NEW BURIAL AND RITUAL ASSEMBLAGES OF EARLY BRONZE AGE LOCATED NEAR THE COMPLEX OF KAMYANA MOHYLA

Abstract

The paper presents the unique Early Bronze Age burial complex excavated during 2017 field season nearby the hill of Kamyana Mohyla in Zaporizhzhya region (South-Eastern Ukraine). The tomb located 200 m from the Kamyana Mohyla complex is obviously connected with the prehistoric processes of the region. The Structure-for-motion photorgammetric modeling of the tumuli was provided in addition to archaeological, anthropological and microscopc research. The model was studied to provide additional information on the details of the complex in general and its construction features. Moreover, it makes the unique object available for publishing and demonstration. Paper presents burial and ritual complexes that show important data on the ritual worldview of the Early Bronze Age habitants of Ukrainian Steppe. The radiocarbon dating returned the timelap of 2831—2675 cal BC for the burial 2 and 2554—2478 cal BC for the ritual complex nearby. It means that the space around the Kamyana Mohyla was habitated by late Yamnaya culture population and used for the burial rituals and other sacral activities. The surface grave made of huge sandstone blocks, sometimes having a weight of approximately 700 kg is the first object of this kind in Ukrainian Steppe. Those graves that were excavated and studied here before, has been constructed inside the tumuli (i. e. kurgan). The stone used as a material for the construction was taken from the Hill of Kamyana Mohyla. This links the site with a number of previously excavated Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age burials in the closes Kamyana Mohyla surroundings. Complex shows traces of the Early Bronze Age rituals that took place in the Northwest Azov Sea region — the bull’s sacrifice and a vessel upturning. The pottery artifacts similar to those found in 2017 are known from the Late Yamnaya and Catacombnaya culture burials of the region. This is evident of the close rituals and beliefs of these cultures or of the Yamnaya component in the Catacombnaya rituals of the region. Same can be stated by the numerous features of the funeral rite.