The burial was of a young child (unfused elements, small size, deciduous teeth). It was a primary burial containing a single body which was articulated (save for a few ribs that had gone askew, perhaps from the pressure of the overlying stones). The body was in a semi-flexed position with the knees semi-flexed (approximately 120 degrees – see photos). The positioning of arms appears to have been hands on the pelvis, given the position of the ulna and radius (see photos), but it is also possible they were on the sides. Given that the skull was crushed in on itself, it is difficult to determine the position of the head, though it appears from the position of the lower eye socket (photo) that it was likely in a normal position (i.e. looking straightforward). The body was deposited on its right side.
The grave was oriented E-W, and consisted of two large stones above the earth covering the body which was then covered by a single worked/dressed stone that was approx. the size of burial and sitting just under the top of the kurgan (a small part of the stone was visible on the surface). The body orientation was XXXX. The head was most likely facing south. The post-depositional movement seems to have been limited for much of the post cranial skeleton. The radii and ulnae were articulated, as were the tibia and fibula. Some of the ribs were in place, but others were pushed up near the head. Part of the upper spine was completely articulated. The cranium was crushed, with the frontal bones pushed in between the orbital sockets. The lower (right) humerus was recovered just under the mandible.
The matrix surrounding the body is a medium brown silty clay loam (the same matrix as the rest of the kurgan mound. The body (save for the cranium) was resting on a light tan clay. The remains were removed and placed into a single large bag.
This burial was encountered towards the end of the day, after photographing some large stones floating above the clay layer in Locus 4. We began to remove the rocks and pedestal using shovels. Below the second course of stones we encountered human remains. Luckily, the shoveling only disturbed part of the burial, the rest of it we were able to trowel around, photograph, and remove. Unfortunately, given the late hour we were unable to make a drawing of the remains before removing, because they were in a very fragile state and could not be left in place. Also unfortunately, no screen was available, so the soil was not screened.
The question is whether (or in what sense?) is this burial intrusive to the kurgan construction. The way the stones covering the burial were floating in the matrix implies that it was dug into the earthen mound after it was created. Yet, the fact that the burial was resting on top of the clay layer seems to indicate some knowledge of the kurgan’s construction. Similarly, there was no visible different in the soils indicating a cut/pit. Furthermore, the top stone over the burial was surrounded by other stones covering the top of the mound. There was no obvious gap in the stones covering the mound.
The bones from this locus are being stored in the garage at Durik\'s.