Preliminary Results of Non-Contact Studies of the Lapas Complex of Mausoleums

Abstract

The paper discusses the results of magnetometric studies on the complex of Khan mausoleums near the village of Lapas in Astrakhan Oblast conducted in 2018–2022. A brief prehistory of the monument is outlined, information about the complex of mausoleums in medieval cartography and written sources is provided, and details of the archaeological studies of the archaeological site are presented. The methods of studying, processing and presentation of the results of geophysical studies and geodetic works are described. The results of magnetometric studies at mausoleums No. 1 and No. 4 are given, which made it possible to identify numerous buried objects related to medieval funerary architecture, necropolis and production of building material at each mausoleum complex. Conclusions are drawn about the number, purpose and condition of the preserved structures and buildings, and their estimated dimensions. An assumption based on magnetometry data is made about two periods of operation of the investigated part of the mausoleum complex No. 1, where numerous structures of an earlier stage of existence are recorded, overlapped by the building and fence of mausoleum No. 1. The necessity, expediency and effectiveness of the use of non-contact study methods at large archaeological sites are demonstrated.

Keywords

• archaeology
• lapas complex of mausoleums
• the golden horde
• necropolis
• pottery kilns
• medieval architecture
• natural scientific methods
• magnetometric studies
• topographic survey