Abashevo complexes in the starshee Nikitino burial-ground (based on materials excavated in 2002-2004)

In this article results are published obtained during excavations of the Star-shee Nikitino burial-ground in 2002-2004. Twenty-one grave-pits were investigated. Onthe basis of the an analysis of the lay-out of the burial-ground, four complexes were identi-fied linking together burials and traces of structures made of posts outside the grave anda small moat. Grave goods were found in seven of the graves. Features of the funeraryrite and the grave goods make it possible to classify this burial-ground as belonging tothe late stage of the Middle-Volga Abashevo culture. Sites of this kind are rarely encoun-tered within the territory of the Volga-Oka interfluve, i. e. beyond the confines of the mainterritory where Abashevo antiquities are found. The organic remains were observed tobe in a good state of preservation. This made it possible to arrive at an anthropologicaldefinition of a post-cranial skeleton for four of the deceased and to obtain radio-carbondates. This site has to date yielded up the most representative series of dates pertainingto the Abashevo culture. Publication of the materials from this site makes it possible tospecify details of the Middle-Volga Abashevo culture and its date and to trace its contactswith other cultural groups of a similar date or location.