Experience of Using an Integrated Archaeological and Geophysical Approach for Searching and Studying Plowed Cemeteries of the Burial Mound Type in the Mariinsk Forest-Steppe

Active works on including archaeological sites into the state cadastral registration system have been done in Kemerovo Region in recent decades. However, this is hampered by large-scale plowing of archaeological sites. In addition, some archaeological sites do not have precise geographical references. In order to enhance searching and identifying the boundaries of such objects, comprehensive studies involving the methods of photogrammetry and magnetic survey were done at the Ust-Serta II cemetery of the burial mound type in 2025. The archaeological site of Ust-Serta II was discovered in 1968. It consisted of three plowed burial mounds but its exact location was unknown. An analysis of archival sources made it possible to narrow the search area and discover two burial mounds. By constructing the map of the relative heights, an altitude anomaly which could correspond to the third burial mound was identified between them. The results of magnetic surveys provided rich information about the structure of the burial mounds (deep pits in the center, pyramidal shape of burial structures, orientation of their corners to the cardinal points, absence of ditches). These features allowed us to date the archaeological site to the Late Saragash period (3rd – 1st centuries BC). The magnetic anomalies were not detected under the third object and therefore it cannot be unambiguously interpreted as a burial mound. No other objects were identified in the area adjacent to the burial mounds. In a short period of time the works provided information about the location, boundaries, structure of the burial mounds, and dating of the Ust-Serta II cemetery of the burial mound type. Thus, an integrated approach may significantly improve efficiency of identifying and registering archaeological heritage sites

Excavation · Geoarchaeology · Ground-Penetrating Radar · Photogrammetry · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Marine and environmental studies · Soil and Environmental Studies