Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 39 (3) 2011

Annotation:  The Origin of Anatomically Modern Humans and their Behavior in Africa and Eurasia Newly Discovered Yarmukian and Wadi Rabah Sites in the Southern Jordan Valley and the Desert Fringe Periodization of Bronze Age Cultures in the Ob–Irtysh Forest-Steppe: The Stratigraphic Position of E Early Iron Age Burials in Southeastern Zhetysu: The Geoarchaeological Evidence Stratigraphy and Relative Chronology of the Neolithic Assemblages at the Koksharovsky Kholm Sanctua Pazyryk Burial at Khankarinsky Dol in the Northwestern Altai On the Origins of Nomadism in the Asian Steppes Medieval Sanctuary at Eshmess Cave in the Pechora Urals “Priest’s Staff” from Fort Nadym of the 16th–17th Centuries Wooden Pectoral Cross from a Burial at the Spassky Necropolis of the 18th Century in Irkutsk Latticed Petroglyphs of Mount Kalbak-Tash, Gorny Altai Food Symbolism in the Context of Komi (Zyrians) Wedding Rituals Zheltuga Republic: The Case of Social Development at the Chinese-Russian Border The Dentition of the Alakul People, with Reference to their Origin   

Wooden Pectoral Cross from a Burial at the Spassky Necropolis of the 18th Century in Irkutsk

I.M. Berdnikov.

This article introduces a unique discovery for Siberia – a wooden pectoral cross from a burial at the Spassky necropolis in Irkutsk dated to 1710–1768. The object is described in detail and analyzed. The question of using wooden pectoral crosses in the burial practices of the Russian population of the 18th century is discussed. The cross is made of unique material (rosewood). The article presents some evidence of burials with wooden pectoral crosses in Siberia in the 18th century, but the question of the quantity of such wooden crosses still remains open.

Keywords: Irkutsk, Spassky necropolis, 18th century, Orthodox funeral practice, staurography, wooden pectoral crosses.