On classification of the Bohai burial complexes

Purpose. Most of the Bohai burials excavated are located in North-Eastern China. Some Bohai burials are also located in the Primorsky Krai of the Russian Federation. The Chinese historiography of Bohai archeology is full of different typologies of Bohai funerary complexes. Almost every major researcher grouped the burials in their own way based on different criteria. However, they do not consider such an important criterion as the location of the burial structure at the level of the ancient daily surface. On the contrary, the typical features of a limited number of burials used to be in the focus. Thus, the typologies in Chinese historiography are of little assistance in researching Bohai burials because of their diffuse criteria, lack important features, etc. The author provides a new classification taking into account the most important criteria. Results. Since a burial complex is a complicated system formed by two permanent components: the burial structure and the remains of the deceased, and two variable components: a posthumous inventory and additional structure, it is almost impossible to create an adequate typology that takes into account all the elements of the burial complex. We take into account the fact that in the Russian Far East bone material is in poor condition, so a lack of burial items cannot be decisive. Moreover, many burials were disturbed or raked with only burial structures of the complex remained. Thus, the typology presented is based on the analysis of burial structures. Bohai burials being numerous in China, most of the material on them is presented in short publications in scientific journals, of which it is impossible to obtain comprehensive data on each burial. However, it is enough to create a typology. The paper presents a typology that takes into account the advantages and drawbacks of the previous classifications. Burials are divided into three groups - earth, stone and brick, and are further subdivided into three types of earth burials, five - stone, four - brick. Earth burials are divided into simple ground pits, burials with construction, burials on the surface in a wooden coffin, simple burials on the surface. Brick burials are divided into burials below the level of the ancient ground surface without a passageway, burials below the level of the ancient ground surface with a passageway, burials with tomb structures in the intermediate state with a passageway, and burial on the surface with a passageway. Stone burial graves have the most complex hierarchical structure, as they were the most common and varied. Conclusion. The new typology proposed by the author organizes numerous Bohai burials and will help to solve urgent issues in Bohai studies.