ABOUT STYLES AND METAMORPHOSES (the Issue of Definitions in the Study of Sarmatian Animal Style)

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the problems of scientific definitions concerning the study of the Sarmatian animal style art. This art is represented with the gold decorative objects which often ornamented with colour inlays of different shapes, mostly made of turquoise often used together with other minerals. This art shows the specific features to distinct it from the phenomenon of the Scythian animal style. Decoration of the artistic wares with colour inlays reflects a specific aesthetic tastes and typical method of jewelry of the Sarmatian era. This polychromic effect used to be considered as a very essential feature of the Sarmatian era.
 But there were some different heterogeneous cultures which show artistic traditions of different origin in the area inhabited by Sarmatian tribes in the turn of Christian era. Polychromic styles were of different character and type. So, the so called polychromic style is a very conventional definition which comprises some different variants.
 One of the groups of objects belonging to Sarmatian culture is characterized with very abundant decoration of turquoise inlays. This visual feature inspired Mark Schukin to launch a new term «turquoise-golden style» which was taken up by archaeologists and became a professional definition. But even scholars mean different comprehension in this term. So, now it is clear that this term is too indeterminate and it is not able to describe the certain artistic style and artistic culture. There were a lot of golden objects in heterogeneous cultures and in different times which were decorated with inlays made of turquoise. They show different styles and the only feature could not determine the artistic style. Any style could be determined with a complex of essential features.
 The definition «turquoise-golden style» nothing means and should be forgotten to avoid confusion and mess in scientific studies.