Graves from Sungir

Graves from Sungir: at Sungir, near Vladimir on the Klyazma River (Russia), an archaeological site was discovered consisting of a series of large habitation camps and richly furnished burials. The most noteworthy are two graves located in pits, at the bottoms of which charcoal and traces of burnt soil were recorded.

In Grave No. 1, there was a well-preserved skeleton of a man aged approximately 55–65 years (Fig. 1). The deceased was located on his back in an extended position, with his head oriented to the NE. On his chest rested a perforated pendant made from a small pebble, and on his arms were more than 20 bracelets made of thin ivory plates. The entire skeleton was covered with ivory beads (over 3,500 items), which formed the decorative trimming of the man’s clothing. The deceased was probably dressed in a loose, fairly long hooded tunic and trousers tucked into high boots, also decorated with beads. This garment was most likely made of relatively soft suede leather. The grave goods included a flint blade knife, a scraper, and an unretouched flake.

At a distance of approximately 30 m from this burial, Grave No. 2 was locate, containing the bodies of two children – a boy (12–13 years old) and a girl (7–8 years old) – with their heads facing each other. The most remarkable elements of the grave furnishings were two spears made from mammoth tusks, lying alongside the skeletons, as well as similar ones made of wood. The latter are interpreted as insignia or objects of a ceremonial character. In addition, eight smaller ivory javelins and two bone daggers were found next to the girl’s skeleton.

Both skeletons were covered with ivory beads (over 7,500 in total), which also allow for the reconstruction of clothing similar to that from Grave No. 1. The buried children wore bracelets made of ivory plates and strings with ivory beads. On the girl’s chest lay two pin-like objects, one of which was decorated with rows of punctures. At her feet, sceptres made of reindeer antler were found, which certainly had ceremonial functions. Near the boy’s skeleton there was a belt decorated with sewn-on Arctic fox teeth; beneath the skeleton a mammoth figurine was discovered, and on the youth’s chest a horse figurine had been placed.

From an anthropological perspective, the individuals buried at Sungir belong to the Cro-Magnon population (Cro-Magnon human = Homo sapiens fossilis); only the skeleton of the boy from Grave No. 2 displayed certain traits that some anthropologists associate with Neanderthal heritage.