Microbiological identification of animal origin substrates in the funerary mats of the bronze age

The size of the keratinolytic fungi colonies in the samples of decayed substances from graves in the Bronze Age kurgan cemetery known as Beisuzhek 35 (Krasnodar Region) was identified. Thirty four samples of decayed substances from 14 graves of the Yamnaya, Early Catacomb, Late Catacomb and Novotitorovka cultures of the Kuban River basin were examined. The study used a plate method for counting colony-forming units cultured together with wool as the only nutrient source for soil microorganisms. The averaged sample from the upper buried soil was used as a control sample. Presence of keratinolytic fungi was not identified in the control sample. The largest number of keratinolytic fungi in the samples of light-colored and whitish decayed substances and the samples from the soil on the bottom of the pit without any traces of decayed substances did not exceed 20,000 CFU/gram of soil. The number of microorganisms of this group in the samples of decayed substances with intensive brown and black color was up to 110,000 CFU/gram of soil, which suggests initial presence of wool or leather mats. A large number of keratinolytic fungi were identified in the decayed substances on the roof timber and decayed substances with ochre. An extremely large number of keratinolytic fungi were recorded in the Novotitorovka graves (kurgan 6, burial 7).