Drs. Novikov, McKenzie, Goriunova and Lieverse article published in “Problems of Archaeology, Ethnography, Anthropology of Siberia and Neighboring Territories” Volume XXI, 2015 (In Russian)
January 8, 2016
Congratulations to Drs. Alexei G. Novikov, Hugh McKenzie, Olga I. Goriunova and Angela Lieverse on their article entitled "Russian Canadian Archaeological Research in Olkhon Region (Western Coast of Baikal Lake)" published in "Problems of Archaeology, Ethnography, Anthropology of Siberia and Neighboring Territories", Volume XXI, 2015, pages 121-124.
Abstract: The article is devoted to a brief review of field studies of Neolithic burials in the Olkhon region (the west coast) of Lake Baikal, conducted by a collaboration of archaeologists from Irkutsk State University and Grant MacEwan University (Edmonton, Canada). We excavated the cemetery sites of Budun 4 (Budun Cape, Olkhon Island) and Burlyuk 4 (Kurkut Bay in the Little Sea of Lake Baikal). Of most interest was the burial feature excavated from Budun cape, which was a multiple layered grave containing seven individuals. The complex correlates to the region's Late Serovo culture (Late Neolithic period), based on mortuary attributes: the shape and construction of grave structures; the supine body positioning with heads oriented to the north; the presence of the birch bark; evidence of fire in grave; and typical grave accompaniments. We observed several interesting features, such as two flexed burials (Individuals 1 and 3) and one individual overlying the another, with sediment deposition in between them (Individuals 5 and 4). The presence of two different burial positions (supine and flexed) in one grave indicates that they existed contemporaneously. The diversity of burial practices identified in the Late Neolithic of Olkhon region (Budun Cape), suggests that more complex mortuary and cultural processes existed in the region in ancient times. All selected samples will be analyzed by macroscopic and chemical methods.
Link to article here
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