovered in the lower Amur River region. These sites are Gasya and Khummy (see Fig. 1). Gasya -- This site is located on the bank terrace of the Amur River not far from Khabarovsk City and consists of several culture-chronological components (Derevyanko and Medvedev 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995). The lowest occupation has two radiocarbon datings of 12,960 [+ or -] 120 B.P. (floor context) and 10,875 [+ or -] 90 B.P. (roof context). This component contains stone artifacts associated with the Osipovskaya mesolithic tradition, that is, pebble adze-shaped and scraper-shaped tools, projectile points, bifaces, knives, endscrapers, sidescrapers, blades, and wedge-shaped cores. Also fragments of ceramic vessels were found in the lowest component. An examination of this pottery by Vitaly Medvedev and myself leads me to conclude that the pottery-making technology was unadvanced. The ceramic paste consists of clay with nonplastic mineral inclusions (quartz, feldspar) and plant fiber temper. The last is identified by long, rough impressions on the surfaces and in the cores of sherds. In some cases the plant fibers are not burned out completely and are thus carbonized. The ceramic samples are very fragile and weak. The walls of the sherds are uneven and thick. The forming method cannot yet be reconstructed with any precision. I have hypothesized that some kind of moulding or a paddle and anvil technique was used because of impressed basketlike patterns on the outer surface of one vessel (Fig. 2B). The ceramic shapes are simple, flat-bottomed but vary slightly. In one case it is possible to determine that there is no distinction between the body and orifice parts (Fig. …