NO. 1^ SOVIF-T ANTIIR()POr,0(;Y — FIELD Ml 



River, which flows into the \'olga 20 kilometers downstream from 

 Ryl)insk. This site was destroyed by fire, and it is for this reason 

 that its archeological strata preserved a ricli fund of material as well 

 as the remains of burnt construction. This site, which covered an 

 area of more than 2,000 square meters, has been completely excavated. 



This gorodishchc was built on a small eminence of the Sonochta 

 alluvial terrace. Its irregular triangular surface was surrounded by 

 a wooden wall and earthen defense works. In the center there arose 

 a wooden house (5 x 8 m.) which was apparently a public building. 

 Around it six dwellings were distributed. These dwellings were 

 small log cabins (3 x 5.4 x 6 m.) with hearths near the rear walls. 

 The left side of each house was reserved for the men, and there the 

 axes, arrows, fishing tackle, harness, and similar articles were kept. 

 The right side was for the women, and during excavation, pottery 

 and knives were uncovered. 



Near the central house, there was a small building without a hearth 

 which was used as granary and mill. Hand mills were also found here. 

 Xext to it was a forge which consisted of a solid shed with an 

 enormous hearth in the center. In addition, a quantity of iron frag- 

 ments and several dozen iron ingots, which had been smelted with 

 bellows, were found. 



Opposite the main house there was another shed with a small 

 hearth in one corner. Both this shed and the one already described 

 were probably surrouiuled by light wattle walls. This latter shed 

 was reserved for use by the women, indicatofl ]\v the finding of 

 nimicrous slate distafTs, iron bodkins, a needle, and stones used as 

 pressing irons. 



The last of the buildings was a mortuary which gives a very clear 

 insight into the funeral practices of the inhabitants. When a memlier 

 of the community died, he was cremated elsewhere. The calcified 

 hones were then collected and deposited in the wooden mortuary 

 (2.25 X 2.25 m.). which was located opposite the communal house. 

 Excavations among the ruins brought to light a quantity of calcified 

 bones of adults and children, both male and female, and also five iron 

 axes, knives, arrowheads, and iron and bronze rings and ornaments. 



The excellent state of preservation and the richness of the remains, 

 since only bone objects disintegrated, revealed a graphic picture, 

 which is probably typical of all the other I'pper \'olga sites of the 

 first half of the first millennium. The material found gave a relatively 

 complete picture of the life and activities of the inhabitants. The 

 Sonochta norndishrhr can be assigned definitely to the fourth-fifth 

 crnturirs as a result of finding enameled objects of the 'snnie t\'pe as 



