Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/38399

From the steep slopes of mountainous country Sichote-Alin at the edge of the Tatar channel from the west, flow three rather large rivers the Nelma, the Botchi, and the Koppi. The Samarga, found south of these, further to the north. In these are located the places of conventional native settlements. In 1978 an archeological expedition worked here for the first time. Under the guidance of the author, the archeological sites referring to the 1st millenium BC up to the 1st millennium AD were excavated on the banks and near the estuaries of those rivers. The most interesting excavation was made on the river Koppi, near the estuary, in 4 places. Three of them are on the right bank (Koppi I, II, III) and one, on the left bank (Koppi IV). On the spot indicated Koppi I, 13m2 is dug out. Remnants of a ground-level building, ceramics, a small number of articles from flint and other stones, and drilling samples of tubular bones are found. The ceramics demontrate definite similarity to the Uril culture of Lower Amur. Preliminary dating is the Iron Age, probably, last third of the 1st millennium BC. up to AD. The spot Koppi II is investigated by a trench and pit hole with floor space of 22m2 Here are found features of three periods of settlements. But only two are traced clearly. The earlier period dates back to the bronze age (1st millennium BC), from which deepened parts of two dwellings remain. The later period dates back to the Moche culture (the 2nd half of the 1st millennium AD), lying above ancient foundation pits. Some pieces of ceramics are referred to the third cultural horizon, probably more ancient than the layer with dwellings. The spot Koppi III about 30m2 is dug out here. The remnants of buildings, washed away by the river, and the artifacts (ceramic pots ; roughly cut, retouched, and polished stone objects, a bronze ring with channeled surface) were excavated. On a tentative estimation, III or IV cultural-chronological complexes are represented here. The spot Koppi IV about 10m2 of sand dune were dug out. At the remnants of Moche culture dwelling, ceramic pieces, bones, and iron articles were found. Results of the research have shown a considerable scientific value at opened sites for a solution to the many problems forming the ethnic cultural situation on bordering territories, but have not answered the problems which arose. It is necessary to conduct broader excavation not only on the Koppi, but also on the seacoast and in the valleys of the other rivers above-mentioned.