First Radiocarbon Chronology for the Early Iron Age Sites of Central Kazakhstan (Tasmola Culture and Korgantas Period)

Abstract

We present the first radiocarbon dates of Early Iron Age sites of central Kazakhstan (in total, 24 dates for 16 recently excavated sites). Archaeologically, the sites have been attributed to the Tasmola culture of the Saka period and later Korgantas phase of the early Hun period. The new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14 C dates suggest that the majority of analyzed Tasmola sites belong to the beginning of the 8th-5th century cal BC, while Korgantas dates to the 4th-2nd century cal BC. This corresponds with the latest archaeological data for the region; however, it is somewhat contrary to the traditional perception of the chronology of the Scythian period in central Kazakhstan. The new dates suggest the beginning of the Early Scythian period in the region in at least the late 9th or 8th century BC rather than 7th century BC according to the traditional approach.

Close management of sheep in ancient Central Asia: evidence for foddering, transhumance, and extended lambing seasons during the Bronze and Iron Ages

“…Our current radiocarbon dating of two sheep mandibles (5571/5578) from the site have uncalibrated radiocarbon ages of 3160 ± 35 BP (Poz-93206) and 3125 ± 35 BP (Poz-93207), with calibrated dates of 1506-1383 cal BCE and 1457-1289 cal BCE, respectively (Intcal13; OxCal ver 4.2.3; Bronk Ramsey 2017; Reimer et al 2013). This earlier radiocarbon date is not unexpected, as other dating programs have similarly pushed relative dates back several hundred years (Beisenov et al 2016;Svyatko et al 2009;Hanks, Epimakhov, and Renfrew 2007).…”

New Isotopic Data on the Diet of the Saka Period Population from Central Kazakhstan

“…1). The samples radiocarbon date to the 8 th -5 th c. cal BC (Beisenov et al, 2016), as does the culture in general, with the exception of two animal bones from Koishoky-5, kurgan 1 which dated to 9 th c. cal BC. According to the fi rst data, this is the earliest monument of Tasmola culture.…”

“…Kadyrbayev in 1950Kadyrbayev in -1970 (Kadyrbaev, 1966), the source base for the Tasmola problem has grown signifi cantly by today. According to the latest research, this culture dates to the 8 th -5 th c. BC (Beisenov, 2015;Beisenov et al, 2016). In addition to the new cemeteries, new types of sites have been discovered.…”

Abylai Settlement — Site of the Early Iron Age in Central Kazakhstan

“…9), проса та пшениці, виявлені шляхом флотації культурного шару поселення Абилай (карпологічні аналізи виконують Н. є. Рябогіна й А. С. Афонін у Тюменському науковому центрі РАН). Нещодавно проведене дослідження дієти тасмолінського населення показало наявність проса у його раціоні (Beisenov et al 2020). всі ці дані та результати характеризують лише початковий етап комплексного дослідження поселень Центрального Казахстану.…”