Collective Burials of the Bystryanskaya Culture of Altai Scythian-Saka Time

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of collective burials, recorded during excavations of the necropolises of the Bystryanskaya culture in the northern foothills of the Altai in the Scythian-Saka time. It has been established that burials of this type are rare for the community under consideration (15 out of 180 objects). At the same time, the indicated tradition of ritual practice can be traced throughout the existence of culture. Paired and collective burials were found at six burial grounds. Mostly in such objects, the skeletons of adults (more often women) were found together with children (7 cases), as well as graves with only adults (6 objects). In addition, there are two burials of several children each. It is noted that the funeral rite, recorded in collective burials according to the main indicators, does not differ from the ritual practice of the Bystryanskaya culture. In the complexes of the population of the northern foothills of the Altai of the Scythian-Saka period, objects of the type under consideration are found somewhat more often in comparison with the neighboring Staro-Aley culture and less often than in the Pazyryk community. An assumption is made that the appearance of collective burials is not due to foreign cultural influence, but is associated with other reasons. Family ties of people buried in the same grave are not excluded.