Animal Bones from Late Sarmatian Burials of the Kermen Tolga Mound Group

Introduction. The article introduces results of studies of animal bones excavated by the archaeological expedition of Kalmyk Research Institute of History, Philology and Economics (with E. V. Tsutskin as leading scientist) from Late Sarmatian burials within the Kermen Tolga Mound Group in the Sarpa Lowlands in 1979. Goals. The paper provides detailed descriptions of the animal bone remains, identifies their species composition, enumerates and compares the samples. Results. The study shows all the investigated Late Sarmatian burials of the Kermen Tolga Mound Group contained bone remains of only one domesticated animal — sheep (Ovis aries). Conclusions. The analysis of bone materials described in the field summary report and stored at Kalmyk Scientific Center of the RAS reveals that seven of the ten female burials excavated were containing bones of the back right leg, while in four of the six male burials there were found bones of the back left leg. The conclusions are preliminary but there is a definite relationship between the gender of each single buried individual and the side of animal’s body used therein. This may indicate the earlier unnoticed element of Late Sarmatian funeral rites