Kotova, Nadezhda; Makhortykh, Sergey; Szidat, Sönke; Nielsen, Ebbe H.; Radchenko, Simon; Tinner, Willy (2022). New discoveries of the Swiss-Ukrainian expedition in the western Azov Sea region. In: Dębiec, Maciej; Górski, Jacek; Müller, Johannes; Nowak, Marek; Pelisiak, Andrzej; Saile, Thomas; Włodarczak, Piotr (eds.) From Farmers to Heroes? Archaeological Studies in Honor of Sławomir Kadrow. Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie: Vol. 376 (pp. 175-185). Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH
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The article presents results of the joint Ukrainian-Swiss expedition on the territory of the “Kamyana Mohyla” National Historical and Archaeological Reserve and in its surroundings during the 2017 field season. The reserve is located in the Western Azov Sea region, on the western border of the Eurasian steppe belt. The comparatively small excavated area contained three burials and a ritual complex that appeared to belong to different time periods. A young man buried in a stone tomb with a constructive element that can be interpreted as an entrance gave the date of 2865-2575 calBC. This find is of particular interest because of the funeral construction almost exclusively characteristic of the Ukrainian steppe. However, this is found among the Globular Amphorae culture sites in central Europe. The ritual complex, including an overturned Yamnaya culture vessel and the skull of a young bull, also belonged to the Early Bronze Age. Meanwhile another buried person, an elderly woman found nearby, presents the Huns’ population and belongs to the Medieval Age, being dated to the 5th century AD. Her grave goods included a coarse vessel. All these finds expand our understanding of burial practices in the Ukrainian steppe with unique and important information on the cultural landscape of the Kamyana Mohyla site in southern Ukraine.