Belogorskoye Burial Ground of the Medieval Mordovians

Abstract

The article presents the results of archaeological studies of the Mordovian burial ground, located on the eastern outside of the village of Belogorskoye in the Krasnoarmeysk district of the Saratov region. In 2012, four burials were studied at the burial ground: two female and two male. The burial rite is typical for Mordovian complexes of the XIII–XIV centuries. The grave pits are arranged in two rows, oriented along the north-west–south-east line, with the head facing south-east. Wooden rectangular coffins are traced in two burials. All burials have such finds as sulgams, temple rings and needle made of non-ferrous metal, glass and clay beads, scissors, iron knife and hoe, pottery, etc. To date, the Belogorskoye burial ground is the southernmost of the identified Mordovian burial grounds in the Volga region.

Keywords

• archaeology
• burial ground without mounds
• golden horde
• middle ages
• volga
• saratov region
• mordva-moksha
• the second half of the xiii–xiv centuries