Topography and planigraphy of necropoles of Bistryansk culture of Altai (Scythian-Saka time)

The article presents systematization and analysis of information about the features of the topography and planigraphy of the necropolises, which were important elements of the funeral rites of the population of the Bystryansk culture of the northern foothills of the Altai in the Scythian-Sakian time. The authors establishes that most of the burial grounds are located in the valleys of large rivers. Several groups of necropolises were distinguished, the localization of which also reflects the peculiarities of the location of settlements. In the framework of the characteristics of the planigraphy of burial complexes of Bystryansk culture, research materials of19 sites are taken into account, information about which is sufficient for a full analysis. It was revealed that the population of the northern foothills of the Altai in the Scythian-Saka time in most cases formed their own separate grave fields, numbering up to 100, and sometimes even more, mounds. A characteristic feature of the internal structure of necropolises is the formation of objects in chains from two to eight structures, less often in microgroups. For most of the complexes several directions were noted in the orientation of the chains of barrows. The main is the meridional direction; deviations from it are probably related to the seasonal movement of the sun. The extension of the observations made is associated with the excavation of the necropolises of Bystryansk culture, as well as the refinement of the chronology of the studied objects.