Abstract
The main goal of the article was to present a new method of analysing and interpreting the role of selected aspects of funerary rites in reconstructing the social structure of the inhabitants of the forest-steppe areas of the left-bank Dnieperland between the 2nd half of the 6th and 4th/3rd century BC. The source database for this paper consists of 247 grave complexes. In the first stage of research, an attempt was made to determine which elements of the mortuary practices could be regarded as a reliable source for social analysis. The evaluation was based on the previous publications on the matter, historic sources (The Histories of Herodotus), and new observations concerning funerary customs of the analysed societies. It was concluded that the most reliable indicator of the position of a deceased in a social hierarchy is the amount of effort (energy expenditure) devoted by mourners to build a grave structure and organize funeral ceremonies. The the amount of work needed to construct a funerary complex can be deduced from the size and complexity of a grave and a burial mound, as well as «richness» and diversity of grave goods. In some cases, presence, or absence, of selected mortuary practices (such as accompanying horse and human burials) could also be useful. The aim of the second stage of the analysis was to propose a new classification of the funerary complexes of the studied communities. The method of systematization was based on a theoretical framework of the processual archaeology and review of written historical sources. Grave complexes were classified using statistical methods (multivariate data analysis). The evaluations resulted in identifying various classes of graves, which can be assigned to individuals occupying a specific place in social structure. One of the most important characteristics of the obtained classification of grave complexes is its hierarchical organization — the subsequent classes could be characterized by decreasing energy expenditure devoted to constructing a grave, and increasingly «poorer» grave goods.
Highlights
In the opinion of many archaeologists, especially those following the ideas of the processual archaeology, funerary rites constitute one of the most basic sources for reconstruction of various social structures of prehistoric societies (Brown 1995; Härke 1997; 2000)
The important role of the above-mentioned criteria for deducing a social position of a deceased was indicated in the studies of other Scythian groups that were contemporary to the analysed communities (Болтрик 2004; Ромашко, Скорый 2009, с. 90— 95)
Analysing the criteria used in reconstructing the social differentiation of ancient communities, including the people inhabiting the forest-steppe (Бабенко 2005, с. 172—183; Буйнов, Окатенко 2013, с. 128; Burghardt 2016) and steppe (Rolle 1979, p. 33n; Бунятян 1985, с. 91—101) areas in the Scythian period, we cannot overlook the characteristics of artefacts buried alongside the deceased
Summary
In the opinion of many archaeologists, especially those following the ideas of the processual archaeology, funerary rites constitute one of the most basic sources for reconstruction of various social structures of prehistoric societies (Brown 1995; Härke 1997; 2000). In the classification of the results of the cluster analysis of graves, I took into account some qualitative factors, such as the degree of complexity of grave construction (type), additional constructional elements within the mound, as well as the presence of selected categories of grave goods.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.