This morning I visited several cemetery sites that have been recorded in the KVAS survey with AFG, EGAF, SB, KA, and Shujin. We first went to Aparan BC 04 (Ar/Ar.AG15.03). Most of the burials are suspect; they are essentially they are piles of rock but placed linearly in relation to each other. It would be a strange field clearance to make so many small piles. However, if they were a part of the process of planting the trees with a purpose of stopping soil erosion, it might make sense to create several small piles.
The second site that we went to (Ar/Ni.AEC16.13), which is near to Nigavan and contained several large kurgans near the Kasakh River. The height and diameter makes them distinguishable on the landscape, but the surrounding barley fields and plentiful (and diverse!) flowers mask much of the architecture.
We then went to visit the Aparani Berd cemetery, which consists of Aparani Berd BC 03, BC 04, and other small clusters. The eastern two arms of the x = BC 03 and the western two arms = BC 04.
The southern arm of BC 04 contained cromlechs, large kurgans, small kurgans, and other possibly distinct types. Many of the tombs appear to have been looted.
We then walked over to the southern arm of BC 03, where there are cromlechs and smaller kurgans/piles of cobbles. It is difficult to tell if some groupings are cromlech or natural formations due to the grass growth and erosion. There certainly do appear to be outcrops, but there may be some other architecture as well. Joined by RB and ATS we identified several cromlechs of interest. This cluster runs toward the sand mine which has cut into burials.
After lunch I went back to the areas of interest in the south east cluster. The first area I looked at contains several "types" of cromlechs and kurgans. These tombs are also close together so that we can open a large trench and view the relationship between architectural styles and construction. In addition, there are possible natural outcropsor constructed walls (?) that may have sevred as terracing walls. There are 3-4 cromlechs and 3-4 cobble piles/small kurgans.
The second area that I looked is just north of the first. It has 3 large cromlechs running East-west or down-up slope, it looks like the middle one has a disturbed capstone. There may also be natural outcrops or constructed walls serving as a terrace and a wall upslope. A long trnach might be useful to see construction relationships, but it looks like the tomb in the middle is looted.