Horsemen’s Burials on the Territory of the Northwestern Caucasus (Based on the Materials of Eighth–Thirteenth Century Cremation Necropolises)

Abstract

In the article, the main types of riders’ burials characteristic of eighth- through ninth-century burial sites with the rite of corpse-burning in the Northwestern Caucasus are examined and their percentage ratio to burials of other types in the entire areal of cremation necropolises is mapped. The main forms valorizing status for a deceased rider characteristic of the burials of the eighth through ninth and tenth through twelfth centuries and the end of the twelfth century through the thirteenth are identified. A comparative analysis is conducted of the burial complexes being studied with materials from other monuments and sites from the south of Eastern Europe.