scholarly journals New Pre-Scythian Burials from the Volgograd Region. Interpretation Problems

2021 ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
Alexandr Dyachenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Late Bronze Age ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Funeral Rite ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Volgograd Region ◽  
Burial Mounds ◽  
Scythian Period

The article is devoted to the publication and analysis of new burial materials of the pre-Scythian period (9th – 7th centuries BC), obtained as a result of excavations of several burial mounds in the Volgograd region. The work was carried out by the expedition of Volgograd State University from the end of the past to the beginning of the present century. The burial mounds were located on the coastal terraces of the Don river and some of its tributaries, as well as on the steppe watersheds associated with the Don basin. The sample includes seven pre-Scythian burials, the burial rite and clothing material of which allows us to correlate them with the previously discovered monuments of the Chernogorovskaya Culture of the southern Russian steppes and date them within the boundaries of the initial stage of the early Iron Age. According to archaeological and anthropological data, various components were involved in the formation of this culture in the Lower Volga region and the neighbouring Don and the Volga-Ural regions. The basis was autochthonous substrates of the Late Bronze Age, as well as cultural formations derived from them at the final stage of the Late Bronze Age. The combination of local and imported cultural traditions is also reflected in the grave inventory of the studied series, especially in the ceramic complex, which shows technological and typological features of various origin. The variety of elements of the funeral rite and the mixed nature of the accompanying inventory of the presented burial series reflect the complex processes of cultural genesis in the Lower Volga region in the pre-Scythian period during transition to a nomadic economy.

scholarly journals Paleopathological peculiarities of the population of timber-grave (Srubnaya) culture of the Late Bronze Age originating from the burials of Archedino-Chernushensky Kurgan group

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Evgenii Vladimirovich Pererva ◽  
Aleksandr Vladimirovich Sitnikov
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Skeletal Remains ◽  
The Body ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Late Bronze Age ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
First Time

Skeletal remains from the burials of timber-grave period of the Late Bronze Age originating from kurgans of the Archedino-Chernushensky group served as the material for this research. The archaeological monument is located in the territory of the Frolovsky Municipal District of Volgograd Oblast. The remains of 12 individuals (6 adults, 4 children, and 2 adolescents) were explored. In the course of this research, the author applied the method of account for the occurrence of discretely varying traits on the skull and bones of postcranial skeleton, as well as evaluation program for dissemination of pathological characteristic developed by the national researchers A. A. Movsesyan, E. V. Pererva, A. P. Buzhilova. The archaeological explorations of group Archedino-Chernushensky Kurgan group were carried out in 2020. Therefore, the acquired anthropological materials are introduced into the scientific discourse for the first time. The author was able to establish that the equal number of children and adult burials can be attributed to timber-grave period. The examined skeletal remains of the Late Bronze Age of the Lower Volga Region demonstrate the signs of episodic stress (enamel hypoplasia) and distribution of diseases related to the deficiency of microelements in the body (porosis of the diaphysis in individuals who did not reach the age of puberty). The records of such type of deviations on anthropological materials of deviations indicates chronic stress associated with systematic occurrences of famine, which is natural for the population of the Late Bronze Age of the Lower Volga Region, who were involved in mixed farming. The excavations reveal the series of injuries of household and battle nature among adult population. The prevalent burial method of timber-grave culture Archedino-Chernushensky Kurgan group of appears to be the cremation ritual.   

scholarly journals Anthropological Composition of the Population of the Early Iron Age from the Lower Volga Region (According to the Materials of the Kurgan Group of Krivaya Luka)

2020 ◽  
pp. 18-55
Author(s):  
Mariya Balabanova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Early Iron Age ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Profile Line ◽  
Current Article ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Upper Level

The article is devoted to the craniological materials of the early Iron Age from the kurgans of Krivaya Luka tract in the Astrakhan region, which were excavated during ten field seasons. The rich anthropological material was obtained as a result of the excavations studied by A.V. Shevchenko, A.A. Kazarnitskiy, M.A. Balabanova, L.T. Yablonskiy. The anthropological materials of the Early Iron Age consisted of 85 skulls are studied in the current article using the traditional method of simple and multivariate statistics. As a result of the study, it was found out that the morphological appearance of cultural-chronological groups is similar to the rest of the synchronous population both from other burials grounds of the Lower Volga region and from adjacent territories. The Sarmatian type or the type of the ancient Eastern Caucasian is inherent for a small group of the pre-Savromatian period, as well as for the groups of the Savromatian and Early Sarmatian period. A small Middle Sarmatian male group demonstrates the combinations that characterize the subsequent Late Sarmatian population – the type of long-headed Caucasians. Whereas the female craniological type of the Late Sarmatian time is characterized by a set of features that define it as a Mongoloid-Caucasian mestizo. Both the total group of skulls and individual cultural-chronological groups turned out to be heterogeneous in terms of the intragroup structure. The anthropological type of the Early Iron Age population who left burials in the Krivaya Luka tract demonstrates diachronic variability, which was apparently associated with migrations. However, in the pre-Savromatian period, in comparison with the Late Bronze Age, this territory was occupied mostly by the type of ancient Eastern Caucasians which combines a mesobrachicranial lowvaulted cerebral box with a wide face, the horizontal profiling of which at the upper level is weakened, and the nose protruding sharply towards the profile line. The latter type remained there until the start of the Common era, and starting from the Middle Sarmatian time it changed to the type of long-headed Caucasians, which is associated with the penetration of alien groups. Among these migrants, apparently, there were also found carriers of the mixed Mongoloid-Caucasian complex.

scholarly journals Anthropological aspect of the artificial skull deformation custom among the Middle Bronze Age population of the Lower Volga region

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-227
Author(s):  
Mariya Afanasievna Balabanova
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Cultural Centers ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Volgograd Region ◽  
Western Asia ◽  
Middle Bronze Age ◽  
Burial Grounds ◽  
Skull Deformation

This paper reviews an anthropological aspect of the artificial skull deformation which was practiced by the tribes of catacomb cultural-historical community of the Middle Bronze Age of the Lower Volga region and adjacent territories. Craniological series, numbering 207 skulls, was checked for the presence of deformation traces. 81 skulls had the traces of deformation, which is 35,2% of the total number. On average, the percentage of deformed skulls in some burial grounds of the catacomb culture of the Volgograd Region is about 17,0%, but there are a few burial grounds in craniological series where deformed skulls are absent. The type of deformation is identified as annular and frontal-occipital. The analysis of anthropological works of Russian and foreign authors as well as written sources allows to agree with the idea of A.V. Shevchenko that the custom of the skull deformation among the tribes of catacomb cultural-historical community penetrated through the cultural centers of Western Asia. The comparison of deformed and unstrained series of skulls showed that only signs of the cerebral box undergo a change under the influence of the deforming structure in most cases. The deforming effect of the structure on facial features is very weak. When the process of pressure is completed, the skull acquires a tower shape or a shape of a high cone.

Variability of Microbial Biomass in Paleosols of Different-Age Burial Mounds of the Lower Volga Region in Relation to the Dynamics of Climate Humidity

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. N. Kashirskaya ◽  
T. E. Khomutova ◽  
T. S. Demkina ◽  
M. V. Eltsov ◽  
A. V. Borisov
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Burial Mounds

scholarly journals Level and Characteristics of Interfaith Tension of the Bottom Volga Area

2020 ◽  
pp. 83-91
Author(s):  
Ivan Suslov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Internet Survey ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Muslim Community ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Interfaith Relations ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Volgograd Region ◽  
High Level

The article analyzes the data of a sociological survey conducted in the spring of 2020 of the Bottom Volga area by the research team of the Department of history, political science and sociology of the Saratov state law Academy. Primary sociological information was collected using the Internet survey of respondents using the Google forms service. The sample size was 1,100 people. Representatives of the Astrakhan region (184 respondents), Volgograd region (307) and Saratov region (609) were interviewed. The empirical study allowed us to determine the influence of respondents' religion on the perception of religious threats, as well as problems of interfaith dialogue. The regional specifics of the quality of interfaith relations were revealed, and the levels of religious tension in the Astrakhan, Volgograd and Saratov regions were compared. The survey revealed hidden tensions in the region's interfaith relations (including among the Orthodox majority). Representatives of the Muslim community showed an optimistic attitude in their responses. A potentially dangerous predisposition to politicizing religion has been identified among those groups that are under pressure to identify with their faith. The study revealed: there is a high level of concern about issues of faith among representatives of the Muslim community; a positive attitude towards increasing the role of religion in socio-political life, increasing the level of secularization of society. Atheists of the Lower Volga region showed open dissatisfaction with the state of religious relations in the region. Atheists of the Lower Volga region showed open dissatisfaction with the state of religious relations in the region. This group appears as an object of the religious security system, which under pressure is transformed into a subject protesting against secularization processes. The author concludes that the main strategy should be to study and solve the internal problems of religious minorities, and a complementary strategy can be to counteract external (foreign) religious threats.

MELIORATION AND HARVEST

2020 ◽  
pp. 18-21
Author(s):  
Roman Kalinichenko ◽  
Marina Klimahina ◽  
Kseniya Shumakova ◽  
Elena Macyganova ◽  
Nikolay Dudakov
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Soil Humidity ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Agricultural Produce ◽  
Volgograd Region

This paper presents microbiological composition of lightbrown soil in the Lower Volga Region, which has been harvest on different nutriculture mediums. Diagnosed characteristics of microbian biocoenosis expansion on drip irrigation and unwatered soils. The Fusarium, Bacillus subtilis and Erwinia, which make more difficult to cultivate and preserve the agricultural produce, had located in irrigated plow horizon of light-brown soil of Volgograd Region. The forms of soil humidity on drip irrigation had not show any influence on microbiological composition.

scholarly journals The Population of the Bronze Age of the Lower Volga Region in the Works of Russian Anthropologists

2019 ◽  
pp. 205-223
Author(s):  
Evgeny Pererva ◽  
Alexandr Djachenko
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Bronze Age

Introduction. This work is a review of scientific publications on studying paleoanthropological materials of the Bronze Age originating from burial mounds of the Lower Volga region. Materials and Analysis. The paper begins with the analysis of articles and monographic studies of domestic authors, whose works were written in the period from the 30s to the late 80s of the 20th century. The so-called Soviet period in Russian anthropology is characterized by the dominance of the individual-typological approach in describing skeletal series of representatives of the Bronze Age cultures. The osteological collections from burial complexes of the Bronze Age of the Lower Volga region accumulated at this stage of the study were distinguished by a small number and low representativeness. The main conclusions were based on studying craniological samples. A great contribution to developing ideas on the racial and ethnic history of the Lower Volga region during this period was made by researchers G.F. Debets, V.V. Gizburg, V.I. Vuich, B.V. Firshtein, A.V. Shevchenko. The second part of the article is devoted to analyzing the results of anthropological research in the region in the works of modern Russian scientists.A distinctive feature of these works is that they are based on studying large-scale craniological series of broad temporal and territorial coverage. The studies of such scientists as A.A. Khokhlov, E.F. Batieva, A.A. Kazarnitsky, M.A. Balabanova use the complex approach in which classical methods of physical anthropology (craniology, osteology) are combined with the methods of statistical analysis and using data from Archaeology, Paleodemography, and Paleoecology. Results. The work shows the importance of using anthropological data as an independent source in paleohistorical constructions, as well as in the process of the archaeological study of various cultures of the Bronze Age that existed in the Lower Volga region.

scholarly journals Trepanations in Sauromato-Sarmatian Crania from the Lower Volga

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-148
Author(s):  
E. V. Pererva ◽  
N. Y. Berezina ◽  
M. V. Krivosheev
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Western Siberia ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Early Iron Age ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
First Millennium ◽  
Medical Traditions

We describe artificial openings in crania of the Early Iron Age nomads of the Lower Volga region, owned by the Moscow State University’s Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology. Such openings were found in two male specimens of the Sauromato-Sarmatian age from Bykovo (burial 4, kurgan 13) and Baranovka (burial 2, kurgan 21). Using macroscopic and X-ray examination, we attempt to identify the surgical techniques and the reasons behind the operations. The cranial vault of the Bykovo individual was trepanned by scraping and cutting, for medical purposes. The man survived the surgery, as evidenced by healing. In the case of Baranovka, the operation was performed postmortem or peri-mortem by drilling and cutting, possibly for ritual purposes. Collating these cases with others relating to the Early Iron Age nomadic (Sauromato-Sarmatian) culture of the Lower Volga region and adjacent territories and with written and archaeological sources suggests that the closest parallels come from Central Asia, and Southern and Western Siberia, where the custom of post-mortem ritual trepanations was very common. The surgical techniques practiced in the Lower Volga region were likely due to the penetration of Greek and Roman medical traditions in the mid-first millennium BC.

scholarly journals Paleopathology Data on the Early Sarmatians of 4th – 3rd Centuries BC from the Lower Volga Region

2020 ◽  
pp. 74-91
Author(s):  
Evgeniy Pererva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Main Idea ◽  
Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Standard Assessment ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Male Part ◽  
Culture Development ◽  
Continental Climate

The main idea of the article is to study paleoanthropological materials of the nomads dating back to the 4th – 3rd centuries BC from the territory of the Lower Volga region using paleopathological methods. The reason for addressing this topic was an attempt to identify pathological features of the early nomads from the Sarmatian epoch due to the existence of the problem of identifying monuments of 4th – 3rd centuries BC. The standard assessment program of pathological conditions on postcranial skeleton and skull bones developed by A.P. Buzhilova was applied in the course of work with the anthropological material [Buzhilova, 1995; 1998]. The main material for the current study was the bone remains of 16 individuals originating from burials under the barrows of early Sarmatian era within the territory of the Lower Volga region, dated 4th – 3rd centuries BC. As a result of the conducted research it was established that there is a common genetic origin, which unites all nomads of the early Iron Age of the South Russian steppes for the Savromatian-Sarmatian tribes. Furthermore, the settlement of population across the Volgograd Trans-Volga region in the 4th – 3rd centuries BC happened by the arrival of mainly male part of the population who adopted successfully to the negative environmental factors. The diet of the Sarmatians of the early Sarmatian culture development was based on meat and dairy products. A striking feature of the Sarmatians of the 4th – 3rd centuries BC is a lack of signs of inflammatory processes, which indicates an insignificant density of nomadic groups migrating to the Trans-Volga steppes. The high frequency rate of injuries and signs of exposure to low temperatures was detected among early Sarmatians compared to the nomads from a later period may be a result of a complex political situation provoked by a difficult environmental situation due to extremely continental climate and its aridization at that epoch.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document