Cemetery Research Articles

EARLY MEDIEVAL MIRRORS WITH A CENTRAL LOOP FROM THE SUMTSOV KHARKIV MUSEUM OF HISTORY COLLECTION

The archaeological collection of the Sumtsov Kharkiv History Museum contains 69 mirrors with a central loop on the reverse side, which were discovered by museum expedition in 1982—2021 at the Verkhnii Saltiv (VS), Staryyi Saltiv (SS) and Rubizhne burial grounds. 63 mirrors were unearthed in the burial assemblages of the big Verkhnii Saltiv necropolis: 26 mirrors come from 22 catacombs of the burial ground (VS 1), 14 mirrors from 12 catacombs of the third burial ground (VS III), 23 mirrors from 21 catacombs of the fourth burial ground (VS IV). One more mirror comes from the burials of the Rubizhne burial ground and 5 mirrors from the catacombs of the Verkhnii Saltiv necropolis. Most of the mirrors were found intact. Only catacombs 70 (VS 1) and 110 (VS IV) contained the mirrors that were deliberately broken in antiquity. Mirror fragments with traces of being in the fire were found in catacomb 19 of VS III. A half of mirror was found in catacomb 6 of VS III, while a whole mirror was also found in the same assemblage. In all cases, mirrors were part of the grave goods of adult women of reproductive age. Mirrors in most cases were lying face downwards and were located not far from the head of their owner. Mirrors from the museum’s collection are quite diverse in terms of ornamental motifs on the reverse side of HX. There are mirrors in the collection, which according to the classification of V. B. Kovalevska belong to taxa 1, 4a, 4g, 4z, 9b, 10a, 13, 14b, 17v, 20d, 22v, 23b, 27, 31v. The catacomb grave goods shows that mirrors of taxa 1, 4a, 4g, 4z, 96, 13, 22v were widespread among the Alan population throughout the entire existence of the Saltiv culture. Mirrors of taxa 10a, 14v, 17c, 20d, 22v, 23v, 27, 31v, and mirrors with lotus-shaped ornament are more typical of the Saltiv assemblages of the 1st century. At the same time, during this period the most popular the mirrors of 17в taxon were, which numerically prevail over mirrors of all other types. Imported (Chinese) mirrors in the Saltiv assemblages are represented in the form of replicas, which were made too far from the original. All replicas of imported mirrors were found in burials belonging to representatives of the social and property upper class of the Saltiv society in the region.

МАТЕРИАЛЫ ЭПОХИ БРОНЗЫ МУРАКАЕВСКОГО МОГИЛЬНИКА В ЮЖНОМ ЗАУРАЛЬЕ

The article publishes the material from the Late Bronze Age burials of the Murakaevsky burial ground explored by the expedition of N. A. Mazhitov in 1966. The burial ground is located on the outskirts of the Murakaevo village in the Abzelilovsky District. On the upper plowable terrace of the Maly Kizil River 12 mounds were excavated, most of them provided materials of the Early Middle Ages, Early Iron Age burials were discovered in three mounds. These materials received full coverage in scientific literature. In Mounds 3 and 5 three burials of the Bronze Age were discovered, they were not published in full. In a condensed form, these materials came to light in two works in which Burial 3 of the Mound 3 was attributed to Timber-Frame Culture and Burials 2 and 5 were identified as “Cherkaskul” with the accompanying Timber¬Frame. The purpose of the article is the complete publication of the materials from the Bronze Age burials of the Murakaevsky burial ground and clarification of their cultural attribution. In each of the three Bronze Age burials of the Murakaevsky burial ground, the burial rite was distinguished by its originality. The burial rite traced in Burial 3 of Mound 3, where the skeleton was places crouched on the right side, head to the east, corresponds to the Cherkaskul and Mezhovo traditions, traced to burial grounds located on both sides of the Ural Mountains. However, the fragment of the upper part of the vessel found beside the buried is alien to the Cherkaskul tradition. Its form and ornament find correspondence in the ceramic traditions of the Final Bronze of the Southern Trans-Urals (Pic. 3). Its ornament finds correspondence in the ceramic tradition of the Barkhatov Culture. In the Barkhatov Culture, only few burials are known and the eastern orientation of the buried is not typical for them. Nevertheless, we can conclude that the burial belongs to the final stage of the Bronze Age of the Trans-Urals and its materials reflect the multi-component nature of the formation of the Final Bronze Age culture of this territory. The paired burial of children from Burial 1 of Mound 5, in which the position of the buried is reconstructed as facing each other, was accompanied by Cherkaskul ceramics (Pic. 5, 1–7). Paired heterosexual burials are serially represented in the Alakul and Timber-Frame necropolises of the Southern Urals. A needle under the scull of the skeleton lying on the right side may indicate that it belongs to a girl. This burial indicates that the tradition of paired burials is not alien to the Cherkaskul Culture. In Burial 2 without grave goods of Mound 5, a person was buried on his left side in a strongly crouched position with his head oriented to the south-west (Pic. 5, 8). It is rather difficult to attribute its cultural affiliation, but most likely, it may belong to the Cherkaskul Culture, like the paired burials from this mound. The time of the Cherkaskul complexes of the Southern Urals is determined today within the third quarter of the 2nd millennium B.C. The Barkhatov antiquities date back to the last third of the 2ndmillennium B.C.

Efek Perubahan Cuaca Terhadap Grafik Kenyamanan Termal Kamar Kos

Weather changes are currently unpredictable due to increasing global warming, this will affect thermal comfort in buildings. In this case, the boarding room is used as a place of rest as well as activities should have comfort so the need for experimental quantitative research to discuss how the effect of weather changes on thermal comfort in the boarding room and how if associated with thermal comfort standards according to SNI and Ministry of Health. On the other hand, this research is expected to be able to provide references for further researchers and add reading material for peer groups. From the results of this study revealed that the weather greatly affects the thermal comfort in the building, from four days showed anomalous changes in air temperature and relative humidity in the building. The combination of air temperature and relative humidity in the boarding room is not one in the thermal comfort standards of SNI and the Ministry of Health because of the anomalies that occur as well as factors such as wall materials that absorb heat and the lack of ceiling height causes heat trapped in the boarding room.

Burial of the Khazar Time on the Territory of the Archaeological Site of Malyachkino IV

In 2021, an archaeological team of Interregional Centre of Archaeological Studies LLC carried out a series of rescue excavations in Malyachkino IV ancient settlement located in Shigonsky District, Samara Region. The main cultural layer represents the Srubnaya culture dating the Late Bronze Age. The settlement was found with a subsoil grave field of the Golden Horde period. The graves are nearly rectangular in shape and slightly deepened into the natural ground. The deceased are buried with their heads facing west and mostly lacking grave goods. The archaeologists also found a single subsoil grave of the Khazars period. The rectangular grave hosts a grown person (anthropological material is in a poor condition). The person is slightly crouched on the right side with the head facing west. Among the grave goods, there were a redware amphora, two moulded earthenware pots, a round jug, a piece of a bronze mirror and ironware fragments. One of its kind for the Middle Volga, the burial ground dates back to the second half of the 8th century – first half of the 9th century. The paper provides equivalents to the finds: a Pontic amphora with partially ribbed surface, a Saltov round jug made of gray clay, a bronze disk-shaped mirror with a small rim around it, moulded ceramics. It is concluded that the studied burial ground is associated with the Saltovo-Mayaki culture, possibly with Khazar nomads in particular. Based on the equivalents from other burial sites in the region, it is likely that the graves were once topped with a small kurgan mound. Later, the kurgan mound was smoothed down as the territory was in economic use. It is assumed that the people who left behind the Malyachkino grave field were migrating to the Middle Volga from a Saltovo-Mayaki steppe.

Aral Sea Saka Tribes Study Based on Egistic Mausoleum Materials

The study analyses the Chirik-Rabat craniological data. The analysis includes new anthropological materials from the East-Aral Sea Egistic mausoleum. The collection is represented with 13 craniums – 6male and 7 female ones. A series of monuments was discovered between 1957 and 1961. These monuments date back to 3–2 centuries BC. The data provided by the authors are a significant addition to the already published researches. Some craniums have traces of the beshik cradle artificial cranial deformation. It was frequent in the Central Asia Saka people. Individuals were found with applanation on the back of their heads. It allows to conclude that early nomads often used beshik cradles because they led a nomadic lifestyle in the North Eurasia arid zone. 31% of the skulls have osteomas. This allows the conclusion on the burial ground being designed for families and the individuals being blood-related. The Chirik-Rabat craniological data have a vast amount of comparative data. The canonical analysis showed that the male artefacts belonged to the descendants of the preceding population. Besides the male skulls appeared to be close to both the neighbouring Saka tribes, Volga, Ural and West Kazakhstan Sarmatians. Whereas female artefacts showed no sign of descending from the early Saka population of the stated region. The study shows that these findings are associated with the Sauromatian-Sarmatian type of the Volga-Ural and Lower Volga population. This statement questions the theory of close contacts with both neighbouring communities and nomad Sarmatians of the Ural River basin.

Combined AMS 14C and archaeological dating of the Rouran period cemetery of Choburak-I (Northern Altai)

AbstractThis paper presents a detailed chronological study of the previously undisturbed burial ground of Choburak-I of the Bulan-Koby Culture in the Northern Altai using a program of comprehensive dating, including AMS 14C dating of human and animal remains (26 14C dates from 12 kurgans in total), and archaeological dating of the associated artifacts. This completely excavated cemetery contained numerous grave goods and various organic remains (anthropological and archaeozoological) critical for understanding the social and chronological dynamics of this culture during the Rouran period in Altai (second half of the 4th–first half of the 6th century CE). The results of archaeological dating, supported by the largest set of AMS 14C dates for the Bulan-Koby Culture, and further aided by Bayesian analysis, demonstrate the likely continuous existence of the necropolis within the period of 310–400 cal CE, which broadly corresponds to the beginning of the Rouran period in the history of Altai, with a maximum duration of 66 years. The presented results make it possible to consider the necropolis of Choburak-I as a chronologically defining monument of the Rouran period of Northern Altai and permit a new level of relative and absolute chronological reconstructions for archaeological sites of this region and adjacent territories at the turn of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

Fibulae in the Form of Overlays in the Archeology of the Western Balts of the Merovingian Age

The article is devoted to a unique phenomenon in the archeology of the Baltics – Aestii and Prussian brooches imitating belt linings and details of a horse headband. They date from the early 5th – early 8th century AD. According to its shape, these brooches are divided into two variants. Fibulae var. 1 of the early phase of the era of the Great Migration of Peoples are associated with the Aestii of Sambia on the threshold of the emergence of the Prussian archaeological culture, and the clasps of var. 2 came out of the workshops of the western part of the Masurian Lake District in the final phase of the mentioned era. The sizes and shapes of the studied brooches directly point to their prototypes: linings of various accessories. By searching for such analogies, the origin and dating of brooches-overlays obtained as a result of excavations of burial grounds on the western outskirts of the Baltic world is clarified. The brooches of both of the aforementioned variants, belonging to the bearers of the cultures of various Western Baltic tribes, were made over the course of three centuries (with interruptions). Fasteners var. 1 were included in male and female burial complexes. Fasteners var. 2 belonged exclusively to male complexes. The social affiliation of the owners of brooches var. 2 can be defined as members (or relatives) of a squad group. It was professional warriors who had luxurious horse headbands with fours, imitating the Frankish models of the Merovingian era. A similar phenomenon was noted on the example of women’s pendants with retinue symbols in Eastern European antiquities of the Viking Age, which was not previously noted in Russian archeology.

Anthropology and Genetics of the Tolyonsky Burial Ground No. 93. Udmurtia, Polomskaya Archaeological Culture

Anthropology and Genetics of the Tolyonsky Burial Ground No. 93. Udmurtia, Polomskaya Archaeological Culture

Костяные коньки из погребения раннего этапа аланской культуры Северного Кавказа

The article publishes a mortuary complex of the late 3rd – early 4th centuries AD of the early stage of the North Caucasian Alan culture from kurgan 23 of the Oktyabrskiy I burial field in the Republic of North Ossetia –Alania, which contained a pair of bone skates. Bone skates have been known from written iconographic and ethnographic sources since the 12th century until the first half of the 20th century; however, the attribution of these items as skates raises doubts among a number of researchers, most likely due to the fact that almost all such artifacts, along with other similar bone items (tools), were found in the material remains of settlement sites. The researchers’ doubts resulted in a discussion, the main aspects of which are specified in the paper. The skates being published are made from the hind metapodia of the right legs of two domestic horses. Each of the artifacts has two holes for strings to attach the skates to the shoes. The skates are part of the grave goods of a young man or a youth, along with other leisure items (astragals) of young people. Finds of bone skates in burials are few in number, and, apart from the North Caucasian finds, there are only four Viking Age complexes in Swedish burial grounds. Bone skates were not a regular part of grave goods for centuries among any of the peoples, as evidenced by the insignificant number of burials with skates. Most researchers are convinced that bone skates were mainly used for entertainment by children, teenagers, and young people, which, in our opinion, is consistent with the material remains from kurgan 23 of the Oktyabrskiy I burial field. The grave goods also included a set of astragals (48 examples) associated with leisure items.

PROGRAMMING BURIAL LANDSCAPES: AN ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS IN LITHUANIA AND THEIR POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

This study explores the regulatory frameworks and landscape designs of burial grounds in Lithuania, focusing on the legal documents and municipal regulations governing cemetery maintenance and development. Analysis reveals a dichotomy between the Law of Burial of Human Remains and the Law of Greenery, with the former emphasizing burial practices and memorial protection while the latter prioritizes ecological considerations and biodiversity in the green areas. Municipal regulations vary in their approach to tree planting and maintenance, with some prohibiting certain species or arbitrary planting. The absence of specific guidelines for designers and administrators grants them flexibility in shaping burial landscapes, leading to diverse approaches across municipalities. Case studies of recently expanded Nemajūnai, Ginkūnai, Daušiškės, and Ivoniškės graveyards illustrate different approaches to tree preservation and landscape design. The findings suggest a need for greater integration of ecological concerns in cemetery planning and maintenance practices.

Nové nálezy z již prozkoumané lokality. Bioarcheologická analýza koster z nově objevených hrobů ze Starého Města – „Na Valách”

In the winter of 2020, a rescue archaeological excavation took place at the construction site of the Cyril and Methodius Centre of the Slovak Museum in the southern part of the well-known Middle Hillfort period burial ground ‘Na Valách’ in Staré Město. The site had been already excavated in the 1940s and 1950s. Nevertheless, several new graves were found. The purpose of this article is to present these new findings to the scientific community. Graves H 1/2020 to H 4/2020 were discovered in relatively close proximity to each other, while four other graves (H 5/2020 – H 8/2020) were located separately. These graves were all situated on the periphery of the late 1940s and Unfortunately, most of the graves were damaged during the machine excavation, which was subsequently reflected in the degree of preservation of the skeletons. In total, nine human skeletons were discovered in seven grave pits. The anthropological analysis identified three adults (one male and two females aged 40–60, 20–30, and 45–55 years) and six non-adults. Three of the immature individuals died between the ages of 15 and 17, one child was about 3 years old, and the two other children were 8–9 years old. Despite the young age (and presumably higher social status) of most of the individuals, many pathologies were found in their skeletons. The graves are dated from the second half of the 9th century to the beginning of the 10th century. Except for grave H 5/2020, all the other graves yielded rich finds (earrings, a ring, spherical buttons, knives, and ceramic fragments). The nature of the finds indicates that the graves belonged to representatives of the upper social class of early medieval Moravia in the second half of the 9th century.

Final Resting Places: Reflections on the Meaning of Civil War Graves

In Final Resting Places, some of the most accomplished historians of our time reflect on the importance of the Confederate and Union cemeteries that eventually emerged and explore how monuments to the fallen have become cultural flashpoints in our struggle to come to terms with the war's root causes and legacy.

Life histories in Fiji as reconstructed from first millennium CE Sigatoka Sand Dune burials using isotopes

This paper aims to re-examine the dietary practices of individuals buried at Sigatoka Sand Dunes site (Fiji) in Burial Ground 1 excavated by Simon Best in 1987 and 1988 using two approaches and a reassessment of their archaeological, bioarchaeological and chronological frame. First, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis was applied to document dietary changes between childhood and adulthood using an intra–individual approach on paired bone–tooth. Second, the potential adaptation of the individuals to their environment was evaluated through regional and temporal comparisons using inter–individual bone analysis. Ten AMS radiocarbon dates were measured directly on human bone collagen samples, placing the series in a range of approximately 600 years covering the middle of the first millennium CE (1,888 to 1,272 cal BP). δ13C and δ15N ratios were measured on bone and tooth collagen samples from 38 adult individuals. The results show that δ15N values from tooth are higher than those s from bone while bone and tooth δ13C values are similar, except for females. Fifteen individuals were included in an intra–individual analysis based on paired bone and tooth samples, which revealed six dietary patterns distinguished by a differential dietary intake of marine resources and resources at different trophic levels. These highlight sex–specific differences not related to mortuary practices but to daily life activities, supporting the hypothesis of a sexual division of labour. Compared to other Southwest Pacific series, Sigatoka diets show a specific trend towards marine food consumption that supports the hypothesis of a relative food self–sufficiency requiring no interactions with other groups.

Black cemeteries as archives

AbstractThis commentary argues for the recognition and preservation of historic black cemeteries as primary components within associated archival networks. Such networks include death certificates, historic newspapers, maps, church records, oral histories, and a host of other conventional and nonconventional sources. These sources, when viewed in tandem, work to corroborate and provide insights into other sources and spur new investigations. As the primary components of such networks, both extant cemeteries and burial grounds hidden within the landscape can be utilized as active sites for research, education, and commemoration. This place‐based remembrance encourages the identification and retrieval of local histories and works to increase the number of individuals interested and involved in preservation efforts.

Re Unnamed Burial Ground

The petitioner sought a faculty for the exhumation of her mother's body from a consecrated burial ground, where she had recently been buried, in order to re-inter her in another consecrated burial ground, within the same diocese. The general rule enunciated by the Court of Arches in Re Blagdon Cemetery is that because of the theological principle that Christian burial is final, a faculty for exhumation will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. In this case, however, the petition was brought because of the proximity of the mother's grave to those of close family members of the petitioner's ex-husband, who had been violent and abusive towards her and her children over a period of some eight years. Neither the petitioner nor her children could visit her mother's grave because it caused them flashbacks, and the petitioner's GP confirmed that she was having nightmares and panic attacks and was suffering from anxiety and depression.

Morphometric Analysis of Hip Bones for Gender Identification in Unexpected Death Cases in Kabul, Afghanistan

Introduction: Unexpected deaths in Kabul Afghanistan often involve victims who cannot be identified due to facial disfigurement or missing identity documents. Gender identification is an important step in the forensic identification process, especially in cultural and religious contexts that have strict norms regarding gender. Pelvic bone morphometric analysis offers an accurate and non-invasive method for gender identification. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of hip bone morphometric analysis in identifying gender in cases of unexpected death in Kabul, Afghanistan. Methods: The samples consisted of 100 human pelvises, 50 of each gender, collected from skeletal remains at Kabul hospitals and burial grounds. Pelvic dimensions were measured using calibration techniques and statistical analysis was performed to identify significant morphometric differences between the gender. Results: Morphometric analysis showed significant differences in several pelvic dimensions between men and women. The most informative dimensions for gender identification are pelvic width, pelvic height, and superior diameter of the acetabulum. The prediction model developed using these dimensions achieved a gender identification accuracy of 94%. Conclusion: Pelvic bone morphometric analysis can be a valuable tool for forensic identification in cases of unexpected deaths in Kabul Afghanistan. This method offers high accuracy, is non-invasive and easy to apply, and can help in the process of identifying victims and resolving legal cases.

ANALYSIS OF METHODS OF SATELLITE MONITORING OF CHANGES IN WATER BODIES

Surface waters are part of the ecosystem services of various countries of the world, mainly intended for domestic, industrial and agricultural use, production of food, electricity (hydropower), obtaining medicinal substances and other materials from biota, organization of places of rest and recreation. Seasonal monitoring of the level of surface water allows obtaining a qualitative characteristic and quantitative assessment of changes in the hydrological ecosystem service as a result of climate changes and anthropogenic influences. In this regard, technologies for operational monitoring of the dynamics of changes in water bodies play an important role.

ON THE PROBLEM OF EASTERN BORDER OF SAKA CULTURE OF ALAI

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of establishing the eastern border of the Saka culture of Alai. An important role in understanding of this problem is played by the Touyun burial ground, located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang, close to Kyrgyzstan. Materials and methods. This burial ground has specific funeral rites, which demonstrate the characteristic features peculiar to the Saka culture of Alai. In particular, these are burials in stone boxes, crypt-like stone structures and at the level of the ancient surface, constructed under low stone-earth burial mounds. Burials in them were both single and multi-act. The buried people in these burials were in an elongated position with orientation of the sculls to the west and northwest direction. The funeral inventory from Touyun was relatively poor and represented by a couple of ceramic vessels, jewelry items (earring, bracelet, and beads), a belt garment (belt buckle), household items (sumac, awls) and clothing items (plaques). Results and discussion. These funeral objects, based on analogies, allowed us to establish the time of existence of the Touyun burial ground, which fits into the chronological framework of the end of the 5th - 3rd centuries BC. It is evident, that this necropolis appears as a result of the migration of the Saka population from the eastern part of the Alai Valley. The occupying this territory group of Alai Saka was appeared in the contact zone with the population of the Saka culture of Tien Shan region, with which, apparently, they established marital ties. Currently, the Touyun burial ground is the easternmost site of the Saka culture of Alai, which makes it possible to expand the border of this culture by more than 130 km to the east than previously thought. It also made it possible to significantly clarify the real areas of the main archaeological cultures in the southwestern part of Xinjiang such as the Saka cultures of Alai, Pamir and Tien Shan region.

Цветные и благородные металлы в погребении № 115 кокпомъягского могильника вымской культуры: археологический и археолого-минералогические аспекты

The paper discusses the results of archeological and archeomineralogical analyses of items made of non-ferrous and precious metals from burial No. 115 of the Kokpomyag burial ground of the Vym culture of the Vychegda Perm, dating back to the XI–XIV centuries. It includes a general characteristics of the burial ground, burial No. 115, a description of bronze and silver items, and the results of experimental studies of these items using a complex of modern mineralogical and geochemical methods. The results obtained indicate that local bronze casters possessed sophisticated technologies for the production of a variety of tin-copper and tin-silver alloys.

“The Dead Have Been Awakened in the Service of the Living”: Activist Community-Engaged Archaeology in Charleston, South Carolina

AbstractIn 2013, 36 Ancestors of African descent were identified in an unmarked eighteenth-century burial ground during construction in Charleston, South Carolina. The site, later referred to as the Anson Street African Burial Ground, was buried beneath the growing city and forgotten in the centuries that followed. The ethical treatment of these ancestral remains was of paramount importance to our community. Historically, narratives relating to the lives of African descendant people in Charleston have been inadequately documented and shared. For these reasons, we engaged the local African American community in a multifaceted memorialization process. Together, we sought to sensitively ensure that the Ancestors’ identities and lives were fully explored according to the collective descendant community's wishes. To this end, we involved the community in researching and celebrating the Ancestors’ lives through arts and education programs and analyzed their and community members’ DNA to elucidate their ancestry. Our engagement initiatives increased access for all ages to archaeological, historical, and genetic research and encouraged active participation in the design of a permanent memorial. The Anson Street African Burial Ground Project provides a successful example of community-engaged activist archaeology focused on honoring the Ancestors and their descendants.