This paper presents the analysis of several newly discovered archaeological sites located in the forest-steppe and steppe Trans-Urals. These are the circular settlements of Ulak-1 and Selek and two unfortified settlements -Konoplyanka 2 and Kammeny Brod. Most archaeologists attribute the first two settlements to the Sintashta culture, although a careful analysis of pottery assemblages from the sites allow us to attribute them to the Abashevo culture. Unlike Sintashta settlements, characterized

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... y a ditch and a rampart, which were used to protect the main fortifications during military conflicts, the settlements of Ulak-1 and Selek have trenches that functioned as water control structures. These structures did not play any protective role against military attacks. Moreover, both circular settlements are situated outside the scientifically established area of the Sintashta culture distribution. The earliest ceramics assemblages from Konoplyanka 2 settlement clearly belong to the Sintashta culture. However, pottery fragments discovered at the settlement of Kamenny Brod demonstrate the features of both Abashevo and Sintashta cultures. Thus, archaeological evidence suggests, that there is a unique Trans-Urals variant of the Abashevo culture, which preceded the Sintashta culture in this region, dating back to the end of the Middle Bronze Age. The newly discovered data also supports the fact that not all Sintashta settlements had fortifications. Further research is needed to specify the chronological limits of the cultures under discussion and to explore new archaeological sites related to the topic.