Pages: 99-108 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp21299108

The study of seasonal use of archaeological sites helps to understand lifestyles of prehistoric communities. One possible method of such research is the analysis of dental cementum of animals from the ancient settlements and burial complexes. The method offers some data about the seasonality of the animals’ slaughter that may help to explain pastoral strategies. This study presents the results of the analysis of dental cementum of sacrificed animals from Solntse II cemetery, which are compared to the data from Ust’ye I settlement. Seasonal patterns of slaughtering suggest seasonality in their use, as there are no summer offerings discovered inside the graves. This observation suggests that at least a part of the settlement’s inhabitants could be partially mobile and move to summer pastures with herds.

Keywords: Bronze Age, Sintashta culture, seasonality, Solntse II, Ust’e I, funeral rites, husbandry

Information about authors:

Polina Frikke (Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation). Master. Institute of History and Archaeology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Sofia Kovalevskaya St., 16, Yekaterinburg, 620990, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Igor Chechushkov (Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation). PhD, Candidate of Historical Sciences. South Ural State University (National Research University). Lenin Ave., 76, Chelyabinsk, 454000, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Olga Bachura (Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, UralBranch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 8th March St., 202, Yekaterinburg, 620144, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]