Balanovo

A cemetery site in south-central Russia dating to the early 2nd millennium BC near several short-lived settlement sites confined largely to the main river valleys. The regional culture made Corded Ware. The cemeteries mainly used flat inhumation rites, including double burials and some rich graves with copper battle-axes. Corded beakers, stone battle-axes, and fired clay model wheels are characteristic finds.

The eponymous cemetery of a regional group of the Corded ware culture group, distributed in the Volga-Oka area of south central Russia in the early 2nd millennium be. Most sites are cemeteries, the majority using flat inhumation rites as at the type site. At Balanovo some 120 graves are known, including double burials and some rich graves with copper battle-axes. A broadspectrum economy is attested at the shortlived settlement sites, confined largely to the main river valleys. Corded beakers, stone battle-axes and fired clay model wheels are characteristic finds.