Results and Prospects of the Study of Neolithic Sites on the Lake Baikal Coast

The article aims to generalize the information on the Neolithic sites of the Baikal coast identified for all period of the research, to evaluate their significance and prospects for further study. It is based on literary, archival materials and the results of our own field work. A list of objects (93 sites) was determined, their mapping was done, preliminary dating was clarified, data on radiocarbon dates ware collected (48 dates for 12 sites). Among the Neolithic objects, microlayered sites containing pure complexes of this time are the most important. 34 such objects have been recorded along the entire coast of Lake Baikal. Excavations were carried out on 17 of them, the rest of the sites were revealed by small excavation works. Approximately a third of objects (29 sites) are identified based on the collection of exposed material. A significant group is represented by macrolayered objects (30 sites), where the Neolithic materials are in a situation of compression with the complexes of other chronological periods. The unevenness of the archaeological study of the Baikal shore is noted. The Cis-Olkhon region has the greatest scientific potential. 10 microlayered sites (out of 22) were comprehensively excavated on this territory. Enough reliable stratigraphy, geological and geomorphological characteristics, qualitative, informative archaeological material, and the series of radiocarbon dates were obtained. The southwestern Baikal shore sites (3 out of 7 microlayered objects have been excavated) and Chivyrkui Bay (1 out of 3 objects) represented a promising material. These archaeological sites are a reliable source base and pivotal in the study of the regional Neolithic. At present, the largest number of sites with complexes of the Early (16 sites) and Late (13 sites) Neolithic have been identified on the Baikal coast. Complexes of the Middle Neolithic in microlayered position are noted at 6 sites. The complexes of the Cis-Olkhon region and the southwestern Baikal coast are provided with radiocarbon dates. For the Late Neolithic there are 25 reliable dates, for the Early Neolithic – 19 dates, for the Middle Neolithic – 4 dates. According to them, the complexes of the Early Neolithic are dated in the range of 7214–6123 BP (8160–6910 cal BP), Middle Neolithic – 5874–5597 BP (6750–6310 cal BP), Late Neolithic – 4967–4217 BP (5840–4630 cal BP). In general, the Neolithic sites of the Baikal coast have great scientific potential and prospects for future research

Archaeology · Bay · Excavation · Geography · Radiocarbon dating · Shore · Technology, Environment, Urban Planning · Geology · Oceanography · Paleontology · Stratigraphy

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