Burkov, Sergey B.
Kavkaz Forum. 2023. Issue 16.

Abstract:
In Chechnya, the underground burials of the Bronze Age have been studied
since the end of the XIX century. The North Caucasian Archaeological Expedition
continued these excavations in 1956-1960. Numerous mounds have been
investigated, but only a small part of them has been published. The situation
repeated in 1986-1991, when the Archaeological Laboratory of the Scientific and
Research Sector of the Chechen-Ingush State University initiated the large-scale
works at the new construction sites in the middle reaches of the Terek and Sunzha
rivers. More than 300 burials of the Eneolithic and Bronze Age of its various stages
have been studied, but only early complexes have been published. At the same time,
in the neighboring regions, and first of all, in the Republic of North Osetia-Alania,
a significant part of the findings dated to the Developed and Late Bronze Age
have already been published. Such a disparity does not contribute to objectivity in
assessing the role of the territory we study in the cultural and historical processes
of the Central Pre-Caucasus in the III-II millennium BC. Therefore, the purpose of
this article is to present significant part of our 1989 studies of the burials at Bamut
village dated to the same period of time. This will obviously facilitate the balanced
assessment of the processes taken place in that period of time in the area of the pre-
mountainous plains of the region. Through the process of selecting the samples
for the published complexes, it has been noticed that some of them are clearly
compatible with the under-mound antiquities generated from the Arkhonskaya
village. At the same time, the thesis of a significant role of representatives of the
mountain-foothill tribes of the North-Eastern Caucasus in the formation of its
cultural group - II was confirmed. Other burials, most likely, have steppe traditions,
probably connected with the preserved funeral rites of the Yamnaya and North
Caucasian cultural and historical communities. Another group can be brought
closer to the post-catacomb cultures of the Late Bronze Age.

Keywords: Bronze Age, burial mounds, burials, excavations, findings.

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