The Ageyevsky Burial Mound of the Late Bronze Age in the Bashkir Trans-Urals

Abstract

The materials of two mounds (No. 1 and 2) of the Ageyevsky burial ground are introduced into scientific discourse in this paper. The mounds are situated within the Srubnaya–Alakul contact zone in the South Trans-Urals. Mound 1 contained seven graves located on the mound-site according to the central-circular principle where the peripheral burials form pairs. The central grave contained a disturbed burial of two adults; children and adolescents were buried in most peripheral graves (5). Only one peripheral grave matched the size of an adult’s grave. Presumably it contained the remains of cremation (?). Children’s graves (3) were solitary, adolescents’ graves (2) were paired. The adolescents were buried in twin graves; in one grave the dead were placed on one (left) side, in the other – facing each other. In the center of Mound 2 there was the only disturbed burial of two adults. All burials were made in soil graves. The majority of graves are covered with stone slabs. The grave-goods are represented by vessels and decorations. The burial rite and grave goods are analogous to the Srubnaya–Alakul necropolises of classical (developed) stage of the nearby territory and the whole of the South Trans-Urals. However it is distinguished by peculiar features: paired peripheral burials in the multi-grave Mound 1 and the prevailing orientation of those buried in the southern sector.

Keywords

• archaeology
• mounds
• burial rite
• south trans-urals
• late bronze epoch
• timber-frame – alakul contact zone