Laboratory of Archaeology

Culture of Long Barrows  in South-East Estonia: common features and regional differences
Archaeologists have studied the Culture of Long Barrows (Fig. 1) for over a hundred years, and south-east Estonia can be regarded as one of the most thoroughly
investigated regions. The author characterizes the sites of the Culture of Long Barrows in south-east Estonia as a regional group where features similar throughout the whole culture as well as those specific for the region can be observed (Figs 2–4).
She mentions pottery and everyday items used in settlements as similarities. The sites of the Culture of Long Barrows in south-east Estonia form the westernmost group of the culture, the peculiarity of which appears most clearly in women’s garments. Most likely the Culture of Long Barrows appeared west of the lakes Pskov and Peipsi from the east quite early, at the beginning of the 6th century at the latest. It is difficult to establish if the spread of the new tradition was accompanied also by the arrival of a considerable number of people. Deciding by the close contacts between the sites of this culture known in Estonia and the bearers of the culture, and local population, which is expressed in the topographic coincidence of some sites, such people could not have been very numerous. Most likely the tradition of the Culture of Long Barrows subsided in Estonia in the 8th century. At the same time similar processes took place in the area south of Lake Peipsi, including the valley of the Obdekh River and the lower reaches of the Velikaya River. In this extensive region no more barrow cemeteries typical to the culture were established, although making of pottery and other items typical to the
culture continued for some time. Hence the Culture of Long Barrows in Estonia was but a brief episode, which nevertheless left its trace in the development of the communication system of the population on the shores of the lakes Peipsi and Pskov,
among the rest the contacts with the strengthening centres of Pskov and Izborsk.

Reference Early Medieval archaeological sites in the north-west part of Eastern Europe: problems of definition and an attempt of construction.
The article discusses the experience of construction of the united stratigraphical scheme as an virtual reference “site” for studying the Early Medieval antiquities in the north-west part of Eastern Europe. Archaeological sources for different stages of the Early Medieval times are not equal in sense of containing information, and for the beginning of Medieval times are scanty and unexpressive.
So-called long barrows culture seems to be the best studied material between the Early Medieval antiquities in the north-west part of Eastern Europe. A stratifi ed scheme of a kind of virtual meta-necropolis is suggested as a reference one for the future investigations. The scheme is built basing on analysis of ornamental elements of embossed metal artifacts, and on their stratigraphical position. Construction of such a virtual reference site seems to be necessary considering the current state of archaeological sources.

The article presents materials from the excavations of Early Medieval local centre of Kotorsky Pogost in the Novgorod Land. The Early Medieval complex incuded a temporarily used hill fort and a large unfortified settlement. Materials from the settlement have common features with those from other local centres and towns of North-Western Rus.

(in Russian) The present paper analyzes the history of the antiquities of Western Ingria (area of the Izhora Plateau with the contiguous maritime aтd riverine lowlands) over the 1st Millennium AD. This study is based predominantly
on evidence yielded by archaeological investigations of recent years including those conducted by the present author.
During the entire period under study, the antiquities from the region of Western Ingria are demonstrating distinct Baltic-Finnish features indicating stable contacts of the local population with Estonia and Southwestern Finland. In the beginning of the 2nd Millennium AD, the Old-Russian culture becomes widely distributed here levelling considerably the local peculiarities.

Rider and Horse Equipment of Pskov Long Barrow Culture
The article describes the fi nds of rider and horse equipment from sites of Pskov long barrow culture: typology, chronology,
composition of the complexes. Pskov long barrows yielded bits (two- or three-piece), spurs with hooks and conical spike,
a fragment of lash, elements of bridle. Most items are dated to a wide span within the middle — third quarter of the I
Millennium. Horse burials in Pskov long barrows are quite numerous, they yield two types of bridle: 1) bridle with metal parts,
2) set of bit and a small bronze buckle. Horse burials and fi nds from them are similar to Balt antiquities. Possible relationship
between Pskov long barrows and Baltic cultures requires further detailed study.

Materials from excavations of the Kotorsk XII Burial-ground in the North of the present-day Pskov Region are published in this article. This burial-ground, consisting of 11 burial-mounds, was completely excavated in 1990. The burial-ground has been classified as belonging to the culture of Pskov Long Burial-mounds on the basis of the funerary rite and the finds made in the burials.
Apart from the objects traditional for the Culture of Long Burial-mounds, articles were also encountered which were typical for the early stage of medieval Russian culture. These finds and also the radiocarbon dates obtained for the burial-ground make it possible to date the site to the 10th century.

In recent years, the area to the southeast of the Gulf of Finland (on the Izhora plateau and in the lower reaches of the River
Luga) has opened up a number of archaeological sites dating from the first to the tenth century AD. There are stone graves
from the Pre-Roman and Roman Iron Age, settlements with scratched ceramics, cremation burials from the Migration Period,
hill-forts and cemeteries from the Viking Age. These sites can be built into a cultural and chronological sequence. Finds from
these sites are very similar to objects from Estonia and southwest Finland. At the beginning of the second millennium, Medieval
Russian culture, which levelled local cultural characteristics, spread on the Izhora plateau.

Early medieval sites with funeral cremations in the Northwest of Eastern Europe: the main cultural traditions and their interaction Despite the already long history of archaeological research, the early Middle Ages in the Northwest of Eastern Europe remains understudied. This also applies to the burial sites. The current views on the early medieval burial rites are based mainly on the materials of excavations of barrow burials, in a less degree – on the materials of cremations in ground pits. A detailed study of other types of funerary sites began more recently. This report focuses on the current state of the study of funerary sites from 5 th to 10 th centuries in the Northwest of the Russian Plain.