INRTU professor Artur Kharinsky presented archaeological findings at Siberian Historical Forum

Artur Kharinsky, professor, Scientific Director of the INRTU Research Laboratory of Archeology, Paleoecology and Life Systems of the Ethnicities of Northern Asia made a report at the IX Siberian Historical Forum. His report was devoted to archaeological finds and funeral rituals of the Baikal region.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Russian Geographical Society, the relevant departments of the Russian Academy of Sciences, etc.
Professor Artur Kharinsky attended the seminar «The Great Migration of peoples in ancient cultures of Eurasia» presented a cultural and chronological scheme of the Baikal region history, focusing the audience’s attention on the Cherenkhyn stage (V–VIII centuries AD). According to the archaeologist, the burials of this period are characterized by the specific peculiarities, for instance, the deceased people were placed on the right side with bent legs, head to the east, north or northeast. A flat oval masonry was built over the grave.
In the funerary structures, scientists find tools as evidence of active economic activity. Ceramic tableware is represented by vessels with a bracket-shaped ornament with small round indentations or notches is drawn. Earrings, pendants and beads were made of bronze and added with pattern in the form of a spiral and spherical bells.

«The archaeological objects discovered during the excavations indicate a change in funeral rituals and cultural characteristics of certain ethnicities. The ethnic origin of people allows us to build a route of ancient migrations," said Artur Kharinsky.

At the forum, the Professor got acquainted with his colleagues’ research. Artur Kharinsky became interested in the research of Pavel Madryka, a SFU professor, head of the Archaeology Laboratory of Yenisei Siberia. He studies the taiga zone of the Krasnoyarsk Territory where there are people of different contact types — gatherers, hunters and cattle breeders. The variety of human interaction forms is reflected in the remains of material culture.
Ekaterina Lipnina, a representative of Irkutsk State University, told about the Malta parking lot (Usolsky district). This object is multi-level — the findings date back 30–10 thousand years ago.
The program of the Historical Forum included an excursion to Mount Athos — a complex of five sites of the late Paleolithic. The territory now is planned for building, so scientists have discussed measures to protect archaeological sites.

Photo from the archive of Artur Kharinsky