Gender, Age and Status in the Burial Complexes of the Yamnaya Culture Population of the Volga-Ural Region

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of gender–age pattern of the Yamnaya culture population of the Volga-Ural region according to the burial rite data. Based on the data on labor costs and inventory, as well as the disproportion in the burial rite in favor of the male population, a conclusion is made about the existence of patriarchal relations in the Yamnaya culture society. The small number of female and children burials suggests that the barrow rite was intended only for individuals with hereditary or acquired social status. According to the burial rite and goods, it was concluded that women, equally with men, could occupy important production and administrative positions in the Yamnaya culture society. Burials of children and adolescents suggest that the social status and occupations of their parents could be inherited. The hereditary social status is also evidenced by twin burials of children when they were buried facing adults. Such situation probably indicates that children participated in the burial ritual by birthright in a social group with a high status. Another type of treatment of children in twin burials suggests the existence of a ritual when a human sacrifice (child) was placed in the burial of adults.

Keywords

• archaeology
• yamnaya culture
• gender
• age
• status
• gender–age pattern
• socialization
• social structure