204
Documenta Praehistorica XLIV (2017)
Introduction
The Neolithic period of the North-eastern and East-
ern Azov Sea areas has been investigated for more
than 50 years, and over 100 radiocarbon dates are
available (Tab. 1). Four different cultural-chronolo-
gical groups of sites are now distinguished here.
They include sites of the Rakushechny Yar culture
(the Lower Don River), Matveev Kurgan culture (Mius
River), sites of Donets culture (Low Siversky Donets
River) and of the Caspian-Ciscaucasian cultural group
(Tsybrij 2008; Belanovskaya 1995; Krizhevskaya
1991; for the areas of these cultures’ distribution, see
Gorelik et al. 2016). Each of these cultures is repre-
Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic
in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
Andrey Tsybrij
1
, Viktor Tsybrij
1
, Ekaterina Dolbunova
2
, Andrey Mazurkevich
2
,
Marianna Kulkova
3
and Ganna Zaitseva
4
1 The Don Archaeological Society, Rostov-on-Don, RU
tsybriya@mail.ru
2The State Hermitage Museum, Sankt-Peterburg, RU
a-mazurkevich@mail.ru< katjer@mail.ru
3Herzen State Pedagogical University, Sankt-Peterburg, RU
kulkova@mail.ru
4Institute for the History of Material Culture RAS, Sankt-Peterburg, RU
zai-ganna@mail.ru
ABSTRACT – So far, four different cultural-chronological groups of sites have been identified in the
North-eastern Azov Sea and Lower Don River areas, including sites of the Rakushechny Yar culture,
Matveev Kurgan culture, Donets culture, and sites of the Caspian-Ciscaucasian region. An analysis
of all known dates, as well as the contexts and stratigraphies of the sites, allowed us to form a new
perspective of the chronology of southern Russia, to revise the chronology of this region, and change
the concept of unreliability of dates for this area.
IZVLE∞EK – Na obmo≠jih severovzhodnega dela Azovskega morja in spodnjega toka reke Don so bile
do danes prepoznane ∏tiri razli≠ne kulturno-kronolo∏ke skupine najdi∏≠, ki vklju≠ujejo najdi∏≠a kul-
ture Rakushechny Yar, kulture Matveev Kurgan, kulture Donets in druga najdi∏≠a v kaspijsko – cis-
kavka∏ki regiji. Z analizo vseh znanih radiokarbonskih datumov, njihovih kontekstov in stratigrafij
na najdi∏≠ih, smo lahko oblikovali nove poglede na kronologijo ju∫ne Rusije, revidirali staro krono-
logijo in spremenili odnos do datumov, ki so veljali za nezanesljive.
KEY WORDS – Neolithic; chronology; earliest pottery; Lower Don; North-Eastern Azov Sea
KLJU∞NE BESEDE – neolitik; kronologija; najzgodnej∏a lon≠enina; spodnji tok reke Don; severovzhodni
del Azovskega morja
Radiokarbonska kronologija neolitika na obmo;ju spodnjega toka reke Don
in v severovzhodnem delu Azovskega morja
DOI> 10.4312\dp.44.13 

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
205
can be clearly seen from the opposite bank of the Don
River. It might be suggested that the outer part of the
right river bank where the site was located became
separated when a new riverbed was forming, and
thus the island appeared (Velichko et al. 2011). Much
of the site has been destroyed and is still being de-
stroyed. This can be clearly seen by comparing ima-
ges of the island on 19
th
century maps and photos
of the 1960s, and modern investigations.
The site was discovered in 1956 by Leonid T. Agar-
kov, a teacher at Razdorskaya village. It was excavat-
ed in 1959–1966, 1968, 1971, 1976–1977, and 1979
by Leningrad University expeditions headed by Bela-
novskaya; the various excavations were made that
acquired different names (Fig. 2)
1
. Collections ob-
tained during excavations by Belanovskaya in the
1960s–1970s (Belanovskaya 1995) and later (Ale-
ksandrovsky et al. 2009; Tsybryi et al. 2014) helped
creating a typology of these materials (Mazurkevich,
Dolbunova 2015), and an analysis of the site’s stra-
tigraphy and chronology. In 2008–2013 and 2016–
2017, new excavations were conducted (Tsybrij et
al. 2014), and the stratigraphy that was revealed ap-
peared to be very similar to that described by Bela-
novskaya of excavations I–III and a trench made by
Dmitry Y. Telegin in 1975, which was located, ac-
cording to archive data, between trenches IV–V made
by Belanovskaya (Figs. 2–4).
The geological deposits on the site are up to 6m deep
and the cultural layers up to 5m. According to Bela-
sented by several sites (see Tsybrij 2008). In the ma-
jority of cases, the Neolithic period in this region is
marked by the appearance of pottery, an intensifi-
cation of sedentism, the appearance of ‘wattle and
daub’ architecture (at some sites), specific anthropo-
morphic and zoomorphic plastics, and new features
in the stone industry. The previous determination of
domesticated animals at the Matveev kurgan I site
dated to the end of the 7
th
millennium BC were re-
examined (Krizhevskaya 1991; Gorelik et al. 2016.
149); evidence of domesticated animals at the Raku-
shechny Yar site are under discussion (Tsybrij et al.
2017).
This article will give an overview of chronological
frameworks of these cultures, with a particular focus
on Rakushechny Yar (Fig. 1). An analysis of all the
known dates, as well as a context and stratigraphy,
allowed a new view and revision of the chronology
of south-western Russia, as well as changes of the
concept of unreliability of dates for this region (cf.
Motuzaite Matuzeviciute et al. 2015.657–658) based
on the Rakushechny Yar case study.
Rakushechny Yar: in search of old excavations
and new studies
Rakushechny Yar culture was distinguished by Tatya-
na D. Belanovskaya on the basis of materials from
the Rakushechny Yar site, which yielded a very par-
ticular set of finds related to a complex subsistence
system (Belanovskaya 1983; 1995). Only few sites
are attributed to this culture: an
early phase (7
th
–6
th
millenium
BC), including Rakushechny Yar
(layers 23–11) and Razdorskoe I
(layer 1). The later Neolithic pha-
ses (5
th
millenium BC) include
Rakushechny Yar (layer 5) and
Samsonovskoe (layer 6) (Tsybrij
2008.51–52).
Rakushechny Yar is located in the
Rostovsky region, on the island
of Porechny near the village of
Razdorskaya. Porechny is of non-
homogeneous geomorphological
structure (Velichko et al. 2011).
The north-western part is located
in a high flood-plain area, and
the south-western part on a low
flood-plain. These two flood plains
1 Usually only the materials from excavation I are presented in the publications.
Fig. 1. Site distribution in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
area (only sites indicated in Table 1 are presented here).

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
206
novskaya, the cultural layers can be traced to a dis-
tance of 240m to the south-east. The borders of the
site inside the island are not clearly defined. The
layers are not distributed uniformly and their num-
ber varies in different parts of the island. Only the
upper layers (1–5) are deposited uniformly, whereas
the layers below are isolated and vary in depth and
area and are often separated by sterile layers of
sand. This is what complicates the correlation of la-
yers of excavations in different parts of the island.
From the very outset, Belanovskaya noted that only
the layers of excavations I–III can be correlated based
on stratigraphic observation. This is why each part
that was excavated has its own numbering system,
which can be correlated only on the basis of 
14
C
dates from precise layers (see Fig. 3). Future excava-
tions and the connection of all of the excavated areas
will allow us to correlate stratigraphic units of diffe-
rent parts.
The surface excavated in the 1960s–1970s amount-
ed to 1000m
2
(Belanovskaya 1995.9–12). The main
trench (trench I) was in the northern part of the
island (Fig. 2). Six horizons were distinguished here
based on a very precise lithology, included cultural
layers, often separated by sterile interlayers. The up-
per cultural layers of the Eneolithic and Later Neoli-
thic period (layers 4 and 5) include thick layers fil-
led by Viviparus dilluvianus shells, which were ce-
mented together and protected the underlying lay-
ers from being destroyed (Belanovskaya 1995). The
low horizon (correlated with horizon VI of Telegin;
Fig. 3a) included several thin lithological layers (2–
25cm) (Fig. 3f). Cultural layers 23–12 were separat-
ed by sterile sand interlayers, and layers 12–10 by
sandy clay 5–10cm thick. No remains of structures
were found in layers 23–18, besides shell piles with
a great amount of fish and animal bones, charcoal
and artefacts inside and nearby. Post pits, fire-places
on clay platform-floors, shell piles, daub fragments
from the walls/roofs of dwellings were found in la-
yers above. The particularities of microstratigraphy
and the spatial distribution of finds allows us to sup-
pose that the inhabitants of this ancient settlement
had to leave this place periodically (at least the part
excavated), probably due to seasonal flooding of the
paleoriver, but then they returned (Belanovskaya
1995.13). A particular material culture was revealed
in the Neolithic layers, with flat-bottom pottery, pre-
dominantly undecorated, flint borers, slate chisels,
and numerous bone points and antler hoes (Figs.
5–8).
Cultural layers 6–23 were attributed to the Neolithic
(Belanovskaya 1995). Telegin identified six litholo-
gical horizons here, attributing horizons 4–6 to
Early Neolithic layers (Telegin 1981) (Fig. 3a). This
is a very important point, because the numbering of
layers, indicated by Telegin, does not correspond to
the now widely used layer numbering system pro-
Fig. 2. Rakushechny Yar site. Plan of excavations in the 1960–1970s, and new excavations in 2008–
2016 (for a–f see Fig. 3).

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
207
posed by Belanovskaya, so dates made on materials
with the firmer index system cannot be correlated
with other dates without a special analysis of mate-
rials and discussion (cf. Kotova 2002; Manko 2006
etc.).
In order to refine the stratigraphy of the site and its
chronology, which remained a subject of discussion,
a stratigraphic trench was made in 2013, and further
excavations carried out during 2016–2017, which
allowed us to precisely place the previous excava-
tions by Belanovskaya, to correlate the stratigraphy
of different parts of the settlement and obtain new
materials for radiocarbon dating.
Chronology of the Rakushechny Yar site
The chronology of the settlement can be reconstruct-
ed based on radiocarbon dates made on different ma-
terials – charcoal, bone, soil and organic crust – from
trench I of the 1960s (Belanovskaya et al. 2003; Be-
lanovskaya, Timofeev 2003), from the trench dug
in 2008 (that might be located near excavation 16
made by Belanovskaya) and enlarged in 2010, and
from the trench dug in 2013 at the location of the II
by Belanovskaya (Tsybrij et al. 2014) (Fig. 3). The
stratigraphy of different excavations was correlated
in order to refine the chronology of the site, new
samples were selected, and artefacts, including dated
samples, were spatially analysed.
Most of the radiocarbon dates of the organic mate-
rials from excavation I correlate rather well with
each other (Tab. 1; Fig. 9). They show the dynamics
of occupation of the site. The dates of materials from
layer 20 might reflect different periods of occupa-
tion of the site. Only the dates of shells, and some
dates of mixed samples of charcoal and soil could
have been influenced by some postdepositional pro-
cesses, and these do not reflect the real date of the
layers’ formation. Comparing the dates of fish bones
and other materials from one layer, it is evident that
the dates of the former appear to be older (Tab.
1.29). However, it must be noted that there is not
enough data and materials to discuss the possibility
and extent of the reservoir effect on this site.
Another set of dates was obtained from materials
from the lower layers of the trench dug at excava-
tion II in 2013, from the trench of 2008, and pottery
Fig. 3. Rakushechny Yar. a stratigraphy of Telegin’s excavation (from Telegin 1981); b stratigraphy of ex-
cavation of 2008 (modified from Aleksandrovky et al. 2009); d stratigraphy of trench 2013; e sondages
#1, #2 and new excavations of 2016–2017; f excavation I by Belanovskaya in 1966 (modified from Bela-
novskaya 1995; the lower layers 16–23 were drawn according to description). See the description of the
lithological layers in the text.

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
208
from excavations by Telegin in
1975 (Telegin 1981), which al-
lowed us to establish the radio-
carbon chronology of different
parts of the site. Charcoal from a
shell pile (layer XVII, trench of
2013) was dated to 7554±169
BP (Ua-48460) (δ
13
C –22.6) and
7010±126 BP (Ua-48461) (δ
13
C
–23.0) (6590–6230 and 6000–
5760 cal BC). It is clear in Figure
3 that a direct correlation of li-
thological layers in the lower part
of the sediments of this site is im-
possible due to the different num-
ber and features of lithological
and cultural layers. A direct corre-
lation of layers based on their height values is also
impossible, as the layers lie in an oblique position,
at different heights in different places (Fig. 4). The
radiocarbon date of an elk bone of 7970±110 BP
(SPb-729) (7179–6596 cal BC) (Fig. 3e) allows its
synchronisation with layers 21–23 (excavation No. I
of Belanovskaya). Radiocarbon dates and stratigra-
phic observations on the area of excavations I–III al-
lowed us to date the earliest stages of occupation to
7186–6472 cal BC.
Another group of dates of various materials (bones,
pottery, soil with charcoal and soil) from the trench
of 2008 presents a completely different picture (Fig.
Fig. 4. Rakushechny Yar. Stratigraphy of the excavation at the site of
trenches II–III by T. D. Belanovskaya (excavation ‘e’. 2016).
Fig. 5. Rakushechny Yar. Vessel forms in layers 23–14 (after Mazurkevich, Dolbunova 2015).

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
209
3b). The trench is located to the south-east of the ex-
cavation I–III (Fig. 2). The dates of the soil and soil
with charcoal are in chronological correspondence.
In most cases, the dates of pottery and bones from
dated charcoal interlayers are older, and slightly
younger in only few cases. This needs to be discus-
sed further and can be explained only after new ex-
cavations on this part. This is why we will base our
chronological reconstructions for this part on the
dates of soils and charcoal from
cultural layers. The buried soil No.
X from the trench of 2008, lying
on the bottom of cultural layers,
was dated to 7380±100 BP (Ki-
15181) (6431–6061 cal BC), i.e.
this part was inhabited approx.
600 years later than the low lay-
ers from the place where excava-
tions I–III by Belanovskaya were
made. According to Alexander L.
Aleksandrovsky, the process of
soil formation started here later,
as it was located lower than exca-
vation I and occurred over a pe-
riod of 100–200 years. Only when
the area of excavation I was inha-
bited did the soil start to form
here. We might synchronise the
beginning of occupation and the
formation of a cultural layer,
which occurred between the pe-
riod of layers 20 and 19 (excava-
tion I – Fig. 3f) and during the pe-
riod of layer XVI (location of ex-
cavations II–III – Fig. 3d). Further
short periods of occupation, mark-
ed by thin sandy layers with Unio
shells under the buried soil (IX –
Fig. 3b) can be synchronised with
layers 11–9 (excavation I – Fig. 3f).
The last group of dates were made
on materials from the trench of
Telegin dug in 1975 (Fig. 3a), lo-
cated in the same place as exca-
vation V by Belanovskaya, far to
the south-east of the main area
of excavation (trenches I–II). The
stratigraphy of this trench is sim-
ilar to that of the trench dug in
2008 (Fig. 3b). The dates were
made on organic matter in pot-
tery, and they show that this
place might have been first inha-
bited at approximately the same time as the low la-
yer of the trench dug in 2008. The typology of the
dated vessels also supports this assumption.
Various layers traced in different parts of the island
(Figs. 2; 3.a–f) can be correlated precisely on the
basis of radiocarbon dates, as artefacts attributed to
the Early Neolithic comprise a rather homogenous
complex that preserved a range of features that seem
Fig. 6. Rakushechny Yar. Bone points in layers 23–11.

from material from different layers of the site (Mo-
tuzaite Matuzeviciute et al. 2015.662; for example,
dates presented in Motuzaite Matuzeviciute 2012.
Tab. 1 for Rakushechny Yar are attributed to layers
of different areas of the site and cannot be present-
ed together). The main problem is that the dates
were obtained from material from different excavat-
ed areas located in different parts of the island that
cannot be correlated with each other, and not that
some processes have influenced the dates. Moreover,
it is important to consider the particularities of the
layers’ formation and seasonal occupation of this site
over a long period. For example, given their thick-
ness, layers 5 and 4 could have been accumulated
during a long period.
The dates also point to another important problem:
the time of accumulation of cul-
tural layers and deposition of
materials. The lower cultural
layers of excavations I–III are
filled with piles of Unio shells,
fish scales and bones, animal
bones and artefacts covered by
thin and sterile sandy interlay-
ers. The cultural layers could
have been buried under thin
sandy layers either after a sin-
gle seasonal event or accumu-
lated over longer periods. Dif-
ferent parts of the shore zone
might have been inhabited,
which can be archaeologically
traced in radiocarbon dates. It
is important to note that ob-
jects are recorded mostly in situ
in the cultural layers (Fig. 8);
the distribution of finds indi-
cates only a slight disturbance
of the cultural layers.
Razdorskaya II is located on the
right bank of the Don River, six
kilometres downstream from Ra-
kushechny Yar (Tsybrij 2008).
It is a multilayered site, with
predominantly Viviparus shell
accumulation, and is rich in fish
bones, charcoal, artefacts, and
faunal remains. Fishing activity
occupied an important place in
the economy of Razdorskaya II,
as it did at Rakushechny Yar.
This is evident from the particu-
Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
210
Fig. 7. Rakushechny Yar. Flint and slate tools in layers 23–11 (from Lo-
zovsky 2014; drawings done by V. M. Lozovsky and E. Dolbunova).
to survive through centuries. Nevertheless, more dat-
ing of different materials and the connection of diffe-
rent excavation areas are needed in order to refine
the chronology of this part of the site, and the corre-
lation of the various layers.
The differences in radiocarbon dates, number and
character of cultural layers support suggestion of Be-
lanovskaya’s that the cultural layers revealed on the
shore line and in different trenches cannot be corre-
lated directly, and such ‘diversity’ shows that this
part of the modern island was inhabited repeatedly
during different periods. Taking into account that dif-
ferent parts of the site were excavated, their corre-
lation is problematic, as their length and thickness
varies, especially in lower layers. This is a departure
point for discussing the validity of the dates derived

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
211
larities of the cultural layer (Fig. 10), with stratified
shell piles and an inventory which includes a large
number of sinkers, axes and bone spears. No pottery
was found here, although small ceramic figurines
were found. Due to the particular material culture of
this site, it was attributed to a specific cultural type.
Radiocarbon dates were made on materials from the
middle and low cultural layers (Aleksandrovsky et
al. 2009) (Fig. 10). The early stages of this site are
attributed to the earliest aceramic Neolithic phase
at the end of the 8
th
– beginning of the 7
th
millenni-
um BC. That this site continued to be occupied is evi-
denced by 
14
C dates within the range of the 7
th
and
the beginning of the 6
th
millennium BC (Tab. 1),
which suggest it was contemporaneous with Raku-
shechny Yar.
Matveev Kurgan culture, Donets culture and
sites of the Caspian-Ciscaucasian cultural group
Matveev Kurgan culture was named after Matveev
Kurgan I and II sites, located in North-Eastern Azov
Sea area, which were excavated in the 1970–1980s
by Lija Y. Krizhevskaya (Krizhevskaya 1991). Some
similarities can be traced with the Lower Don River
Neolithic sites. It can be attributed to the very begin-
ning of Neolithic era and dated to the middle – sec-
ond half of the 7
th
millennium BC, although more
14
C dates would be needed to refine the chronolo-
gical position of this culture. Later stages were not
found here.
Donets culture was discovered in 1952 by Aleksandr
Y. Brusov and was later re-analyzed and re-interpret-
ed in the 1960s to 1990s (Brusov 1952; Telegin
1968; Danilenko 1969; Gorelik 1984; 1997). One
of the typical features of this culture is the survival
of archaic traits in the stone industry for a long pe-
riod and a small amount of pottery. Complexes attri-
buted to the early phases of Donets culture can be
synchronised with Matveev Kurgan culture and da-
ted to the end of the 7
th
millennium BC. Later pha-
ses can be dated to the second half of the 6
th
and the
first half of the 5
th
millennium BC, and synchronised
with layer 5 at Rakushechny Yar site (the chronology
is based on typological correlation of materials).
The Caspian-Ciscaucasian cultural group includes ma-
terial from Kremennaya II and III, Rassypnaya VI and
Lagutinskaya, as well as finds from the basins of the
steppe rivers of the Rostov oblast’ (Tsybrij 2008.60).
The stone items are similar to material from the
Northern Ciscaucasian, North-Western and Northern
Caspian area. The pottery is not abundant. Kremen-
naya II and Rassypnaya VI are attributed to early
stages of the Neolithic period, and Kremennaya III
to a later stage.
Kremennaya II is located in the Gnilaya River basin,
near the village of Zolotovsky (Milutinsky district,
Rostovskaya oblast’). The stone industry of the site
is characterised by a blade and microlith inventory,
including different types of geometrical microliths
with secondary treatment: segments, parallelograms,
trapezes and backed trapezes. The pottery is not
abundant. More than 50 dug-out hearths were found
in the base of cultural layer – 15 of which were dated
(Fig. 11) – which reveal different stages of occupa-
tion of this site during the Neolithic from the 6
th
to
the 5
th
millennium BC.
Kremennaya III is located near Kremennaya II, at a
low hypsometric level. The pottery is not abundant,
the flint tools are larger and are similar to tools at
Kremennaya II. New tools appeared: polished flint
heavy duty tools and arrowheads. A fragment of a
copper plate was found in a cultural layer (Tsybryi
2008). Four radiocarbon dates were made on ani-
mal bones, also revealing different periods of occu-
pation at this site: the end of the 7
th
to the first half
of the 6
th
millennium BC, and during the 5
th
millen-
nium BC.
Fig. 8. Rakushechny Yar. Low part of a flat bottom-
vessel standing on the Unio shell layer No. XVI (ex-
cavation ‘d’ 2013).

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
212
Fig. 9. Fragments of 
14
C dated pottery (material for dating – organic crust) from excavation I, with an
indication of the layers where they were found. * fragments from the excavation of 2013; ** pottery frag-
ment was dated.

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
213
Rassypnaya VI is located in the Rassypnaya valley
(Tsybrij 2003). The flint industry is similar to that at
Kremennaya II and III and other sites in the Eastern
Azov basin (Rassypnaya 1, Zhukovskaya 2, etc.). Mi-
crolithic tools predominate, including segments, pa-
rallelograms and trapezes, including backed trape-
zes. The pottery is not abundant; it was decorated
by comb stamp and traced lines organised in simple
compositions. Dates were made on five animal bones
and one bone from burial 1, found at the bottom of
cultural layer of the site (Fig. 12). Given the typolo-
gy, we can suppose that most material can be dated
to the last quarter of the 6
th
to the first quarter of the
5
th
millennium BC. Although this site was probably
also visited/inhabited during the 7
th
and second half
of the 5
th
millennium BC.
Conclusion
The Lower Don River and North-eastern Azov Sea en-
compass several archaeological cultures, including
Rakushechny Yar, Matveev Kurgan, Donets and the
Caspian-Ciscaucasian cultural group. The chronolo-
gical timeframes of these cultures are contempora-
neous, which indicates the mosaic cultural character
of this area during the period between the 7
th
and
5
th
millennium BC. The small number of radiocarbon
dates for such a long period prevents us from refin-
ing the chronology of the different cultural groups
and definite ceramic types within this area.
The Razdorskaya II site located in the Lower Don Ri-
ver basin is supposed to be one of the most ancient
sites attributed to the Neolithic era (see discussion
of the term ‘Neolithic’ in Mazurkevich, Dolbunova
2015), having a particular stone industry and com-
plex subsistence strategy, predominantly fishing, but
with no pottery. The early stages of this site are at-
tributed to the earliest non-ceramic Neolithic phase,
at the end of the 8
th
and beginning of the 7
th
millen-
nium BC. This site was inhabited later, during the
7
th
and beginning of the 6
th
millennium BC, which
suggest its contemporaneity with Rakushechny Yar.
New research of the latter site allowed us to revise
its stratigraphy, archaeological context and chrono-
logy. The differences in radiocarbon dates, number
and character of cultural layers which were revealed
support Belanovskaya’s suggestion that the cultural
layers located on the shore line and different tren-
ches cannot be correlated directly. Such ‘diversity’
shows that this part of the modern island was inha-
bited repeatedly during different periods.
The Rakushechny Yar culture existed, probably, for
approx. 1500 years, during the 7
th
and 6
th
millenni-
um BC. It must be noted that the material culture
Fig. 10. Razdorskaya II. Stratigraphy profile, with indication of places where samples for dating were taken.
2. Quadrants
b8, a8, A8

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
214
was very conservative and retained a number of spe-
cific traits through centuries. New dates and the ana-
lysis of radiocarbon dates, taking into the account
stratigraphy of excavations and spatial analysis of
finds, point to the first half of the 7
th
millennium BC
as the period when Rakushechny Yar appeared, with
one of the earliest ceramic in Eastern Europe. The ex-
cavated area was a seasonal site with a particular set
of finds, including different animal and fish bones,
hearths, ‘wattle and daub’ architecture, and an an-
thropomorphic figurine made on horse pastern. Pre-
vious discussions about the estimated dates made
for this site arose not because of the validity of dates,
but their presentation as they were analysed out of
context. Our analysis of archived materials and new
excavations allowed us to refine the chronology of
this site and change the idea of unreliability of ra-
diocarbon dates for this site.
Fig. 11. Kremennaya II. Plan of the excavation 2, with the objects dated.
Fig. 12. Rassypnaya VI. Excavation 2, burial 1.

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
215
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Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
217
lab- dated
information
Archaeolo.
No.
14
C (BP) cal BC
index material
13
C site about dated
culture
references
material
1 5290±260 4715–3536 Le-5327 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 2* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
2 4830±90 3797–3372 Le-5387 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 2* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
3 6300±300 5787–4547 Le-5343 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T.D. Belanovskaya) Layer 2* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
charcoal
4 4180±100 3011–2480 Le-5428 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 2*
5 4360±100 3357–2702 Bln-1177 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 3* Timofeev et al. 2004.75
6 5060±230 4361–3365 Le-5340 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 4* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
7 6300±90 5471–5056 Le-5482 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 4* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
8 6440±35 5479–5342 Le-5582a Ground Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 5*, Timofeev et al. 2004.76
square A-2
9 6320±35 5366–5220 Le-5582b Ground Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 5*, Timofeev et al. 2004.76
square A-2
10 5920±90 5016–4553 Le-5479 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 5* Timofeev et al. 2004
11 5890±105 5019–4501 Ki-955 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 5* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
12 6770±450 6611–4725 Le-5481 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Under the Timofeev et al. 2004
layer 5*
13 6070±100 5282–4728 Bln-704 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 8* Timofeev et al. 2004.75
14 7180±250 6563–5622 Le-5344 Shells Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 9* Timofeev et al. 2004.76
15 6070±150 5344–4616 SPb-751 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T. D. Belanovskaya) Layer 11* Rakushehno-
yarskaya culture 
16 6950±150 6201–5562 SPb-752 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T.D. Belanovskaya) Layer 12* Rakushehno-
yarskaya culture 
17 6825±100 5974–5558 Ki-6479 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T.D. Belanovskaya) Layer 14-15* Rakushehno- Timofeev et al. 2004.76
yarskaya culture
18 7040±100 6085–5720 Ki-6480 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T.D. Belanovskaya) Layer 15* Rakushehno- Timofeev et al. 2004.76
yarskaya culture
19 6930±100 5999–5647 Ki-6478 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I (after T.D. Belanovskaya) Layer 15* Rakushehno- Timofeev et al. 2004.76
yarskaya culture
20 6625±115 5739–5358 SPb-747 Pottery fragment Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II Layer XV** Rakushehno-
(2012, test-pit 2) yarskaya culture
21 6560±100 5657–5326 SPb-731 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II Layer XV** Rakushehno-
(2012, test-pit 2) yarskaya culture
Tab. 1. Radiocarbon dates of the Neolithic in the Lower Don River and North-eastern Azov Sea.

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
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information
Archaeolo.
No.
14
C (BP) cal BC
index material
13
C site about dated
culture
references
material
22 6841±40 5809–5643 Ua-41365 Organic crust –28,0** Rakushechny Yar, excavation I Layer 18* Rakushehno-
(after T. D. Belanovskaya) yarskaya culture
23 7156±41 6092–5923 Ua-41364 Organic crust –28,0** Rakushechny Yar, excavation I Layer 19* Rakushehno-
(after T. D. Belanovskaya) yarskaya culture
24 7383±120 6451–6031 SPb-1177 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II Layer XV* (due to Rakushehno-
(stratigraphical section of 2013) stratigraphy of 2013) yarskaya culture
25 7475±120 6566–6075 SPb-1176 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II (Layer XVII* (due to strati- Rakushehno-
(stratigraphical section of 2013) graphy of 2013)) layer 19-20* yarskaya culture
26 7554±169 6813–6051 Ua-48460 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II (Layer XVII* (due to strati- Rakushehno- Tsybryi et al. 2014.207
(stratigraphical section of 2013) graphy of 2013)) layer 19-20* yarskaya culture
27 7010±126 6200–5643 Ua-48461 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II (Layer XVII* (due to strati- Rakushehno- Tsybryi et al. 2014.207
(stratigraphical section of 2013) graphy of 2013)) layer 19-20* yarskaya culture
28 7482±120 6568–6080 SPb-1178 Charcoal Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II (Layer XVII* (due to strati- Rakushehno-
(stratigraphical section of 2013) graphy of 2013)) layer 19-20* yarskaya culture
29 8020±120 7315–6640 SPb-1185 Fish bones Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II (Layer XVII* (due to strati- Rakushehno-
(stratigraphical section of 2013) graphy of 2013)) layer 19-20* yarskaya culture
30 7290±50 6241–6051 Ua-37097 Organic crust –28,6 Rakushechny Yar, excavation I Layer 20* Rakushehno-
(after T. D. Belanovskaya) yarskaya culture
31 7690±110 6900–6261 Ki-6475 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I Layer 20* Rakushehno- Timofeev et al. 2004.76
(after T. D. Belanovskaya) yarskaya culture
32 7860±130 7062–6466 Ki-6477 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I Layer 20* Rakushehno- Timofeev et al. 2004.76
(after T. D. Belanovskaya) yarskaya culture
33 7930±140 7186–6472 Ki-6476 Organic crust Rakushechny Yar, excavation I Layer 20* Rakushehno- Timofeev et al. 2004.76
(after T. D. Belanovskaya) yarskaya culture
34 7970±110 7179–6596 SPb-729 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, nearby the excavation II Layer XVII** Rakushehno- Tsybryi et al. 2014.207
(2012, test-pit 1) yarskaya culture
35 4020±90 2872–2301 Le-10473 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation of 2010 Layer 2B*
(near excavation No. 16, 17 of 1966)
36 2560±70 835–430 Ki-15184 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation of 2010 Layer 2*
(near excavation No. 16, 17 of 1966)
37 4120±60 2881–2497 Ki-15180 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, excavation of 2010 Layer 2*
(near excavation No. 16 of 1966)
38 4170±60 2894–2581 Ki-15183 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical trench Layer 2*
of 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966)

Radiocarbon chronology of Neolithic in the Lower Don and North-eastern Azov Sea
219
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information
Archaeolo.
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C (BP) cal BC
index material
13
C site about dated
culture
references
materia
39 4590±80 3628–3030 Ki-15182 Ground Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 3*
2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966)
40 5870±80 4940–4542 Ki-15942 Ground Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 14* Rakushehnoyar-
2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture (|)
41 7580±90 6599–6245 Ki-15189 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 14* Rakushehnoyar- Aleksandrovsky et al. 2009
fragment 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture (|)
42 5940±60 4983–4696 Ki-15940 Ground Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 14* Rakushehnoyar-
2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture (|)
43 6410±90 5544–5214 Ki-15944 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 15* Rakushehnoyar-
charcoal 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture (|)
44 5790±90 4876–4450 Ki-15947 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 15* Rakushehnoyar-
charcoal 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture (|)
45 5690±100 4766–4345 Ki-15941 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 15* Rakushehno-
charcoal 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) yarskaya culture
46 7690±90 6746–6385 Ki-15186 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 18* Rakushehno- Aleksandrovsky et al. 2009
fragment 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) yarskaya culture
47 5540±100 4652–4075 Ki-15946 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 18-19* Rakushehnoyar-
charcoal 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
48 5670±100 4726–4336 Ki-15945 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 18-19* Rakushehnoyar-
charcoal 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
49 6750±110 5876–5482 Ki-15187 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 21-22* Rakushehnoyar- Aleksandrovsky et al. 2009
fragment 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
50 6890±80 5976–5641 Ki-15185 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 21-22* Rakushehnoyar-
fragment 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
51 7670±90 6695–6367 Ki-15188 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 22* Rakushehnoyar-
fragment 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
52 7020±80 6026–5736 Ki-15190 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 23* Rakushehnoyar- Aleksandrovsky et al. 2009
fragment 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
53 7320±70 6367–6052 Ki-15943 Ground with Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 23* Rakushehno-
charcoal 2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) yarskaya culture
54 7380±100 6431–6061 Ki-15181 Ground Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 23*\ Rakushehnoyar-
2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) buried soil X skaya culture
55 6450±90 5564–5227 Le-8422 Ground Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 21-22* Rakushehnoyar-
2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
220
lab- dated
information
Archaeolo.
No.
14
C (BP) cal BC
index material
13
C site about dated
culture
references
materia
56 5900±220 5307–4348 Le-8468 Animal bone Rakushechny Yar, stratigraphical cut of Layer 21-22* Rakushehnoyar-
2008 (near excavation No. 16 of 1966) skaya culture
57 5850±150 5197–4365 Ki-11092 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 8* (layers’ number- Rakushehnoyar- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place ing – according to skaya culture (|)
of exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
58 6955±160 6206–5563 Ki-11091 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 10-11* (layers’ num- Rakushehnoyar- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place of bering – according to skaya culture (|)
exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
59 6810±140 5983–5491 Ki-11096 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 10-11* (layers’ num- Rakushehnoyar- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place of bering – according to skaya culture (|)
exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
60 6850±160 6023–5487 Ki-11095 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 11* (layers’ number- Rakushehnoyar- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place of ing – according to skaya culture (|)
exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
61 7090±110 6210–5742 Ki-11090 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 12* (layers’ number- Rakushehnoyar- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place of ing – according to skaya culture (|)
exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
62 7205±150 6395–5789 Ki-11093 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 13* (layers’ number- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place of ing – according to
exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
63 7130±150 6354–5721 Ki-11094 Pottery Rakushechny Yar, excavation of D. Y. Tele- Layer 13* (layers’ number- Rakushehnoyar- Manko 2006.16
fragment gin of 1975 (supposedly on the place of ing – according to skaya culture (|)
exc. No. V of T. D. Belanovskaya) D. Y. Telegin)
64 7505±210 7021–5931 GrN-7199 Charcoal Matveev Kurgan I Timofeev et al. 2004.76
65 7180±70 6221–5916 Le-1217 Charcoal Matveev Kurgan I Fireplace, depth 1.5 m Ibid
66 5400±200 4685–3795 Le-882 Charcoal Matveev Kurgan II Ibid
67 7460±200 6770–5906 IGAN-726 Ground site Samsonovskoe Ibid
68 9470±340 10013–7846 IGAN-722 Razdorskoe I Kremenetsky 1991.117
69 7490±60 6447–6238 Ki-15177 Charcoal Razdorskaya II 2008, square A5, layer 12, Rakushehnoyar- Aleksandrovsky et al. 2009
fireplace skaya culture (|)
70 8210±80 7460–7059 Ki-15178 Charcoal Razdorskaya II 2008, square A7-B7, Rakushehnoyar- Ibid
layer 11, fireplace skaya culture (|)

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information
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references
materia
71 7840±80 7029–6503 Ki-15179 Charcoal Razdorskaya II 2008, layer 11, fireplace Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
72 8145±110 7479–6777 Ua-37000 | Razdorskaya II sqaure A5, layer 12, depth -0,82-0,84 Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
(AMS)
73 7920±110 7080–6508 Le- Hot humic Razdorskaya II 2008, square 7, depth 0,58-0,64 Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
84280 a acids
74 8130±100 7454–6775 Le- Cold humic Razdorskaya II 2008, square 7, depth 0,58-0,64 Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
84280 b acids
75 7640±120 6767–6232 Le-6873 | Razdorskaya II 2003, square AI, depth –1,35\ –1,4 Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
76 7450±100 6467–6088 Le-6950 | Razdorskaya II 2003, square AI Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
77 7930±50 7035–6661 Le-6952 | Razdorskaya II 2003, square AI Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) Ibid
78 7850±50 7023–6590 Le-8814 Ground Razdorskaya II 2009, fireplace 2, square a6, depth 110 Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) 
79 7850±50 7023–6590 Le-8813 Ground Razdorskaya II 2009, northern part of the Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|)
square B4\B5, depth 110
80 7900±60 7032–6642 Le-8812 Ground Razdorskaya II 2009, northern part of the Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|)
square B5, depth 110
81 7470±60 6439–6232 Le-8811 Ground Razdorskaya II 2009, northern part of the Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|)
square A7, depth 99
82 7100±100 6209–5759 SPb-1467 Charcoal Razdorskaya II 2003, square B2, depth –140 Rakushehnoyarskaya culture (|) 
83 6390±100 5551–5078 Ki-10955 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 26 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area
84 6830±110 5980–5553 Ki-10956 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 28 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Tsybryi 2011.Tab. 1
85 6410±70 5490–5226 Ki-10957 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 29 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
86 6600±90 5701–5374 Ki-10958 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 33 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
87 6570±100 5665–5328 Ki-10959 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 35 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
88 4600±100 3634–3026 Ki-10960 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 38 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
89 6230±100 5466–4939 Ki-10961 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 48 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
90
5370±110 4445–3971 Ki-10962
Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 48 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
91 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 48 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
92 2410±100 797–235 Ki-10963 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 48 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
93 5700±100 4770–4350 Ki-9024 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 15 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
94 6380±100 5533–5075 Ki-9025 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 11 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
95 7600±110 6650–6233 Le-6220 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 27 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
96 7150±85 6221–5848 Le-6221 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 28 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
97 6600±170 5871–5219 Le-6222 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 44 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
98 6030±120 5294–4685 Le-6223 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 29 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid

Andrey Tsybrij, Viktor Tsybrij, Ekaterina Dolbunova, Andrey Mazurkevich, Marianna Kulkova and Ganna Zaitseva
222
lab- dated
information
Archaeolo.
No.
14
C (BP) cal BC
index material
13
C site about dated
culture
references
materia
99 6770±170 6008–5381 Le-6224 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 45 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
100 7130±170 6372–5715 Le-6227 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 40 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
101 6450±160 5674–5044 Le-6228 Charcoal Kremennaya II Excavation 1, fireplace 47 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
102 7060±190 6356–5625 Le-6871 Bone Kremennaya III Excavation 1, square c10e43, bottom Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Tsybryi 2008.92
of the cultural layer
103 5540±100 4652–4075 Le-6868 Bone Kremennaya III Excavation 1, square c10, bottom Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
of the cultural layer 
104 7440±160 6599–6009 Le-6956 Bone Kremennaya III Excavation 1, square c8, bottom Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
of the cultural layer
105 6582±120 5716–5321 SPb-1250 Bone Kremennaya III Excavation 1, No. 214, 593, 60 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area
106 8120±120 7456–6701 Le-6869 Bone Rassypnaya VI Excavation 1, square 31, Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Tsybryi 2008.92
conventional layer 6, No. 1557
107 5880±150 5207–4406 Le-6870 Bone Rassypnaya VI Excavation 1, horizon 6–8, Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
depth –0,6–0,8m
108 5160±500 5291–2872 Le-6872 Bone Rassypnaya VI Excavation 1, square 55, bones Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
accumulation 1, depth –0,9m
109 7250±110 6381–5913 Le-6955 Bone Rassypnaya VI Excavation 2, sq. 12, find No. 719, Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
depth –1,1m
110 5420±110 4460–3991 Le-6954 Bone Rassypnaya VI Excavation 2, square 13, layer 9, Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
depth –1,05m, No. 738
111 6030±100 5214–4716 Le-6953 Bone Rassypnaya VI Excavation 2, burial 1 Caspian-ciscaucasian cultural area Ibid
* numbering of layers of each excavation of Rakushechny Yar site is different, they cannot be correlated with each other 
** numbers of layers in sondages #1 and #2