Shatanov-6 Itkul Rock Sanctuary by the Irtyash Lake in the Southern Transurals

The article gives an overview of Shatanov-6 rock sanctuary situated on Shatanov Island in the Irtyash Lake in the Chelyabinsk region north. The revealed monument reveals collections of copper and bronze items. Most of items are identified as plastic art of ritualistic purpose. Totally the excavations exposed nine copper bars, five sprues, two pieces of iron puddle balls, ceramic vessel fragments and 63 items of copper and copper alloys. The collections' typology distinguishes ornitomorphic figurines, zoomorphic figurines, a tree-shaped idol, mirror-like buckles, three-blade arrowheads and vessel fragments. The monument is interpreted as an Itkul culture ritualistic complex attributed to the Early Iron Age Transurals. The aggregation of finds attributes the monument to 600s–300s BC. The research reviews the chemical composition analysis of the non-ferrous metal items. The analysis shows that most items are made of nearly pure copper. The study determines two groups of micro admixtures. They form Se–Ag–Pb and As–Sb–Sn–Pb associations. It may be evident of different sources of copper ore. The radiocarbon dating attributes the complex more specifically to 400s–300s BC.