Early Medieval Children's Burials from a New Burial Ground in Staraya Ladoga

The article introduces scientific data regarding a multi-layered ground burial discovered in 2022 in Staraya Ladoga. Most of the necropolis' burials are west-facing inhumations without grave goods. On this background, two children's burials in rounded pits with the accompanying grave goods, dated by the last quarter of 9th - second quarter of 10 th centuries, are of particular interest. Hence, they are the main focus of the publication. A detailed description of the burials' details and an analysis of ware complexes are given. The text is supported by illustrations, which contain all of the items from the burials. The burials are some of the earliest inhumations in the early medieval Ladoga, along with the chamber burials of the kurgan burial ground and the sopka-like mound at the Plakun tract. Central position in the burial pit, uniformity of its filling, absence of violent actions evidence, as well as careful placement of the accompanying grave goods, all make it possible to exclude the ritual or sacrificial purpose of the children's burials and to consider them a part of the "ordinary" ceremonial burial tradition, applicable to any member of the community that the necropolis belonged to. The new ground burial expands the developed zone of the early medieval Ladoga in the last quarter of 9th - second quarter of 10 th centuries and increases the variety of different funerary sites.