Stone "Axe With Lugs" and Gold Mining in Salair Region in Ancient Times
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24852/2587-6112.2026.1.239.251Keywords:
archaeology, axes with lugs, Salair, Raman spectroscopy, traceology, ice pick, winter gold miningAbstract
During a survey of the area near the village of Yegoryevskoye in the Novosibirsk region, a stone item was discovered in the riverbed of the Suenga River, worked using the picketing and grinding techniques. Analysis of the tool’s material by Raman spectroscopy revealed that the material used for its manufacture is homogeneous in structure and consists mainly of quartz. To date, this find is unique and the only one of its kind in the Upper Ob basin. In turn, this artifact also marks the southwestern boundary of the distribution of items archaeologically known as "axes with lugs". A comparison of the material of the axe from Salair with similar artifacts from the Angara and Baikal regions revealed significant differences in the raw materials used. Traces of wear analysis established that the tool was used as an ice pick for breaking ice. Nearly all similar finds are associated with areas near large bodies of water (Yenisei, Angara, Baikal), suggesting they were likely used for cutting and clearing ice holes for winter fishing. However, finding such a tool on the small and relatively shallow Suenga River casts doubt on the connection of the "axes with lugs" with fishing. A hypothesis is put forward linking this tool to gold mining. This assumption aligns with its functional characteristics and its location on a gold-bearing river, where metal extraction is especially productive in winter.
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