Animal Bones from Late Sarmatian Burials of the Kermen Tolga Mound Group

Abstract

. Introduction. The article introduces results of studies of animal bones excavated by the
archaeological expedition of Kalmyk Research Institute of History, Philology and Economics (with
E. V. Tsutskin as leading scientist) from Late Sarmatian burials within the Kermen Tolga Mound
Group in the Sarpa Lowlands in 1979. Goals. The paper provides detailed descriptions of the animal
bone remains, identifies their species composition, enumerates and compares the samples. Results.
The study shows all the investigated Late Sarmatian burials of the Kermen Tolga Mound Group contained bone remains of only one domesticated animal — sheep (Ovis aries). Conclusions. The analysis of bone materials described in the field summary report and stored at Kalmyk Scientific Center of
the RAS reveals that seven of the ten female burials excavated were containing bones of the back right
leg, while in four of the six male burials there were found bones of the back left leg. The conclusions
are preliminary but there is a definite relationship between the gender of each single buried individual
and the side of animal’s body used therein. This may indicate the earlier unnoticed element of Late
Sarmatian funeral rites