Arkaim (Arkaiym) is an archaeological complex consisting of a fortified settlement and an adjacent economic site, a burial ground and a number of unfortified settlements.
The name of the complex "Arkaim" (probably from the Turkic "arch" ("arka") - "ridge", "back", "base") was given by the name of the hill and the tract. Arkaim is located in the Chelyabinsk region, in a foothill valley near the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains on the Bolshaya Karaganka River and its left tributary, the Utyaganka River. The appearance of the monument dates back to the 2nd quarter of the 2nd millennium BC. (i.e. 17-16 centuries BC).
The results of radiocarbon analysis showed that the probable appearance of Arkaim is 3600-3900 years ago. The archaeological complex has been studied by a scientific expedition of the Chelyabinsk State University under the leadership of G. B. Zdanovich since 1987.
The total area of the fortified settlement of Arkaim is about 20,000 m2. The total area of archaeological excavations according to 1993 data is about 8055 m2. Geophysical surveys were carried out on an area of 7600 m2.
The fortified settlement includes two rings of earthen ramparts with 4 passages formed by an outer moat, two circles of dwelling depressions and a central square, inscribed in each other. The earthen ramparts are former defensive walls, they were built of soil, mud blocks and wooden elements. The diameter of the inner wall of the ring, which is the wall of the citadel, is about 85 m, and the outer wall is 143-145 m, the thickness of both walls at the base is from 3 to 5 m. The height of the soil part of the walls in ancient times was at least 3-3.5 m Scientists refer to the radial walls that divided the outer ring of dwellings into 5 or 7 sectors as fortifications. The dwellings were ground-based, in plan they have a trapezoidal shape, the average area of dwellings is 110-180 m2, they were built from soil blocks and log frames.
The historical monument Arkaim is located on the Bolshaya Karaganka River.
In addition to detached dwellings, there were also adjacent dwellings, which had common long walls. About a third of the area of each dwelling was intended for general family use. There was a hearth combined with a metallurgical furnace, a well and a cellar. All the dwellings of the citadel had exits facing the central square of the citadel. The square itself was rectangular (25x27 m) and most likely served as a place for ritual ceremonies. Absolutely all dwellings in the outer ring face the circular street that connected all entrances to the settlement and all dwellings with the central square.
A large moat was found under the flooring of a circular street, which served as a storm sewer, it had cesspools. During archaeological work at the settlement, 29 dwellings were studied in detail: 17 in the outer and 12 in the inner circle. In total, there were 35 dwellings in the outer circle, and 25 in the inner (19 large and 6 small ones built between the main dwellings in the process of settlement growth), such conclusions were obtained using geophysical methods of analysis. During the excavations, about 9 thousand fragments of ceramics, numerous items of bone and stone, various metal tools (for example, knives with interceptions, sickles-plows, awls, jewelry, etc.), many items related to metallurgy and metalworking were collected (e.g. molds, slags, nozzles, hammers, anvils, etc.) In general,the saturation of the cultural layer of the settlement with material remains is low. The economy of the population of Arkaim was based on pastoral cattle breeding with elements of agriculture. Almost all paleozoological finds are the bones of domestic animals. Of these: 60-65% - cattle, 20-25% - small ruminants, 15% - horses. On the territory of the Arkaim valley within a radius of 5-6 km from the settlement, at least 5 multilayer sites of the Bronze Age with the remains of layers of the 17-16 centuries were discovered. BC. According to the data of primary analysis, the sites were small settlements without fortifications. Researchers suggest that unfortified settlements located at a further distance were also associated with the fortified center. Almost all paleozoological finds are the bones of domestic animals. Of these: 60-65% - cattle, 20-25% - small ruminants, 15% - horses. On the territory of the Arkaim valley within a radius of 5-6 km from the settlement, at least 5 multilayer sites of the Bronze Age with the remains of layers of the 17-16 centuries were discovered. BC. According to the data of primary analysis, the sites were small settlements without fortifications. Researchers suggest that unfortified settlements located at a further distance were also associated with the fortified center. Almost all paleozoological finds are the bones of domestic animals. Of these: 60-65% - cattle, 20-25% - small ruminants, 15% - horses. On the territory of the Arkaim valley within a radius of 5-6 km from the settlement, at least 5 multilayer sites of the Bronze Age with the remains of layers of the 17-16 centuries were discovered. BC. According to the data of primary analysis, the sites were small settlements without fortifications. Researchers suggest that unfortified settlements located at a further distance were also associated with the fortified center. BC. According to the data of primary analysis, the sites were small settlements without fortifications. Researchers suggest that unfortified settlements located at a further distance were also associated with the fortified center. BC. According to the data of primary analysis, the sites were small settlements without fortifications. Researchers suggest that unfortified settlements located at a further distance were also associated with the fortified center.
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The fortified settlement includes two rings inscribed in each other.
The second largest object of the Arkaim archaeological complex is the burial ground located on the left bank of the Bolshaya Karaganka River, 1-1.5 km to the North-East of the fortified settlement. At the moment, 5 burial mounds have been investigated inside the burial ground. Large burial fields (diameter - 17-19 m), uniting 12-20 pits, occupy a central place in it. A striking feature of this burial architecture is deep (up to 3.5 m) burial pits, inside of which there are spacious hollow burial chambers, with ledges and wooden floors. Above each pit, either an individual soil fill structure or a pseudo-vaulted dome of adobe blocks was erected. Burials of various types were found inside the pits: single, double, group; corpse position on the side, in a weakly or moderately accelerated position. According to the anthropological type, the buried were attributed by scientists to the proto-European race. Archaeologists have discovered rich grave goods, especially in the central burials. These are mainly objects made of bronze: tools, weapons and ornaments (among other things, bronze leaf-shaped knives, adze axes, chisels, awls, a harpoon, a spearhead, arrowheads made of stone and bone, a stone mace, horse harness accessories, etc. etc.). Among the ceramic finds, sharp-ribbed pots decorated with geometric patterns are of great interest. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items. Archaeologists have discovered rich grave goods, especially in the central burials. These are mainly objects made of bronze: tools, weapons and ornaments (among other things, bronze leaf-shaped knives, adze axes, chisels, awls, a harpoon, a spearhead, arrowheads made of stone and bone, a stone mace, horse harness accessories, etc. etc.). Among the ceramic finds, sharp-ribbed pots decorated with geometric patterns are of great interest. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items. Archaeologists have discovered rich grave goods, especially in the central burials. These are mainly objects made of bronze: tools, weapons and ornaments (among other things, bronze leaf-shaped knives, adze axes, chisels, awls, a harpoon, a spearhead, arrowheads made of stone and bone, a stone mace, horse harness accessories, etc. etc.). Among the ceramic finds, sharp-ribbed pots decorated with geometric patterns are of great interest. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items.weapons and ornaments (among other things, bronze leaf-shaped knives, adze axes, chisels, awls, a harpoon, a spearhead, arrowheads made of stone and bone, a stone mace, horse harness accessories, etc. were found). Among the ceramic finds, sharp-ribbed pots decorated with geometric patterns are of great interest. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items.weapons and ornaments (among other things, bronze leaf-shaped knives, adze axes, chisels, awls, a harpoon, a spearhead, arrowheads made of stone and bone, a stone mace, horse harness accessories, etc. were found). Among the ceramic finds, sharp-ribbed pots decorated with geometric patterns are of great interest. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items.decorated with geometric patterns. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items.decorated with geometric patterns. Numerous remains of sacrificed animals have been found: a horse, large and small ruminants, a dog. Also, the grave fields were studied in detail, combining 7-8 grave pits with relatively poor burial items.
Arkaim's finds.
The cultural complex Arkaim is one of the most important elements of the group of fortified settlements of the South Ural region, called the "Country of cities". It is located to the South of the Uy River and occupies the watershed of the Ural and Tobol rivers. The "Country of Cities" consists of two dozen different cultural complexes. The length of the territory occupied by the "Country of cities" is 350-400 km in the North-South direction and 120-150 km in the West-East direction. Between the fortified settlements that existed in the same time period, the distance is 50-70 km. 25-35 km (total area of about 2000 km2) - this is the radius of the developed territory. The researchers attribute the cultural complexes of the Arkaim (Sintashta) type to territorial entities with elements of early statehood, similar in form to the "chiefdom" or "chiefdom". Such conclusions can be drawn from the hierarchy of settlements and burial grounds.
Marina Belyaeva