Analysis of Starchy Grains, Found on Stone Tools and Grindstones from Surungur and Obishir-5 Neolithic Sites (Kyrgyzstan)

Authors

  • Snezhana V. Zhilich Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch. Academician Lavrentyev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
  • Maxim V. Seletskiy Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch. Academician Lavrentyev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
  • Natalia V. Shchegoleva National Research Tomsk State University. Lenin Ave., Tomsk, 634050 Russian Federation
  • Temirlan T. Chargynov Kyrgyz National University named after J. Balasagyn. Frunze St., Bishkek, 720033, Kyrgyzstan
  • Saltanat Alisher kyzy Osh State University (Osh, Kyrgyzstan)
  • Svetlana V. Shnaider Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography. Academician Lavrentyev Ave., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2025.1.58.72

Keywords:

archaeology, starchy grains, grindstones, grinding slabs, Surungur, Obishir-5, Neolithic, diet

Abstract

The article deals with the results of the study of grindstones, found during excavations at the Surungur and Obishir-5 sites in the Fergana Valley (Kyrgyzstan), by analysis of starchy grains. Four different types of starchy grains belonging to barley, millet, pea, and lily were revealed in the washes of the stones. Starchy grains of barley and lily are found both in the lower and upper layers of the Surungur site, which testifies to the stability of the tradition of use of these starchy plants by ancient people. At the early stages of the settlement of the Fergana Valley the ancient people used barley and lily bulbs, and in the later stages they also used millet. The data got by us supplement the existing ideas about the distribution of various agricultural crops in Central Asia and the adaptation strategy of the ancient population of the Fergana Valley - the combination of the use of cultivated and wild edible plants.

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Published

2025-02-28

How to Cite

Zhilich , S. V., Seletskiy , M. V., Shchegoleva , N. V., Chargynov , T. T., Alisher kyzy, S., & Shnaider , S. V. (2025). Analysis of Starchy Grains, Found on Stone Tools and Grindstones from Surungur and Obishir-5 Neolithic Sites (Kyrgyzstan) . Arkheologiia Evraziiskikh Stepei (Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes), (1), 58–72. https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2025.1.58.72

Issue

No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research and Publication

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Copyright (c) 2025 S.V. Zhilich, M.V. Seletskiy, N.V. Shchegoleva, T.T. Chargynov, S. Alisher kyzy, S.V. Shnaider

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