Child’s Burials of the First Centuries A. D. in the Burial Ground of Starokorsunskaya Settlement No. 2

The paper analyzes the material of 26 children’s burials from the Maeotian burial ground. The Infantilis I age category inc­ludes 14 burials, in half of which were buried children aged 3—4 years. Skeletons of children of the age category Infantilis II were found in seven burials. The age of the children from the remaining four burials is not determined. Five graves pits were found, corresponding in size to the height of the buried children. The main position of the buried is extended on the back. The crouched position on the back and on the side is twice as rare. The predominant direction in the orientation is not observed. Most of the burials contained locally produced gray-clay pottery. The dating of the burials is based on the chronology of bronze fibulae of various types of the second half of the 1st to the 2nd centuries AD, found in 10 complexes. Jewelry is represented by bronze arm rings, finger rings, earrings and beads, among which are figured pendants made of “Egyptian” faience, which are usually considered apotropaic. In two burials, bronze bells were found, which, it is believed, performed a protective function. In general, children’s burials coincide with the burials of adults in terms of the rite and the composition of the accompanying inventory. However, some notable differences can also be distinguished: the absence of weapons, the almost complete absence of pieces for a belt set, and rare tools.