Conference Presentations by Vladimir Lozovski
13-16 May 2015, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Main topics of the conference:
1. Variability in mater... more 13-16 May 2015, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Main topics of the conference:
1. Variability in material culture categories in the Neolithic: the causes and consequences
2. Human environment in the Neolithic: ecological niches and peculiarities of local economics
3. Chronology of Neolithic cultures of Eastern Europe: problems of the relation between the results of natural science research and archaeological data
Call for papers by Vladimir Lozovski
EAA Glasgow 2015 - 2-5 September
Theme: Interpreting the Archaeological Record
Call for Paper... more EAA Glasgow 2015 - 2-5 September
Theme: Interpreting the Archaeological Record
Call for Papers and Posters (Deadline 16th February 2015)
Session AR11: Stationary fishing structures - Use of joint facilities by fishing communities
New research on European wetland, bog or underwater sites with well-preserved organics expands our understanding of the importance of aquatic resources in the economy of prehistoric Hunter-Fisher-Gatherer groups in Europe. The excellent preservation led not only to the discovery of active fishing gear like hooks, spears, leisters or tridents but also of larger equipment or structures like nets, traps or fishing fences. Better excavation methods led to the recovery of large quantities of small-sized faunal remains, which contradicts earlier investigations about the importance of fish as food. Finally, cutting-edge isotopic research on questions about human diet gives further evidence for the significance of this food resource.
Fishing could attain such importance for human consumption only because an appropriate technology was developed, with which substantial quantities of fish were captured. These were especially stationary fishing structures that are recorded in different coastal and inland regions since the Mesolithic. They were constructed from wood, stone and other materials, and are constructed in different ways, shapes and sizes. Predominantly the fishing structures are rather large, and it has to be supposed that prehistoric fishing communities organized the building and use, as well the processing of the catch, as a joint effort. Thus, the traditional manners of building and use have certainly established a kind of collective identity of the communities.
The session holders invite talks and posters that describe special archaeological features, review fishing technologies in a specific area or culture, or give evidence of long term traditions or comparisons from historic, ethnographic and experimental sources, or discuss question about ways of extracting, restoration and conservation of such fragile objects and their further life in museums, labs etc. It is anticipated that through discussion of the various themes, the workshop will stimulate the growing interest of the scientific community in new areas of research on stationary fishing structures and collaboration on a European-wide level.
Books and Papers by Vladimir Lozovski
The typological analysis of both Mesolithic layers at site Zamostje 2 reveals close similarity be... more The typological analysis of both Mesolithic layers at site Zamostje 2 reveals close similarity between them. In
both complexes the main type for tool making was fl ake, the number of tools made from fl akes increases in the upper
layer in comparison with the lower layer. The blades are not numerous and have massive and irregular proportions.
Bladelets and cores with negatives of bladelets are single. In both layers we can point out some standardization in
choice of blanks for the tools. It is very characteristic to fi nd the combination of several working edges on one blank
that has their refl ection in a large number of multi-blade tools. In both industries scrapers are predominant (61,9 %
and 44,4 %), the group of burins is completely absent. In the upper layer we observe a large increase in the number
of multifunctional tools (17,3 %). In the upper layer we also observe a series of leaf-shaped arrow-heads worked by
semi-abrupt retouch along perimeter of the blank. Roughly worked nodules, cores, bifacial and unifacial blanks are
widespread in complexes. Group of polished cutting tools found in both layers fi nishes the brief analysis.
In short, in the Mesolithic layers from Zamostje 2 site demonstrate different cultural phenomenon, from those
already known — Butovo and Yenevo cultures, the materials of this tradition is still to be recognized.
and sharing with colleagues.
Papers by Vladimir Lozovski
The survey of early Neolithic ceramic complexes of the site
Zamostje 2 is represented in this ar... more The survey of early Neolithic ceramic complexes of the site
Zamostje 2 is represented in this article. A special attention
is devoted to the analysis of non-decorated vessels, their technology
and morphology. The overview of conceptions about relative
and absolute chronology of Upper Volga culture, as well as new
C14 dates, are represented. This research allowed suggesting one
of the possible scenarios of ceramic traditions distribution on the
territory of Volga-Oka basin, which had origins in different parts
of Eastern Europe.
V. Lozovski, O. Lozovskaya et I. Clemente Conte (ed.) Zamostje 2. Lake settlement of the Mesolithic and Neolithic Fisherman in upper Volga Region, Russian Academy of Science, St Petersbourg., 2013
"The paper is devoted to the analysis of fishery as one of the most
important parts of the econo... more "The paper is devoted to the analysis of fishery as one of the most
important parts of the economy in the late Mesolithic — early
Neolithic periods in Central Russia. The used materials come
from the excavation of the multilayer peat-bog site Zamostje 2
(Moscow region, Russia). Different kinds of evidence of fishing
were analyzed: fish remains, bone tools (harpoon heads, barbed,
fish hooks, knives from elk ribs), wooden artifacts (floats, paddles),
finds of wooden constructions — fish traps and fish fence and,
finally, coprolites. Due to this approach it is possible to distinguish
differences in fishery strategies in the late Mesolithic and early
Neolithic and ways of consuming fish."
I. Clemente C., Y. Maigrot, E. Gyria, O. Lozovskaya, Aperos para pesca e instrumentos para el procesado de pescado en Zamostje 2 (Rusia): una experimentación para reconocer los rastros de uso, Palomo, Piqué y Terradas (ed.) Experimentación en arqueología Estudio y difusión del pasado, MAC, p. 65-73
En este trabajo presentamos la experimentación llevada a cabo con aperos e instrumentos óseos rel... more En este trabajo presentamos la experimentación llevada a cabo con aperos e instrumentos óseos relacionados
con la pesca y el procesado de pescado. La experimentación con cuatro especies de pescado nos ha mostrado
que las características específicas de los dientes dejan huellas distintas en los anzuelos. Por otro lado, también se describen las huellas observadas en arpones y cuchillos elaborados en costilla de alce utilizados para descamar y eviscerar pescado.
by Olga Lozovskaya, Radu Valentin, Yolaine Maigrot, Ignacio Jesus.clemente.conte.12185, Ermengol Gassiot Ballbè, Evgeny Girya, Marianna Kulkova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Ignacio Clemente Conte, Kristiina Mannermaa, Vladimir Lozovski, and Valentin Radu
Zamostje 2, on the Dubna River, c.100km north of Moscow, appears to offer an ideal opportunity
to... more Zamostje 2, on the Dubna River, c.100km north of Moscow, appears to offer an ideal opportunity
to understand the relative and absolute chronology of Upper Volga Early Neolithic pottery. More than 100
radiocarbon (14C) dates are available from a stratigraphic sequence which spans from the Late Mesolithic to the
Middle Neolithic. All typological stages are represented among over 18,000 sherds of Early Neolithic pottery, and
many of these sherds bear deposits of carbonised food remains (food-crusts), which can be dated directly by 14C;
more than 30 food-crusts have been dated directly. Nevertheless, there remains considerable uncertainty about
the date range of Upper Volga pottery at Zamostje 2, and many of the issues raised are relevant to dating early
pottery at other sites. Moreover, the absolute chronology of Upper Volga pottery must have some bearing on the
interpretation of 14C dates for pottery from adjoining regions. In this paper, we discuss alternative interpretations
of the Zamostje 2 evidence.
The Zamostje 2 site is situated on the left bank of Dubna River, one of the numerous sources of t... more The Zamostje 2 site is situated on the left bank of Dubna River, one of the numerous sources of the Volga River. The site is located in wet boggy conditions, which are favourable for pit formation. This environment is also favourable for good preservation of prehistoric bone, wooden and other organic remains. This fact explains the richness of the organic material collections, and their good preservation. The site is situated 110 km to the north of Moscow and 50 km to the north of Sergiev Possad.
L'estudi d'eines de fusta provinents de jaciments prehistòrics de medis humits suscita qü... more L'estudi d'eines de fusta provinents de jaciments prehistòrics de medis humits suscita qüestions en torn trets específics vinculats als seus mètodes de manufactura. L'estudi es fonamenta en una experimentació realitzada amb instruments de pedra, os i banya emprats en el treball de fusta, i en l'estudi de les traces tecnològiques desenvolupades sobre la superfície d'aquestes fustes i la seva comparació amb fustes arqueològiques. L'estudi de les col·leccions provinents de dos jaciments mesolítics d'Europa oriental -Zamostje 2 i Veretje 1-mostra diferents tradicions tecnològiques en la producció de les eines. Eines de fusta, traces tecnològiques, Mesolític, Europa oriental. The collections of wooden artifacts from wetland Stone Age settlements bring another questions about the specific features of their methods of making. The study is based on experiments with replicas of stone, bone and antler tools with use-wear traces from wood-working operations and the ...
Uploads
Conference Presentations by Vladimir Lozovski
Main topics of the conference:
1. Variability in material culture categories in the Neolithic: the causes and consequences
2. Human environment in the Neolithic: ecological niches and peculiarities of local economics
3. Chronology of Neolithic cultures of Eastern Europe: problems of the relation between the results of natural science research and archaeological data
Call for papers by Vladimir Lozovski
Theme: Interpreting the Archaeological Record
Call for Papers and Posters (Deadline 16th February 2015)
Session AR11: Stationary fishing structures - Use of joint facilities by fishing communities
New research on European wetland, bog or underwater sites with well-preserved organics expands our understanding of the importance of aquatic resources in the economy of prehistoric Hunter-Fisher-Gatherer groups in Europe. The excellent preservation led not only to the discovery of active fishing gear like hooks, spears, leisters or tridents but also of larger equipment or structures like nets, traps or fishing fences. Better excavation methods led to the recovery of large quantities of small-sized faunal remains, which contradicts earlier investigations about the importance of fish as food. Finally, cutting-edge isotopic research on questions about human diet gives further evidence for the significance of this food resource.
Fishing could attain such importance for human consumption only because an appropriate technology was developed, with which substantial quantities of fish were captured. These were especially stationary fishing structures that are recorded in different coastal and inland regions since the Mesolithic. They were constructed from wood, stone and other materials, and are constructed in different ways, shapes and sizes. Predominantly the fishing structures are rather large, and it has to be supposed that prehistoric fishing communities organized the building and use, as well the processing of the catch, as a joint effort. Thus, the traditional manners of building and use have certainly established a kind of collective identity of the communities.
The session holders invite talks and posters that describe special archaeological features, review fishing technologies in a specific area or culture, or give evidence of long term traditions or comparisons from historic, ethnographic and experimental sources, or discuss question about ways of extracting, restoration and conservation of such fragile objects and their further life in museums, labs etc. It is anticipated that through discussion of the various themes, the workshop will stimulate the growing interest of the scientific community in new areas of research on stationary fishing structures and collaboration on a European-wide level.
Books and Papers by Vladimir Lozovski
both complexes the main type for tool making was fl ake, the number of tools made from fl akes increases in the upper
layer in comparison with the lower layer. The blades are not numerous and have massive and irregular proportions.
Bladelets and cores with negatives of bladelets are single. In both layers we can point out some standardization in
choice of blanks for the tools. It is very characteristic to fi nd the combination of several working edges on one blank
that has their refl ection in a large number of multi-blade tools. In both industries scrapers are predominant (61,9 %
and 44,4 %), the group of burins is completely absent. In the upper layer we observe a large increase in the number
of multifunctional tools (17,3 %). In the upper layer we also observe a series of leaf-shaped arrow-heads worked by
semi-abrupt retouch along perimeter of the blank. Roughly worked nodules, cores, bifacial and unifacial blanks are
widespread in complexes. Group of polished cutting tools found in both layers fi nishes the brief analysis.
In short, in the Mesolithic layers from Zamostje 2 site demonstrate different cultural phenomenon, from those
already known — Butovo and Yenevo cultures, the materials of this tradition is still to be recognized.
Papers by Vladimir Lozovski
Zamostje 2 is represented in this article. A special attention
is devoted to the analysis of non-decorated vessels, their technology
and morphology. The overview of conceptions about relative
and absolute chronology of Upper Volga culture, as well as new
C14 dates, are represented. This research allowed suggesting one
of the possible scenarios of ceramic traditions distribution on the
territory of Volga-Oka basin, which had origins in different parts
of Eastern Europe.
important parts of the economy in the late Mesolithic — early
Neolithic periods in Central Russia. The used materials come
from the excavation of the multilayer peat-bog site Zamostje 2
(Moscow region, Russia). Different kinds of evidence of fishing
were analyzed: fish remains, bone tools (harpoon heads, barbed,
fish hooks, knives from elk ribs), wooden artifacts (floats, paddles),
finds of wooden constructions — fish traps and fish fence and,
finally, coprolites. Due to this approach it is possible to distinguish
differences in fishery strategies in the late Mesolithic and early
Neolithic and ways of consuming fish."
con la pesca y el procesado de pescado. La experimentación con cuatro especies de pescado nos ha mostrado
que las características específicas de los dientes dejan huellas distintas en los anzuelos. Por otro lado, también se describen las huellas observadas en arpones y cuchillos elaborados en costilla de alce utilizados para descamar y eviscerar pescado.
to understand the relative and absolute chronology of Upper Volga Early Neolithic pottery. More than 100
radiocarbon (14C) dates are available from a stratigraphic sequence which spans from the Late Mesolithic to the
Middle Neolithic. All typological stages are represented among over 18,000 sherds of Early Neolithic pottery, and
many of these sherds bear deposits of carbonised food remains (food-crusts), which can be dated directly by 14C;
more than 30 food-crusts have been dated directly. Nevertheless, there remains considerable uncertainty about
the date range of Upper Volga pottery at Zamostje 2, and many of the issues raised are relevant to dating early
pottery at other sites. Moreover, the absolute chronology of Upper Volga pottery must have some bearing on the
interpretation of 14C dates for pottery from adjoining regions. In this paper, we discuss alternative interpretations
of the Zamostje 2 evidence.
Main topics of the conference:
1. Variability in material culture categories in the Neolithic: the causes and consequences
2. Human environment in the Neolithic: ecological niches and peculiarities of local economics
3. Chronology of Neolithic cultures of Eastern Europe: problems of the relation between the results of natural science research and archaeological data
Theme: Interpreting the Archaeological Record
Call for Papers and Posters (Deadline 16th February 2015)
Session AR11: Stationary fishing structures - Use of joint facilities by fishing communities
New research on European wetland, bog or underwater sites with well-preserved organics expands our understanding of the importance of aquatic resources in the economy of prehistoric Hunter-Fisher-Gatherer groups in Europe. The excellent preservation led not only to the discovery of active fishing gear like hooks, spears, leisters or tridents but also of larger equipment or structures like nets, traps or fishing fences. Better excavation methods led to the recovery of large quantities of small-sized faunal remains, which contradicts earlier investigations about the importance of fish as food. Finally, cutting-edge isotopic research on questions about human diet gives further evidence for the significance of this food resource.
Fishing could attain such importance for human consumption only because an appropriate technology was developed, with which substantial quantities of fish were captured. These were especially stationary fishing structures that are recorded in different coastal and inland regions since the Mesolithic. They were constructed from wood, stone and other materials, and are constructed in different ways, shapes and sizes. Predominantly the fishing structures are rather large, and it has to be supposed that prehistoric fishing communities organized the building and use, as well the processing of the catch, as a joint effort. Thus, the traditional manners of building and use have certainly established a kind of collective identity of the communities.
The session holders invite talks and posters that describe special archaeological features, review fishing technologies in a specific area or culture, or give evidence of long term traditions or comparisons from historic, ethnographic and experimental sources, or discuss question about ways of extracting, restoration and conservation of such fragile objects and their further life in museums, labs etc. It is anticipated that through discussion of the various themes, the workshop will stimulate the growing interest of the scientific community in new areas of research on stationary fishing structures and collaboration on a European-wide level.
both complexes the main type for tool making was fl ake, the number of tools made from fl akes increases in the upper
layer in comparison with the lower layer. The blades are not numerous and have massive and irregular proportions.
Bladelets and cores with negatives of bladelets are single. In both layers we can point out some standardization in
choice of blanks for the tools. It is very characteristic to fi nd the combination of several working edges on one blank
that has their refl ection in a large number of multi-blade tools. In both industries scrapers are predominant (61,9 %
and 44,4 %), the group of burins is completely absent. In the upper layer we observe a large increase in the number
of multifunctional tools (17,3 %). In the upper layer we also observe a series of leaf-shaped arrow-heads worked by
semi-abrupt retouch along perimeter of the blank. Roughly worked nodules, cores, bifacial and unifacial blanks are
widespread in complexes. Group of polished cutting tools found in both layers fi nishes the brief analysis.
In short, in the Mesolithic layers from Zamostje 2 site demonstrate different cultural phenomenon, from those
already known — Butovo and Yenevo cultures, the materials of this tradition is still to be recognized.
Zamostje 2 is represented in this article. A special attention
is devoted to the analysis of non-decorated vessels, their technology
and morphology. The overview of conceptions about relative
and absolute chronology of Upper Volga culture, as well as new
C14 dates, are represented. This research allowed suggesting one
of the possible scenarios of ceramic traditions distribution on the
territory of Volga-Oka basin, which had origins in different parts
of Eastern Europe.
important parts of the economy in the late Mesolithic — early
Neolithic periods in Central Russia. The used materials come
from the excavation of the multilayer peat-bog site Zamostje 2
(Moscow region, Russia). Different kinds of evidence of fishing
were analyzed: fish remains, bone tools (harpoon heads, barbed,
fish hooks, knives from elk ribs), wooden artifacts (floats, paddles),
finds of wooden constructions — fish traps and fish fence and,
finally, coprolites. Due to this approach it is possible to distinguish
differences in fishery strategies in the late Mesolithic and early
Neolithic and ways of consuming fish."
con la pesca y el procesado de pescado. La experimentación con cuatro especies de pescado nos ha mostrado
que las características específicas de los dientes dejan huellas distintas en los anzuelos. Por otro lado, también se describen las huellas observadas en arpones y cuchillos elaborados en costilla de alce utilizados para descamar y eviscerar pescado.
to understand the relative and absolute chronology of Upper Volga Early Neolithic pottery. More than 100
radiocarbon (14C) dates are available from a stratigraphic sequence which spans from the Late Mesolithic to the
Middle Neolithic. All typological stages are represented among over 18,000 sherds of Early Neolithic pottery, and
many of these sherds bear deposits of carbonised food remains (food-crusts), which can be dated directly by 14C;
more than 30 food-crusts have been dated directly. Nevertheless, there remains considerable uncertainty about
the date range of Upper Volga pottery at Zamostje 2, and many of the issues raised are relevant to dating early
pottery at other sites. Moreover, the absolute chronology of Upper Volga pottery must have some bearing on the
interpretation of 14C dates for pottery from adjoining regions. In this paper, we discuss alternative interpretations
of the Zamostje 2 evidence.
Possad (Russia). This site is constituted by occupations from
the late Mesolithic to the middle Neolithic. If no habitat was
discovered, structures and many artefacts dealing with fishing
practices have been found there. Our attention was drawn
by a particular typological set of bone artefacts from Zamostje:
narrow transverso-lateral bevel ended tools of which sides compose
invariably an angle of 45°. The functional study of around forty
pieces had allowed to match them with wood working (Лозов-
ская, 1997). However, the variability in the breaks and in the
distribution of use-wear patterns makes that kinematics could
not be apparently cleared. From these first results and with the
help of target experiments, we carried out the use wear analysis
of all the collection that counts more than one hundred of “45°
bevelled bone tools”. We expected to specify their function and
their connexions with structures dealing with fishing at Zamostje.""
the interplay of human cultural history and its environmental context over the late Mesolithic e Middle
Neolithic, ca. 7900e5500 BP (7000e4300 BC). Compared to previous paleogeographical reconstructions
made more than 15 years ago and pollen diagrams for a number of profiles from Zamostje 2, along with
materials from other sites from the region, in this paper we present new data about the use of wood by
ancient inhabitants of lake settlements, and the discovery of fishery constructions. These data are used to
reconstruct local changes in paleo-landscape and its exploitation by ancient huntersefishermen during a
period of two thousand years. It was possible to correlate the types of fishing constructions with the
water-depth of the ancient lake. The fishery economic zone of the paleo-lake always been a structural
part of the settlement. New data allowed us to revise or update previous schemes of local paleolandscape
changes at the site, and the regional scheme of the Holocene vegetation development in
the Volga-Oka region.
of the Mesolithic and Neolithic inhabitants of Zamostje 2, a site
located on the Russian plain (Sergiev Possad, Moscow). The
abundant ichtiofaunal remains and the tools found at the site
(harpoons, needle nets, fishhooks and scaling knives) corroborate
this importance. In this article, we focus on the consumption
of fishhooks through an analysis of the usewear observed on their
surfaces. We compare the usewear observed on the archaeological
fishhooks with that seen on experimental fishhooks used to capture
fish species. We show how some attributes (disposition, quantity
and hardness of the fish teeth) influence the nature of the usewear,
especially the striations, formed on the surfaces of the fishhooks."
is vividly illustrated by a unique type of the cutting artifact—
made of the beaver lower jaw—with a natural haft. The nature
itself created a multipurpose wood-focused tool equipped with
a comfortable and ergonomic handle. This instrument type was
extraordinarily popular among the Mesolithic-Neolithic natives
of the Volga-Oka region. Following the analysis of numerous
beaver jaw tools from the Zamostje 2 site, which tallies over 1000 pieces, main approaches to bone modification and blade dressing have been identified as well as the order of reshaping operations and specifics of beaver incisor utilization. Used by multiple generations throughout two millennia, these tools had undergone little to no change. The specific area of their use is however still unclear. The article sheds light on some evidences of their use in the context of the wooden and bone inventory of the site.