Jurchen burial ground of Partizanskoe-3 in the Jewish autonomous region. Results of rescue excavations in 2023

This article presents preliminary results of field works at the Partizanskoe-3 burial ground in Smidovichi District of the Jewish Autonomous Region, which were done in 2023 by the team from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS, Center for Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Amur Region, and Blagoveshchensk Pedagogical University. The Partizanskoe-3 site, attributed to the culture of the Amur Jurchens, was discovered in the process of preparation for constructing reserve crossing passage under the Tunguska River by the ESPO-II main oil pipeline. Partial destruction of the site and short deadlines for implementing the construction project required urgent measures for archaeological research in the area of the burial ground which would be a part of construction site. The current state of knowledge and ongoing scholarly discussion of the "Amur Jurchens” require not only analyzing the available information, but also additional evidence. Excavations of 2023 have made it possible to explore 4530 sq. m of a closed single-layer Medieval burial complex, identify and examine 134 burial structures and 25 objects associated with burials (15 pits and 10 ditches). Archaeological evidence numbering 2092 items was obtained from the excavated area, including 200 intact and archaeologically intact vessels, arrowheads and dartheads, knives, adornments, belt sets, as well as extensive anthropological collection. New data significantly enriches the previous material evidence on the culture ofthe Amur Jurchens of the Middle Ages (9th-13th centuries).