The Specifics of the “Animal Style” in the Decorative and Applied Art of the Forest Kama and Ural Population in the Early Iron Epoch

Abstract

The article poses a question whether it is appropriate to use the notion “animal style” to refer to the decorative and applied art of the forest Ural and Kama population in the early Iron Epoch representing the Ananyino, Kara-Abyz, Pyanobor and Glyadenovo cultures. Using the method of comparative and statistical analysis, the author shows that the artefacts of the above archeological cultures with the depictions of animals differ, first of all, by their functions : the Ananyino culture is characterized by applique plaques decorating a suit, the Kara-Abyz culture – by plaques for decorating belts, the Glyadenovo culture -by sacrificial objects, while the in the Pyanobor culture, there are no such artefacts at all. Second, the repertoire of the “animal style” images of this population also differs : a bear in the Ananyino culture, a goat/horse – in the Kara-Abyz culture, and a wolf/dog – in the Glyadenovo culture. The author concludes that the “animal style” samples in the decorative art of the forest Ural and Kama population have rather sacral (amulets, talismans, apotropaions, charms etc.) than aesthetic meaning unlike the animal style in the art of early Eurasian nomads (Scytho-Siberian).