Medieval Burial Grounds near Lakes Ayalvach and Tashtagol in Baraba Forrest-steppe
The article presents the first results of rescue excavations of the Ozero Ayalvach-1 and Ozero Tashtagol-1 burial mounds located in the central part of the Baraba lowland (Chanovsky district, Novosibirsk region). The burial grounds are located near small freshwater lakes in the plain forest-steppe landscape. The burial grounds are situated in a reconstructed oil pipeline transport communication corridor. Three kurgans, two of which are represented only by surviving fragments of the ditch, and two other ground burials outside the kurgans were revealed near Lake Ayalvach. Near Lake Tashtagol, four kurgans with ditches and central burials, as well as one ground burial were excavated. Kurgans are earthen constructions with a mound from 0,1 to 1 m high, from 5 to 13 m in diameter and a subrectangular ditch surrounding mound, 0,6-1,3m wide and 0,3-0,7 m deep with a gate from east side. Under the mound, one and three corpses with birch bark covers with or without a horse skin were found at the level of the ancient surface or in a small depression. In all cases, traces of the use of fire are recorded in the kurgans, either during the construction of the funerary structure or postinhumation penetrations. The grave inventory includes items of armament, everyday life, horse harness, jewelry and pottery. The inlet burial of a newborn baby and ceramic vessels were discovered in the largest mound. Ground burials - paired, individual, child and adult, were made in small depressions, with and without birch bark covering, withoutfire traces, with grave goods, outside the kurgans, mainly in the eastern side at a distance of 20 m. Based on known parallels of the tools and funerary constructions, the burials were dated to the early 2<sup>nd</sup> millennium A.D. and associated with the bearers of the Vengerovo culture of the Kimek-Kipchak medieval cultural community.