V.F. Gening and problems related to studies of the Glyadenovo-Pyanoborye period in the Gis-Urals region

Abstract

The studies by the outstanding archaeologist V.F. Gening in the field of the Volga-Ural antiquities of the turn of the eras, namely the Glyadenovo-Pyanoborye community of the Kama region are analyzed. In this region, V.F. Gening supervised field research of a number of settlements and burial grounds. He singled out a number of cultures that had previously been considered local variants, namely the Osinovo, Garevaya, Azelino and Mazunino cultures, whose status within this community, as well dating are still debatable. The cultural and historical assessment of the unique monuments such as bone beds by him is regarded as incorrect by the author. V.F. Gening attributed them as burial grounds, whereas today they are viewed as traces of human sacrifice.

Keywords

• the Cis-Urals region
• the early Iron Age
• the Gladenovo-Pyanoborye community
• the Osinovo
• Garevaya
• Azelino and Mazunino cultures
• bone beds
• burial grounds