Boltryk Y. Burial Building of Scyths in V-IV centuries B.C. (on the Materials of Burial Complexes of Dnieper and Molochnaya Rivers)

The thesis deals with architecture and building of Scythian burial monuments in steppe area between Dnieper and Molochnaya rivers. The regularities of topography and planning of barrow cemeteries of this region were revealed. They were located on watershed, on the best pastures over the river valleys. The largest burial mounds were constructed along the ancient routes and near fords. It is found that burials were constructed in accordance with the preliminary plan. Primary diking with graves of dependent persons around it formed the base of kurgan. The dynamics of the development of underground burial constructions was observed. Scythian kurgan is appeared as unified complex (graves under it are simultaneous to central ones in most instances). And this makes us to revise microchronology of elite's monuments. Surface and underground cult constructions were distinguished from burial monuments of the region. Based on the analysis of burial volumes the model of social order of the second part of the fourthcentury B.C. was proposed. The model illustrates presence of rank hierarchical pyramid in Scythia.