BOTAI CULTURE OF THE URAL-IRTYSH CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL AREA

Abstract

 In this article, the author investigates the areal distribution of Botai culture monuments in the Ural-Irtysh cultural-historical area. The scientific literature on the Eneolithic of the Ural-Irtysh interfluves and adjacent regions of the Great Eurasian Steppe has been studied. Materials of scientific reports of the last years (from archives, museums and libraries of regions of Kazakhstan - Almaty, Petropavlovsk) were collected and analyzed. Archaeological reconnaissance, researches in field seasons 2021-2022 in territory of some areas of Kazakhstan were carried out. The osteological, ceramic material of the Eneolithic period was studied.  By the method of analogy, analysis and synthesis of archaeological data the preliminary results were received, hypotheses on distribution and existence in antiquity of settlements, identity of monuments of Botai culture as a significant part of the Ural-Irtysh cultural-historical area were put forward.

Materials and methods: The research material is the monuments of Botai culture and their degree of distribution in the territory of the Ural-Irtysh interfluve, the analogy of monuments of Botai culture with the monuments of the Ural-Irtysh cultural-historical community was made, the historiography on Eneolithic of the Ural-Irtysh interfluve and adjacent regions of the Great Eurasian steppe was studied. Archaeological reconnaissance, field researches in territory of some areas of Kazakhstan are carried out. The osteological and ceramic material of the Eneolithic period was studied. The method of analysis and synthesis of archaeological data has obtained preliminary results, hypotheses on spread and existence in antiquity of settlements, identity of monuments of Botai culture as a significant part of the Ural-Irtysh cultural-historical area have been put forward.