The Early Neolithic Shoushma 10 Settlement at the Upper Course of the Konda River

Early Neolithic in the basin of the Konda River, the left tributary of the Irtysh River, is characterized by a large number of sites, a variety of their types and the original artifacts. Among the early Neolithic sites two cultural types: the Shoushma and the Umytia types have been justified based on an extensive number of sources. The Shoushma antiquities date back to the turn of the 7000–6000 BC – 3rd quarter of 6000 BC. The construction of two pits connected by a passage was studied on the basic Shoushma type site. The ceramics is original in composition. It includes vessels of the Shoushma type, one Umytia vessel and the pottery with features of both types. Stone tools were made from the local pebble-boulder of various rock types. The stone flaking and processing was conducted in striking and counter-striking, pressure, abrasive techniques and picketage. On the opinion of the authors, the presence of the Umytia vessel and vessels with mixed features in the ceramics reflected on contacts among the local population during the first half of the VI millennium BC.