Medieval warrior's burial in the Pavlodar Priirtyshye

Research Article

Abstract

The article presents the results of archaeological researches of 2005, carried out on the Pavlodar Priirtyshye emergency site. The site was located on the territory of Mayskoye district of Pavlodar region near the village Mayskoye. The object of the study is an accidental find of a researcher-paleontologist, who surveyed the coastal Irtysh River shoreline to find paleontological material. The burial site has been subjected to considerable destruction under the influence of spring floods and the and the overflow of the river. The present article is devoted to the introduction into scientific turnover of the results of the archaeological research of the Mayskoye emergency site. Despite significant destruction of the object, the conducted research allowed to reveal valuable archaeological materials, which are highly informative and contribute to an in-depth study of the medieval history of the region and neighboring territories.  The article is aimed at the analysis of archaeological data obtained as a result of excavations at this site in order to reconstruct burial rites and military culture of medieval nomads of the Upper and Middle Priirtyshye. The data obtained in the process of archaeological excavations allow to analyse the burial rites, accompanying inventory and also determine the cultural and chronological belonging of the given site of historical and cultural heritage. The archaeological study of the site revealed the peculiarities of the burial, which makes it possible to reconstruct the customs and traditions of the region in the early medieval period. Particular attention was paid to military equipment, which allows us to draw conclusions about the social status of the buried person and his role in society. The results of the work provide insights into funerary practices and military culture of the medieval nomads of the Irtysh region, and may also be useful for further research of the archaeological heritage of the country. The archaeological materials revealed in the course of the study make a significant contribution to the existing scientific data on the nomadic societies of Eurasia, expanding the understanding of their socio-economic structure, cultural practices and adaptation strategies.  The analysis of the obtained data contributes to an in-depth study of the dynamics of historical processes in the region, making it possible to trace the transformation of funerary rituals, changes in the system of armour and material culture, as well as to identify the specifics of interaction between different ethno-cultural groups in the medieval period. These materials may become the basis for broader comparative studies and a deeper understanding of the country's cultural processes. The study also creates new opportunities for further archaeological and interdisciplinary work, contributing to a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural processes of the region.