Burial Rite as a Source of Social Reconstructions (based on the materials of Kara-Abyz Culture)

Abstract

The article presents the results of summary characteristics of burial rite of the Kara-Abyz culture, based on the use of methods of mathematical statistics. The work is based on the materials from 700 burials of the Kara-Abyz culture, studied during the 20th century by V.V. Golmsten, K.V. Salnikov and A.Kh. Pshenichnyuk. Indications of gender and age groups (male, female and children) have been singled out. It is revealed that the male remains are characterized by the presence of weapons, while the female ones are characterized by the presence of items of a costume complex. To clarify the social structure of the ancient population, the burials were divided into five categories (“very rich”, “rich”, “ordinary”, “poor”, “poorest”) according to quantitative and qualitative composition of objects. As a result of the study, a three-part social structure was reconstructed.

Keywords

• archaeology
• southern cis-urals
• kara-abyz culture
• early iron age
• social structure