The dissertation presents research on Scythian barrows and corresponding burial rites in the Northern Azov region. The analysis includes 175 barrows and 243 burials, comprising both mounds built in the Scythian time as well as Scythian secondary burials in the Bronze age barrows. Non-burial mound structures are also separately examined. The main focus of the study is on creating a catalog of sites, organizing and quantitatively analyzing architectural parameters and inventory. The work aims to highlight the sequential stages of creating an individual burial space associated with the deceased's body and identity, as well as the public space of mourning and honoring the memory of ancestors.
By their geographical location and chronology, the Scythian sites of the Azov region could be divided into four regions. The barrows in the Kalmius River basin (18 sites) began to be built in the 5th century BC. During this time, burials in pits predominated, characterized by distinct warrior inventory and the widespread use of stone constructions in the architecture of mound structures. Later, in the 4th century BC, except for the Dvohorba and Perederiyeva Mohyla, most burials were made into Bronze Age mounds, demonstrating syncretic features, possibly associated with the influence of eastern nomads.
The most numerous groups of barrows are located on the right bank of the Molochna River (98 sites). They are concentrated primarily in its lower reaches, near the Molochnyi Estuary. The chronology of local burials is more varied: although most sites are broadly dated to the 4th century BC, some burials belong to the 5th century BC and the 6th century BC. Early Scythian burials in the region were usually made in the Bronze Age mounds.
The Scythian barrows in the Northern Syvash region (54 sites) are typically located near temporary water reservoirs and along the seacoast. Although the burials here, in general, are similar to other Scythian sites in the Northwestern Azov region, they still exhibit some differences. They are primarily seen in the prevalence of perpendicular orientation of catacomb axes and the western/northwestern positioning of the deceased. Chronologically, in most cases, these burials do not extend beyond the 4th century BC.
Particular attention has been given to the study of the treatment of the deceased in terms of their anthropological, gender, and social identity. An analysis of the burial sample with anthropological identifications revealed that the majority of those buried were between the ages of 20 and 45, while child burials in the kurgans are relatively rare. The ratio between men and women, by anthropological data, is fairly balanced, with a slight predominance of men. However, there is a significantly larger number of burials with “male” warrior inventory, indicating the importance of posthumous affirmation of warrior identity regardless of sex. Burials with “male” and “female” types of inventory also exhibit distinct differences in the arrangement of artifacts and the positioning of the body.
The cluster analysis of burials based on the composition of the inventory revealed the presence of at least three main groups distinguished by social and gender characteristics. Cluster 1 includes most peripheral burials. Cluster 2 consists of two large sub-clusters divided by gender characteristics. Sub-cluster 2.1 comprises prestigious female burials, which are further divided into separate accompanying burials in wealthy mounds and unrobbed burials of women-warriors. Group 2.2 consists of unrobbed or wealthy warrior burials, among which a small group of the most prestigious “chiefly” complexes is separately distinguished.
This study also examines post-burial actions and burial destruction. It is argued that this phenomenon cannot be explained solely by the intentions of grave robbery. This is evidenced, in particular, by the correlation between burial location and the level of preservation. Moreover, there are widespread cases of dismemberment and deliberate damage to the deceased's body. Such phenomena can be interpreted as a result of intertribal conflicts and the legitimization of inheritance rights through the acquisition of status symbols. However, the presence of socially regulated post-burial actions that could be part of a ritual cannot be excluded.
The analysis of the mound structure and its periphery primarily focuses on the funeral feast ritual. It has shown how the mourning banquet and animal sacrifices are connected to the creation of a liminal space and the final stage of the burial ceremony. Overall, the research has explored the role of the barrow in commemorating the dead as well as both the preserving and transforming function of the burial ritual of the Scythians in the Azov region.
Keywords: barrows, burial rite, Scythians, Scythian time, Azov, sacrifice, thanatology, anthropology, archaeology, nomads, burial feast, cluster analysis, statistics.
