Completion of excavations at the Tartas-1 site

This article discusses results of the 2023 field season at the Tartas-1 site which belonged to different periods. By now, 814 burials and numerous objects associated with burial practices of various periods and cultures as well as a cultic complex of the Pakhomovo culture and settlement of the Neolithic have been studied there. The research in 2023 focused on two areas in northwestern and northern parts of the site. Burial and commemorative complex No. 50 of the Andronovo (Fedorovka) culture and the adjacent area were examined. One of the excavation pits was made in the northern part of the site, revealing two burial and commemorative complexes (No. 59 and No. 62). Complex No. 59 was of particular interest because of its distinctiveness compared to over sixty other studied complexes. It had oval shape unclosed in the eastern part. Two children’s burials, one of which was paired, were in the central part of the sacred space. All burials were accompanied by typical vessels of the Andronovo (Fedorovo) appearance. The third burial which might have also belonged to this complex was located in the open part of the ditch within this burial and commemorative complex. It was extremely small, probably the smallest among all Andronovo (Fedorovka) complexes. A paired burial was made in the grave pit according to the rites of inhumation and cremation. Burned and poorly preserved bones have revealed these were infants ’ burials accompanied by a Andronovo (Fedorovo) vessel. Thus, original sources were obtained in the 2023 research season at the Tartas-1 site, which significantly enrich our knowledge about the ancient history of humanity.