History/2. Common history

PnD in hist., assoc. prof. Soenov V., PnD in hist. Trifanova S.,

Konstantinov N., Konstantinova E., Soenov D.

Gorno-Altaisk State University, Russia

Cheposhsky hillforts (Altai)

For many years of archaeological researches have shown that in Siberia everywhere, except for a tundra zone, have been various hillforts.

In Altai Mountains was found seven hillforts (Jalomansky, Nizhniy Cheposh-3, Nizhniy Cheposh-4, Manzheroksky, Barangolsky, Cheremshansky, Emurlinsky). Only one of them (Jalomansky hillfort) is in the central part of Altai, other objects are located in northern part of region, in a small area of the valley of the Katun length less than 40 km. [1, p. 252-260].

In our opinion, the first data about hillfort Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4 are known from the end of the XIXth century, when the priest of the Altai Mission Peter Benedictov has made the short list of monuments of Chemalsky branch [2, p. 338]. In 1986-1987 years these objects are studied archaeologist P. Shulga. In different years these monuments were studied with opening of an occupation layer by P.I. Shulga, A.A. Tishkin, V.I. Soyonov [3, p. 249-253].

In 2009 on the hillforts were laid the trenches across ramparts and ditches for the identification of the fortifications [4, p. 13-27]. During excavation on a hillforts Nizhniy Cheposh-3 we found parts of the fortifications. It represents the remains of the wall, the three ditches and clayey earthy rampart. Possibly, the fortress wall was in the form of two-row frame-and-pillar or carcass construction, the space between them was filled with a clay mortar. Under rampart there were two small pit in which was pillars and two deep pits filled with clay concrete. Perhaps, they were the pit of the foundations of the tower, located at the end of the fortress wall at the edge of the terrace. Perhaps, they were the pit of the foundations of the tower, located at the end of the fortress wall at the edge of the terrace. On the Nizhniy Cheposh-4 we found two ramparts and two ditches. Under external rampart also is fixed the deep pit filled with burnt clay. Perhaps, it was one of the pits of the foundation of the tower, located at the end of the wall or pillar pit frame-pole-protective structures on the crest of the shaft.

Summing up topographic, technical specifics and other fortifications especially of hillforts Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4, can be noted the following unique features: the location on the banks of tributary of the Katun River, near the exit site of the river from the gorge into the valley; location at the edge of the high and wide terraces; irregularly oval form of the hillforts in the plan; bending inward line of fortifications in the hillfort Nizhniy Cheposh-3; the existence of a double line of fortifications in the hillfort Nizhniy Cheposh-4 – the main line and «citadel»; the existence of a fortified in the form of a system consisting of several ramparts and ditches; the presence of the most powerful fortifications in the north-eastern side; escarpmenting slopes of the terrace to the north-west side of settlements; the presence of residues of wood-earthen and earthen fortifications; the use of mortars in the construction of fortifications.

When carrying out excavations on the Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4 we have found artifacts, bones of animals and fishes, that allowing to examine some aspects of life history of the population and also to determine the chronological and cultural belonging objects. Items found in the cultural layer of the hillforts is made of ceramic, bone, horn and stone. Things are divided into several groups according to their functional purpose: the weapons, the household items and the personal toiletries and adornments and the ritual utensils, the instruments of labour and potteries. The large part of the material discovered in the Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4 has not a narrow chronological pegs. Dating artifacts are a horn detail of composite bow, fragment of cosmetic brushes and fragments of pottery.

The ceramic complex from the Nizhny Cheposh-3 very uniform, from the main complex differs small amount of pottery fragments. Forms of vessels are presented mainly flat-bottomed pots and low bowl with rather poor ornamentation. Analogies to this ceramic complex are located in dishes of Maiminsky archeological culture of hunno-sarmatian time.

Analysis of archaeological materials obtained from the hillforts of the Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4 also allows to reconstruct some of the elements of the system life support of the population. The osteological data show that the population of the city bred sheep, horses, cattle [5, p. 166-171].

Hunting was an important source of population with food and raw materials for the production of wealth [6. p. 70-71]. In addition, on hunting perfected various military skills. Remains of fish in the layer of hillfort indicate a occupation of the population by fishing. Fishery, probably, was only an auxiliary branch, though sufficiently developed and technically equipped.

The finds of bone and horn show a high level of craft people of hillforts [7, p. 197-211]. The objects of bone carving is an additional confirmation of dating of the monument hunno-sarmatian time, because the items have an analogy in simultaneous monuments of the region and adjacent territories.

Thus, consideration of fortification features of hillforts the Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4 and the material allows to include these monuments to maiminsky culture of Altai of hunno-sarmatian time (the I millennium B.C. – the first centuries of the I millennium B.C.) [8, p. 285-294]. Age of the Nizhnecheposhskiy hillfort of hunno-sarmatian time confirms a series of radiocarbon (14C) dates received by the analysis of samples of soil and charcoal. Taking into account the scatter dates in calibration, allows the existence of hillfortы in the broader framework of the I century B.C. – the III centuries B.C.

Our research allowed noted that during the I millennium B.C. – I thousand B.C. hillfort of the Altai and its foothills, except for the Jalomansky hillfort, kept the South-Siberian tradition of the construction of buildings and fortifications, which had significant differences from Сentral Asia. The influence of other fortification tradition can be traced in hunno-sarmatian time in changes topographic placement of hillforts and construction techniques. In the I century B.C. – V century A.D. in the Altai and the foothills appeared the increasing number of fortifications on the hillforts, but the main features of South-Siberian building tradition continues to exist in the forms of plan fortifications, wooden or wood-earthen architecture fortifications, etc.

None of the fortification can not compete with the natural defense of the area, which includes the mountains, high hills, so the population of the Altai mountains in ancient times and the middle ages was not customary creation of fortified settlements. The tradition of the construction of hillfort came here in hunno-sarmatian time with the population of the plains part of the Lower Katun, Biya and the Upper Ob, because in the foothills of the hillforts existed there from the early Scythian time. According to our observations, the fortifications of the hillforts of the Northern Altai, including on the Nizhniy Cheposh-3 and Nizhniy Cheposh-4, appeared and functioned in a short period of time in hunno-sarmatian period, obviously, in conditions of a military-political situation, which will be find out.

References

1. Soenov V.I., Konstantinov N.A., Soenov D.V. Osobennosti topograficheskogo razmeshhenija i hronologija gorodishh Altaja i severnyh predgorij // "Terra Scythica". Materialy mezhdunarodnogo simpoziuma "Terra Scythica" (17-23 avgusta 2011 g., Denisova peshera, Gornyj Altaj). Novosibirsk: IAJet SO RAN, 2011. S. 252-260.

2. Soenov V.I. Izuchenie krepostej i gorodishh v Gornom Altae // Kompleksnye issledovanija drevnih i tradicionnyh obshhestv Evrazii. Barnaul: AltGU, 2004. S. 337-340.

3. Shul'ga P.I., Tishkin A.A., Soenov V.I. Gorodishha Nizhnij Cheposh-3 i 4 // Izvestija Altajskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Serija istorija i politologija. 2010. № 4/2(68/2). S. 249-253.

4. Soenov V.I., Trifanova S.V., Konstantinov N.A., Shtanakova E.A., Soenov D.V. Cheposhskie gorodishha. Gorno-Altajsk: GAGU, 2011. 228 s.

5. Onishenko S.S., Soenov V.I. Osobennosti zooarheologicheskih kompleksov gorodishh Nizhnij Cheposh-3 i Nizhnij Cheposh-4 i ih predvaritel'naja interpretacija // Izvestija AltGU. 2011. № 4. S. 166-171.

6. Konstantinov N.A. Hozjajstvennye zanjatija naselenija gorodishha Nizhnij Cheposh-3 // Materialy HLIX Mezhdunarodnoj nauchnoj studencheskoj konferencii «Student i nauchno-tehnicheskij progress»: Arheologija Evrazii. Novosibirsk: NGU, 2011. S. 70-71.

7. Soenov V.I., Shtanakova E.A. Kostoreznoe delo naselenija gorodishha Nizhnij Cheposh-3 (Gornyj Altaj) // European Social Science Journal. 2011. № 4. S. 197-211.

8. Soenov V.I., Trifanova S.V. O hronologicheskoj prinadlezhnosti gorodishh Nizhnij Cheposh-3 i 4 (Gornyj Altaj) // Tuuhijn Tovchoon. Ulaanbaatar, 2010. Tom V. T. 285-294.