Aleksandrovskaya Plotina Settlement: An Archaeological Site of the Alakul Culture in the Valley of the Bolshaya Karaganka River

The Aleksandrovskaya Plotina settlement was discovered by N. M. Menshenin in 1988, when it was already significantly damaged during the construction of the hydroelectric complex of the Karaganka interfarm irrigation system. Subsequently, this archaeological site was considered completely destroyed as a result of the construction of the dam of the unfinished Bolshekaraganskoe Reservoir. In 2023 the archaeological expedishion of the Chelyabinsk State Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve “Arkaim” together with employees and students of Chelyabinsk State University rediscovered and examined the settlement. It was found that the preserved part of the site has an area of about 6.5 thousand m2 and is located to the west of the dam on the territory of the tourist camp of the “Arkaim” Museum-Reserve. Fragments of ceramic vessels were found on the surface of the settlement in the area of the stage and benches installed in front of it. 9 exploratory excavations with a total area of 9m2 were laid on the site. The cultural layer of the settlement turned out to be significantly damaged, mixed in places and covered everywhere with a layer of soil of technogenic origin. All found fragments of ceramic vessels belong to the Alakul culture of the Late Bronze Age. In addition, the finds include a bronze item, the purpose of which remains in question.