Part II Archaeological Excavations - Center for the Study of Eurasian ...

Kurgans, Ritual Sites, and Settlements: Eurasian Bronze and Iron Age
Settlements and kurgans provide abundant materials for the
reconstruction of the Sargat society architectural patterns. A
relatively high level of spatial organization, planning, house
and fortification construction corresponded to the specific environmental
conditions (Fig. 7). Wood was the basic material
for funerary and residential construction. Types of houses varied
between small and light dwellings, such as at Malokazakhbayevo,
to large and multi-roomed houses with approximately
100 sq m, and having several hearths and internal economic
areas. Complex houses of this type are known at Prygovo
and Pavlinovo.
Some aspects of mortuary practice
Comparison of settlements and cemeteries reveals a discrepancy
from the point of view of their demographic potential.
The number of burials and the demographic composition of
burial grounds do not correspond to the probable number of
settlement inhabitants. This observation provided a new hypothesis
concerning the possibility of alternative funerary practices
that did not include a kurgan. Indirect arguments in favor
of this hypothesis are represented by the occurrence of occasional
flat burials located outside kurgan mounds. This hypothesis
will be tested by further research.
Detailed analysis of funerary rituality revealed several patterns
relating to the different chronological time periods and different
social gradations. Barrows covered the burials; this architecture
included a circular or polygonal ditched enclosure that
served to delimit the mortuary area. Ditches usually correlated
with the different phases of barrow construction. The size, construction,
and number of burials varied between kurgans. Large
mounds, approximately 100 m in diameter, usually dominated
the high riverbanks, and towered over other kurgans. A good
example of such a cemetery is the Scaty burial ground that
contained kurgans that reveal it to have had an aristocratic character.
The funerary ceremony also included some actions connected
with animal sacrifices and food offerings. Each kurgan
contained several burials (Fig. 8). As a rule, the first and second
central burials in a cemetery were primary, while later dated
burials were arranged around the periphery.
Grave pits were of two types: (1) those with straight vertical
walls and (2) those with ledges cut into the walls. In some pits
there was evidence of wooden pillars supporting an upper covering,
and the burial chambers reflected some of the elements
belonging to a house. Special coffins or litters were employed
in the burials. Accompanying grave goods reflected the social
and professional status of the deceased, who were buried in an
extended position, and were generally oriented to the north.
An integral part of the mortuary assemblage was food offerings–pieces
of horsemeat and vessels that contained milk or
broth. Horse, cattle, and sheep meat were consumed during the
funeral feast and their remains have been found outside the
grave pit. Male burials clearly expressed warrior characteristics.
Weapons could accompany a 12–14 year old (Fig. 12),
thereby shedding light on the age group system that existed
within Sargat society. Females were buried with ornaments,
68
including beads and earrings, as well as tools associated with
textile production, and various vessels including bronze cauldrons
(Fig. 9) and stone plates. Fire appears to have played an
important role in the funerary ceremonies.
The central burials invariably belonged to major personages.
Their pits were much larger than those on the periphery and
they contained more imposing wooden constructions, including
large upper roofed areas (Koryakova 1988;
Koryakova and Daire 1997).
Anthropological analysis
A component of the project focuses upon the examination of
human remains. Various methods of physical examination were
undertaken to enable the reconstruction of the age and sex profile
of the population. Muscle markings were analyzed to assess
the types of human activity which were undertaken by the
deceased during their everyday life. It is difficult to synthesize
the health of this population because the majority of burials
had been robbed, resulting in the disturbance of the skeletons
that were frequently incomplete. Thus, our sample is not large
and does not include the entire population. Nevertheless, we
observed a significant prevalence of porotic hyperostosis, cribra
orbitalia, or thickness of the diploe, lesions which are indicative
of a high frequency of anemia. Enamel hypoplasia was
also relatively frequent as was osteoarthritis that was especially
observed on the vertebral column (Fig. 10). Muscular activity
was relatively high, and the insertions of the main muscles are
well developed, a condition often associated with enthesopathies.
These were the main pathologies encountered. Very
few traumatic lesions were observed, which would contradict
a military characteristic for the Sargat society. The clearly expressed
marker of a horse rider’s pathological complex is indicated
in some male burials (Fig. 11), but, it should be noted
that for the most part, the deceased could not be described as
being involved in extreme nomadic activity, although they frequently
rode horses (Courtaud and Rajev 1997).
The majority of the investigated burials were of adult personages.
Males and females died at a relatively young age, not
corresponding to the expected normal mortality rate. The sample
was too small, however, to enable a proper demographic profile
to be reconstructed for the population. Thirty-four subjects
were excavated - 5 children and 29 adults. We would expect
for this time period and the probable birth-life expectancy, that
we would find approximately 50 percent adults and 50 percent
immature individuals. Thus, a large quantity of immature individuals
was not found–with one exception. Three children and
an equal number of adults were excavated from the Skaty Cemetery.
Among the adult individuals, we encountered 14 males,
5 females and 10 of indeterminable sex due to their incomplete
skeletons.
Conclusions
The Sargat settlement sites provided abundant material culture
which enabled the determination of the economic bases, environment,
architecture, and the stylistic traditions used in pottery
manufacture. These artifacts allowed the chronological and