Spatial distribution of burial grounds of the early bronze age-middle ages in the Central Baraba lowland

This article analyzes spatial patterns manifested by the burial grounds of the Middle-Late Holocene in the Central Baraba Lowland using geoinformation technologies and preliminary interpretation of the data obtained. The geomorphological positions (river valleys, erosion remnants, watershed edges, and ridges) have been established for the burial grounds with cultural and chronological attribution based on the map of geological and geomorphological structure of the territory. The morphometric parameters (distances between the sites and rivers, between the sites and watershed edges, and elevation of sites relative to the rivers) have been calculated using the ArcGIS 10.2.2 software. It has been established that geographic areas where burial grounds were located and mean distances between rivers and burial grounds expanded between the Early Bronze Age and the Middle Ages. This trend could be associated with environmental changes (accessibility of resources during moderate natural conditions and scarcity of resources during wet and dry conditions), changes in economic systems of the ancient populations (transition to more mobile type of animal husbandry), as well as their beliefs and worldview. In addition, people tried to separate the areas used for burial grounds and habitation areas, which is manifested in the specific nature of geomorphological locations of the sites. Another important condition for choosing a particular location for a burial ground was the height of the place relative to the water surface for protecting the burials from flooding.