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October 2, 2025Open Access

The Burials Complexes with Cremated Human Remains on the Level Ancient Soil Surface on the Ust’-Zelinda-2 Site’s Materials (Northern Angara Area)

Key Points

Burial complexes of cremated remains at Ust-Zelinda-2 date back to the Early Iron Age, showing cultural significance.
Artifacts suggest that the cremations likely occurred outside the site, with graves being of the 'open' type.
Excavation findings indicate a potential re-evaluation of dating, focusing on a narrower time frame in the I thousand AD.
Distinctive items, such as harness-type belt plaques, align the Ust-Zelinda-2 site burials with Early Iron Age practices.

Abstract

In the paper represented evidence of rare variant of burial complexes of the Northern Angara area are the collection remains of full human cremation and accompanying tools on the level ancient soil surface which are originated from the Ust-Zelinda-2 site (burials of the 3rd group). Possibly these are the traces of destroyed “open-air” burials with cremated remains. Cremation was done outside of the studied of site’s boundaries. Graves are complexes of “open” type and therefore their dated is possible only on the base of artifacts. Initially complexes of the 3rd group were dated by site’s researchers is wide – from second part of I thousand BC till end of I thousand AD. After excavation the Pinchuga-6 burial site in the same region (researchers P.V. Mandryka and P.O. Senotrusova) opinion had been appeared about more short date for burials of 3rd group on the Ust’-Zelinda-2 site in the range of the second quarter the I thousand AD. We propose the main part of artifacts from burials the 3rd group of Ust-Zelinda-2 is dated by Early Iron Age (V–III cent. BC) based on items analysis, primarily bronze items. In general, the 3rd group is close in time to the graves with remains of full human cremation into small pits at the same archaeological site (the 2nd groupe, published earlier). Analyzed graves are significant difference on accompanying items and correspondingly on their time existence from the complexes with remains of full human cremation on the ancient soil surface on Pinchuga-6 burial site. Figured (“bird-headed”-shaped) harness-type belt plaques which were found near from the collection of cremated bones on the Ust’-Zelinda-2 site has been preliminary attributed to the Early Iron Age complexes of the 3rd burial group. The problem of cultural attribution of the 3rd group burials as well as the origin of tradition the full human cremation for Northern Angara area are still open.

The Burials Complexes with Cremated Human Remains on the Level Ancient Soil Surface on the Ust’-Zelinda-2 Site’s Materials (Northern Angara Area)

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