Results of archaeological and geophysical works at the Novaya Kurya-1 site in 2021 (Northern Kulunda steppe)

This article describes the results of integrated archaeological-geophysical works at the Novaya Kurya-1 burial ground in the Northern Kulunda Steppe. The strategy for archaeological research in 2021 was based on the geomagnetic map of the site compiled in 2019. Archaeological study continued the search for the Bronze Age objects and attempted to clarify the chronology of the burial ground. Main excavation pits were made in the southern part of the site above the group of three lined up geomagnetic anomalies (trench 1) and above the completely evened up burial mound which repeated the structure of large objects of the burial mound - the central grave and round ditch - in small scale (trench 3). A completely destroyed child burial of the Early Iron Age was studied in trench 3, and seven graves which were preliminary attributed to the late Early Iron Age - Early Middle Ages were studied in trench 1. A ceramic pot, stone abrasives, and wood and birch bark remains of the interior elements of burial chambers were discovered in the graves in trench 1. Composition and scarcity of burial objects do not make it possible to clarify the dates of complexes without using radiocarbon dating. Archaeological observations and aerial photography indicate that mounds were present over both complexes, which were completely or partly destroyed by plowing. Comparison of the archaeological-geophysical data reveal clear correlation between the total volume of humified soil in the filling of the grave pits and amplitude of magnetic anomalies. Magnetic susceptibility of soils and underlying rocks measured in the trenches was 65-85*10-5 SI units and 25-35*10-5 SI units, respectively. The contrast between these values was sufficient for generating distinct anomalies above archaeological objects. Their amplitude values reached 10-12 nT at the Novaya Kurya-1 site. Results of inversed data ofprofile magnetic survey which were made at four altitude levels (trench 1) show that the simulated depth where the archaeological objects were supposed to occur, was close to actual depth.