Late Neolithic burial complex at the Ust-Tartas-2 site (Vengerovsky district, Novosibirsk region)

Burial, settlement, and cultic complexes of different periods and cultures were explored at the Ust-Tartas-2 site. Discontinuous ditch consisting of two segments and forming an arc on the northeast and southwest from the center of the structure with graves was a Late Neolithic burial structure. Four Neolithic burials were found in the central part of the sacred space; burial pits were closely adjacent to each other. The burial rite and grave goods make it possible to attribute the complex to the Artyn culture. Burial inventory included an arrowhead of the Shigir type, stone arrowheads, miniature axes, pendants made of animal teeth, and pottery fragments with ornamental decoration also pointing to the Late Neolithic age of the burials. So far five such complexes at the four archaeological sites (Protoka, Vengerovo-2A, Avtodrom-2/2, Ust-Tartas-2) have been found in Baraba. The correlation analysis has revealed the common patterns in burial structures, pits, and funeral practices, confirmed by the similarities in burial inventory, which included pottery, stone and bone tools, and personal adornments. Each of the five complexes contained a series of secondary burials of males, females, and children in enclosed sacred space. The complexes were quite remote from each other even within the single complex of the Vengerovo-2A site, which makes it possible to assume that these complexes were the burial places for distinct groups of hunters andfishermen. They might have buried neighbors or relatives (?) in the cemeteries specially designated for these purposes and located at a considerable distance from each other, depending on life-supporting activities of the groups isolated from each other.