Tasbas (Phase 2a)
Basic information
Sample name: Tasbas (Phase 2a)
Reference: P. N. Doumani, M. D. Frachetti, R. Beardmore, T. M. Schmaus, R. N. Spengler III, and A. N. Mar'yashev. 2015. Burial ritual, agriculture, and craft production among Bronze Age pastoralists at Tasbas (Kazakhstan). Archaeological Research in Asia 1:17-32 [ER 3759]
Geography
Country: Kazakhstan
Coordinate: 45° 8' 3" N, 79° 22' 4" E
Coordinate basis: stated in text
Time interval: Holocene
Section: 3759
Unit number: 2
Unit order: below to above
Max Ma: 0.00315
Min Ma: 0.00303
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: "Tasbas is a highland settlement located at 1500 m asl, in the Bayan-Zhurek Valley of Semirech'ye, southeastern Kazakhstan".
"One sample of wood charcoal and two barley grains from Phase 2a were AMS dated to between 3150 ± 35 and 3030 ± 35 BP (1416 and 1287 cal. BC)".
"One sample of wood charcoal and two barley grains from Phase 2a were AMS dated to between 3150 ± 35 and 3030 ± 35 BP (1416 and 1287 cal. BC)".
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: human accumulation,settlement
Archaeology: buildings,ceramics,hearths,stone tools,other structures
Habitat comments: "Tasbas extends over three natural terraces (70 × 20 m) that wrap along a tributary river. Historic period burials rest on the upper terrace; a multi-phase campsite occupies the middle terrace; and Late Bronze Age burials span the lower terrace".
"Phase 2a represents the Late Bronze Age. Stratified deposits revealed remains of a small circular dwelling (3.5 m across) with stonewall foundations and a clay floor. A central posthole surrounded by multiple smaller postholes suggests a light roof or lean-to sheltered the space. Bones of domesticated and wild fauna, coarseware and decorated pottery, and ground stone tools also belong to this phase".
"Individual hearth features were discovered at both sides of the central post. The first included a fire-pit lined with medium stones coated in clay, much like the one documented from Phase 1. The Phase 2a fire-pit held ash and carbonized barley grains that spilled over its edge onto the floor. The second hearth feature comprised a clay oven constructed of sunbaked, hand-formed, mudbrick. The exposed component shows a rectangular structure with side flue that brought oxygen to the inner chamber. Floated contents from the chamber revealed dung, carbonized wood, domesticated and wild plant parts, and burnt bone fragments. A ring of stones that may have served to balance a cooking vessel over the fuel chamber capped the upper bricklayer".
"Phase 2a represents the Late Bronze Age. Stratified deposits revealed remains of a small circular dwelling (3.5 m across) with stonewall foundations and a clay floor. A central posthole surrounded by multiple smaller postholes suggests a light roof or lean-to sheltered the space. Bones of domesticated and wild fauna, coarseware and decorated pottery, and ground stone tools also belong to this phase".
"Individual hearth features were discovered at both sides of the central post. The first included a fire-pit lined with medium stones coated in clay, much like the one documented from Phase 1. The Phase 2a fire-pit held ash and carbonized barley grains that spilled over its edge onto the floor. The second hearth feature comprised a clay oven constructed of sunbaked, hand-formed, mudbrick. The exposed component shows a rectangular structure with side flue that brought oxygen to the inner chamber. Floated contents from the chamber revealed dung, carbonized wood, domesticated and wild plant parts, and burnt bone fragments. A ring of stones that may have served to balance a cooking vessel over the fuel chamber capped the upper bricklayer".
Methods
Life forms: carnivores,primates,rodents,ungulates,turtles,fishes
Sampling methods: quarry
Sample size: 22 specimens
Years: 2011
Sampling comments: "Pilot excavations were carried out on the middle terrace at Tasbas in 2001, with the main excavations conducted in 2011". No specific information is provided on the total area excavated, or whether the soil was sieved.
Metadata
Sample number: 4011
Contributor: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-10-17 12:58:06
Modified: 2023-05-30 02:15:23
Abundance distribution
9 species
5 singletons
total count 22
geometric series index: 31.6
Fisher's α: 5.685
geometric series k: 0.7499
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.7359
Shannon's H: 1.7686
Good's u: 0.7811
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
• Find matching samples
Register
| Bos taurus | 10 | 337 kg |
| Capra aegagrus hircus | 1 | 22 kg browser-grazer |
| "Capra hircus" | ||
| Ovis aries | 3 | 41 kg |
| also 23 Caprinae indet. | ||
| Gazella subgutturosa | 2 | 17 kg grazer |
| Rodentia indet. | 1 | |
| Canis sp. | 2 | |
| Pisces indet. | 1 | |
| Testudines indet. | 1 | |
| Homo sapiens | 1 | 64 kg |