Shamanka II: An Early Neolithic cemetery on the southwest shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia. Archaeological and Osteological Materials

Andrzej W. Weber; Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii; Erin Jessup; Anastasia Antonova; Kathleen Faccia; Lacey S. Fleming; Caroline Haverkort; Angela R. Lieverse; Robert J. Losey; Brianna P. Mack; Nour Moussa; Samantha L. Purchase; Rick J. Schulting; Aleksandr P. Sekerin; Hamed Vahdati Nasab; Andrea L. Waters-Rist

doi:10.34780/8htf-6bf3

Shamanka II: An Early Neolithic cemetery on the southwest shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia. Archaeological and Osteological Materials

https://doi.org/10.34780/8htf-6bf3

Authors

List of Contributors

Andrzej W. Weber [Volume editor] https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3992-2160 Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta
Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii [Volume editor] https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6940-7592 Department of Archaeology and Ethnography, Irkutsk State University
Erin Jessup [Volume editor] https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0429-2030 Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta
Anastasia Antonova [Chapter Author]
Kathleen Faccia [Chapter Author]
Lacey S. Fleming [Chapter Author]
Caroline Haverkort [Chapter Author]
Angela R. Lieverse [Chapter Author]
Robert J. Losey [Chapter Author]
Brianna P. Mack [Chapter Author]
Nour Moussa [Chapter Author]
Samantha L. Purchase [Chapter Author]
Rick J. Schulting [Chapter Author]
Aleksandr P. Sekerin [Chapter Author]
Hamed Vahdati Nasab [Chapter Author]
Andrea L. Waters-Rist [Chapter Author]

Synopsis

This three-volume book presents the long-awaited comprehensive archaeological, chronological, and bioarchaeological studies of Shamanka II site, the largest completely excavated cemetery of the Early Neolithic Kitoi culture dated to ca. 7,560–6,660 years cal BP. It is a monument to some thirty years of research by the Baikal Archaeology Project (BAP). This multidisciplinary international project provides insights into the individual life histories of Holocene hunter-gatherers in Northern Eurasia during times of climate change. The 156 people buried in 97 graves with around 15,000 goods at Shamanka II experienced a fundamental alteration of their world from more diverse landscapes to dense taiga forest that left only lake shores and river banks open. It is fascinating to see how creatively they developed adaptive strategies.

Keywords:

Archaeology, Osteology, Early Neolithic, Kitoi culture, Cemetery, Shamanka II site, Lake Baikal

Chapters

Volume 1
Series Editor’s Foreword
Author Information
Conventions
List of Tables
List of Figures
1 Introduction

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Erin Jessup
2 History of research and methods

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii
3 Site stratigraphy and description of the cultural layer

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii
4 Grave descriptions

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Erin Jessup
5 Human osteological remains

Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Anastasia Antonova, Kathleen Faccia, Caroline Haverkort, Angela R. Lieverse, Nour Moussa, Samantha L. Purchase, Rick J. Schulting, Hamed Vahdati Nasab, Andrea L. Waters-Rist
6 Demography, health, and activity

Kathleen Faccia, Angela R. Lieverse, Brianna P. Mack, Nour Moussa, Samantha L. Purchase, Rick J. Schulting, Andrea L. Waters-Rist
7 Faunal remains

Lacey S. Fleming, Robert J. Losey
8 Chronology, history and patterns of use, dietary variation

Andrzej W. Weber
9 Kitoi mortuary practices at Shamanka II: An overview

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Erin Jessup
10 Art, fire, bears, human bones and summary of variation in mortuary practices

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Erin Jessup
11 Conclusion

Andrzej W. Weber
Epilogue

Andrzej W. Weber, Vladimir I. Bazaliiskii, Erin Jessup, Rick J. Schulting
References
Volume 2
List of Plates
Supplement 1: Plates
Supplement 2: Petrographic determinations of lithic grave goods
Supplement 3: Radiocarbon and stable isotope data
Volume 3 (digital supplements)
Supplement 4: Plate 3.9. Detailed map of excavated area at Shamanka II
Supplement 5: Grave good photographs
Supplement 6: Fieldwork (in situ) photographs
Supplement 7: Mortuary data for chapters 9 and 10: Grave level
Supplement 8: Mortuary data code book for chapters 9 and 10: Grave level
Supplement 9: Mortuary data for chapters 9 and 10: Burial level
Supplement 10: Mortuary data code book for chapters 9 and 10: Burial level