Early Nomads Research Articles

Предметы вооружения из раннескифских погребальных комплексов Нижнего Дона

Introduction. The North Caucasus and forest-steppe zones of the Dnieper region are traditionally viewed as centers of the Early Scythian culture. At the same time, vast steppe territories situated between these centers have for a long time been uninvestigated because of a small number of Early Scythian sites. The advance of recent archaeological surveys allows revising the position of archaic steppe complexes within the Early Scythian culture. To date, over 100 early Scythian sites situated in the steppe zone of the Northern Black Sea region have been discovered. 80 of them are concentrated in the Lower Don region which can be regarded as a third center of the Early Scythian culture. Steppe burial complexes here differ from Caucasian and forest-steppe ones in terms of ritual, and their funeral set is typical for early Scythian culture, though it is much simpler and smaller in number. The paper deals with weaponry which was one of the most important items in the funeral set of Early Scythian sites. Objectives. The paper primarily aims to study weapons from the early Scythian sites of the Lower Don region, identify the most common types of weapons in the area, and compare them to weapons from other centers of the Early Scythian culture. Results. Bow and arrows seem to be the most popular weapon to have been put into the Lower Don graves. Arrowheads were found in 23 burials of the region. They are not very numerous: 18 complexes contained 20 pieces or less, and only 5 ― more than 20. A typical funeral item in Caucasian and forest-steppe burials, swords were found in just two steppe graves, one of them containing the single axe in the region. No defensive weapons have been found so far. Conclusion. The considerable number of early Scythian sites known in the steppe zone of the Northern Black Sea region, as well as unique character of their burial rites makes it possible to reapproach the hypothesis concerning the two Early Scythian areas and view the steppe zone as a third center of the archaic Scythian culture. Its heart – judging by the concentration of burial complexes and composition of their funeral set – was situated in the Lower Don region. Quiver sets found in every burial complex containing weapons allows to state that the population of the region was primarily armed with bows, and that the social stratification of the community was not very distinct.

Horse Ammunition. From the History of a Saddle

Introduction. Horse ammunition was formed historically on a large geographical area. The most important component of it is a saddle. The ancient history of a saddle is not sufficiently investigated. It should be safely assumed that the oldest forms of seats appear together with the use of a horse for riding. We can confidently say that the appearance of the horsemen of the Cimmerians and Scythians in Western Asia in 8th – 7th centuries BC would not have been possible if there had been no such devices. There is a deep belief that horse riding in Western Asia arose under the Cimmerian-Scythian influence. Methods and materials. The presence of images of horsemen and archaeological material allow us to revisit the issue. Even on the Nimrodical relief we can trace the saddle blanket provided with breeching strap and the girth. This primitive form of soft saddle can be seen on Assyrian reliefs, where it is complemented by a breast collar. Analysis. The well-preserved saddle of the Pazyryk burial mounds, shows that in the 5th century BC a saddle becomes more complicated, paired pillows and hardwood arcs fastening pillows appear. This type of a saddle in the Asian part of the nomadic world survives until the 3rd century BC and is represented in the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang. In the West, in the Scythian world, a simple coating with mounting straps exists in the 4th century BC, probably in the late 4th century BC, a wooden base – lence and pommels – appears in the Scythian saddle. Results. The archaeological material clearly indicates that a saddle was formed within the culture of Eurasian nomads in the 1st millennium BC, a rigid saddle appeared in the Scythian culture in the late 4th century BC.

The Bear Cult and Kurgans of the Scythian Elite

This study, based on artifacts from high-ranking kurgans of the northern Black Sea region (700–300 BC), addresses the little-studied bear motif in Scythian culture and its relevance for the ancient inhabitants of this region and of the adjacent territories. It is a wide-held view that the image of the brown bear had been borrowed from the Ananyino culture of the Kama. Variation of this motif is described and its chronology is assessed. Two principal iconographic versions are known in Scythian art—the animal is shown either en face, in the so-called sacrifi cial posture, or drinking (in profi le, with a bowed head). Such representations occur most often on gold-plated ritual bowls and ornaments of the horse harness. Both the chronology and the distribution range of these artifacts disagree with the idea that the bear motif was a loan from forest cultures. Rather, it appears to be inherently Scythian, having originated around 700 BC together with other images of the animal style. Apparently, some form of the bear cult was practiced by the Scythian elite.

Integrating Remote Sensing and Geophysics for Exploring Early Nomadic Funerary Architecture in the "Siberian Valley of the Kings".

This article analyses the architecture of the Early Iron Age royal burial mound Tunnug 1 in the “Siberian Valley of the Kings” in Tuva Republic, Russia. This large monument is paramount for the archaeological exploration of the early Scythian period in the Eurasian steppes, but environmental parameters make research on site difficult and require the application of a diversity of methods. We thus integrate WorldView-2 and ALOS-2 remote sensing data, geoelectric resistivity and geomagnetic survey results, photogrammetry-based DEMs, and ortho-photographs, as well as excavation in order to explore different aspects of the funerary architecture of this early nomadic monument. We find that the large royal tomb comprises of a complex internal structure of radial features and chambers, and a rich periphery of funerary and ritual structures. Geomagnetometry proved to be the most effective approach for a detailed evaluation of the funerary architecture in our case. The parallel application of several surveying methods is advisable since dataset comparison is indispensable for providing context.

The Sites of the Early Nomads on the North-East Periphery of the Sarmatian World

The paper publishes new materials of the early Sarmatian time from the North-East periphery of the Sarmatian World – the Southern forest-steppe and steppe zones of the Trans-Ural region within the bounds of the modern Chelyabinsk region. The territory of the Southern forest-steppe is represented by the materials of the ruined burial, which is situated on the shore of the lake Smolino within the bounds of Chelyabinsk. It is dated by the early 4th century BC. There are three accidental finds from this region: iron daggers as well. The daggers with curved bar-shaped pommels and arcuate cross-guards are classified as daggers of “transitional type” and are dated by the 4th century BC. The third dagger with a semicircular pommel and a straight cross-guard is included in the group of classical Prokhorovka daggers and is dated the 3rd – 2nd centuries BC. This paper presents the materials of two peculiar burial complexes from the steppe zone of the Southern Trans-Urals. The burial near Mogutovka village is the only one burial (without a barrow) of the early Sarmatian time, which was investigated in the Southern Trans-Ural region. It is situated on the first terrace above the floodplain of the Kamysty-Ayat river. The localization of the burial is not typical for the sites of the early Trans-Ural nomads of the 1st millennium BC. The early Sarmatian burial of the 3rd – 2nd centuries BC was excavated in Druzhinskiy burial site. It was made in the burial pit, which combines signs of a catacomb and an alcove. A child buried here was dressed in a shirt, whose collar and sleeves were decorated with beading. Publishing materials will help to expand the point of view on burial rites and material culture of the early Trans-Ural nomads of the early Sarmatian time, which exists in scientific literature.

SCYTHIAN SWORD FROM SLOVIANSK

Recently new chance find of the Scythian long sword was presented in the Sloviansk regional museum. Thanks to attention of activists and officials, it was restored in a proper manner.
 The sword has zoomorphic antenna pommel, triangular crossguard and long blade with grooves. Due to analogies from the burials, this sword dates by the middle — late 5th century BC. Similar finds are known from Beresniahy, barrow 4, Aktash, barrow 48 and others.
 This period was time of permanent conflicts and instability in Northern Black Sea region. For example, such prominent sites as Motronyn and Western Bilsk hillforts became desolate. It is interesting that range of 5th century BC bladed weapon was very wide.
 At the same time, Sloviansk region was sparsely populated frontier of the Scythian culture. However, there are known some individual weapon chance finds and separated burials. They are located near the watershed rout that later was named Muravskii way. We can assume that they mark area of nomad’s strategic interests and points of clashes for the salt lakes and fertile floodplains in the Siverskii Dinets basin. In addition, it should be noted that hypothesis about chance finds of swords as remains of Ares’s altar has no reliable evidences.

GOLD APPLIQUES AFFIXED TO THE WOODEN BOWLS FROM THE PERESCHEPINE BURIAL GROUND NEAR BELSK

The article is devoted to the analysis of gold plaques on wooden vessels from the Pereshchepino cemetery near Belsk, which are among the brightest indicators of Scythian culture and mark the distribution of this category of funeral equipment in the Dnieper forest-steppe Left Bank in the middle — second half of the 5th century BC. Items considered are represented by several subject-stylistic groups, among which there are plaques decorated with geometric patterns (a double row of convex points), and plaques with various zoomorphic motifs (recumbent stag, head of a bird of prey). The images differ in local specificity and have an original interpretation of individual details. First of all, it concerns the motif of recumbent stag, which demonstrate iconographic dynamics and with the involvement of materials from neighboring territories indicate the formation in the «late» V — first decades of the 4th centuries BC a «forest-steppe» type of images of this animal. Objects of animal style from forest-steppe areas of Ukraine are an important component of the Scythian art of Eastern Europe and must be taken into account when analyzing the genesis of this phenomenon.

FEMALE BURIALS OF MYKOLAIVKA BURIAL GROUND

54 female burials from Late Scythian Nikolaevka burial ground of Kherson district are analyzed in the paper. They were excavated by Erast Symonovich expedition during 1960—1970.
 The analysis of materials from female burials showed that Nikolaevka burial ground was in use during all chronological period of local Lower Dnieper variant of the Late Scythian culture. Female burials reflected the periods of origin, heyday and decline of this burial ground.
 The funerary rite and grave goods are typical for the Late Scythian culture, and have analogies among the materials of the Zolotaya Balka, Krasnyi Mayak, the necropolises of Tanais, Nikoniy, the Scythian Neapolis and Zolotoye. Female burials traditionally contained personal items: bronze mirrors, brooches, awls and knives, beads, earrings, bracelets and rings. There are unique finds in the Nikolaevka burial ground: rare types of terra sigilata pottery, beads from semiprecious stones, the ring with a portrait gem, bronze tweezers.
 The square catacombs, unusual for the Lower Dnieper variant of the Late Scythian culture, were recorded in the Nikolaevka burial ground. In our opinion, these catacombs can be a marker of the migration of part population from the south-western Crimea to the Lower Dnieper in the first centuries AD.

Formation of Residential Constructions of Early Nomads

Formation of Residential Constructions of Early Nomads

On Planigraphy of the Early Nomadic Steppe Necropolises with the Series of Women-Warriors

On Planigraphy of the Early Nomadic Steppe Necropolises with the Series of Women-Warriors

ETUDES TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE EARLY IRON-AGE KHRINNYKY — SHANKIV YAR

From 1994 to 2013 by the 25 excavation trenches were investigated (I—XXII, 24, 25) at the Shankiv Yar tract and together area 6434 m2 was excavated. An analysis of the planigraphy of objects of the early-iron age allows to divide the site into three distant from each other clusters, which can be interpreted as separate homesteads. On the base of examined materials, including new, previously unpublished dates, it is possible to say, that this site belongs to the Lusatian culture and represents the Lezhnytsa horizon of the Ulvivets-Lezhnytsa group, which is synchronous with the late phases of the Tarnobrzeg group of Lusatian culture and the Scythian culture of the Ukrainian Forest-steppe. A wide range within which we can put the time of existence of the settlement — VII—V centuries BC. But all three homesteads could existed much shorter time period. Such chronology almost corresponds with those proposed earlier by D. N. Kozak and co-authors. Contrary to the earlier interpretation of the Khrinnyky site as syncretic, we consider its ceramic complex to be stylistically and technologically homogeneous.

Methods of Natural Sciences for the Reconstruction of the Ceramics Firing

The reconstruction of the Early Iron Age ceramics firing from the Northern Black Sea region is a part of the project`s tasks of studying the ceramics of mobile and sedentary communities in the region (early nomads and the forest-steppe population). The ceramics firing process and the content of mineral phases were determined by DTA-TG methods. Data are given on five samples from the settlements of Glinjeni II-La Shanz and Subotiv, as well as the burials of Kasperovka, Pryshyb and Velykodolynske. In the paper mineralogical and phase composition of ceramic samples are revealed. It is established that the analyzed samples were burned at a temperature not exceeding 650 °C.

Гончарные традиции ранних кочевников Западного Казахстана VI—I вв. до н. э.

Гончарные традиции ранних кочевников Западного Казахстана VI—I вв. до н. э.

Analysis of scientific concepts and methodological principles of communication with the formation of the theory of power of a nomadic society

The article considers the analysis of scientific concepts and methodological principles of connection with the formation of the theory of power of a nomadic society. In the scientific literature, nomadic society and the problems of the internal structure of power have for many years been the center of discussion. At this time, conceptualization of the theory of transformation of the socio-political problems of a nomadic society is emerging, revealing the meaning of the formation of political institutions in the structure of power, as well as the need to analyze scientific concepts and methodological principles on changing social structure in a nomadic society. Problems as personal property, hereditary share, state structure, theoretical aspects of power are manifested in the XVII – XIX centuries, among such scientists as G. Hegel, J. Boden, F. Voltaire, D. Didro, J. Condorcet, J.-J. Russo, A. Smith, A. Turgot and A. Fergusson. Along with scientists who consider the power system of nomads with the influences of Marxist theory can be seen in the works of A. Aristov, N. I. Grodekov, G.N. Potanin and also A.N. Kharuzin. A.Kh. Margulan., K.A. Akishev., Z.S. Samashev., Т.T. Toleubaevi and other archaeological scientists will examine the power structures of the early nomads, in connection with archaeological data.&nbsp

Griffins, Myths and Religion — a review of the archaeological evidence from ancient Greece and the early nomads of Central Asia

Griffins, Myths and Religion — a review of the archaeological evidence from ancient Greece and the early nomads of Central Asia

Жінки-войовниці ранніх кочівників у великих і малих некрополях (до аналізу планіграфії й уточнення статусу)

Жінки-войовниці ранніх кочівників у великих і малих некрополях (до аналізу планіграфії й уточнення статусу)

Престижна економіка ранніх номадів і нартівський епос

Престижна економіка ранніх номадів і нартівський епос

Technologies Involved in Manufacturing Wooden Horns for the Ceremonial Masks of Horses from the Pazyryk Tombs in the Altai

We present the results of a technological analysis of details of the horse harness—the most numerous and the most representative category of wooden artifacts found in the Scythian Age (Pazyryk) tombs. Basic techniques and specific operations involved in the manufacturing of horse masks are described. Especially noteworthy are the tops of these masks, fashioned like horns of mountain goats. Such masks were found in nearly all high-ranking burials. We reconstruct the carpentry of the Early Iron Age nomads. Wooden horns, being the principal elements of the horse’s headgear, differ in terms of technique and complexity: some are solid, while others are composed of two and more parts. In terms of size and shape, some horns are robust, and some are thin and elegant. Separate groups include composite horns with sophisticated carved figurines of feline carnivores, bone collets, bipartite semicircular inserts, and leather tops shaped like antlers. The analysis of horse harness decoration from burials differing in status suggests that wooden horns were mostly attributes of the nomadic elite members. Their size, accessory ornaments, and intricacy were markers of social status.

On the Time and Context of the Earliest Bronze Mirrors in the Northern Pontic Region

Attempts to push the Archaic Scythian culture back in time have led to a disagreement between archaeological and written sources relevant to the appearance of Scythians in the region north of the Black Sea. In the recent two decades, this event was moved from the late 7th century BC, as the documents suggest, to the mid-7th century BC. In this study, one of the chronological markers motivating this date is subjected to a critical revision. Based on new facts, the dates of “Scythian” and Greek mirrors found at Northern Pontic sites are analyzed. Importantly, both “Scythian” and Greek specimens were cultural innovations marking the migration of Scythians from eastern Eurasia and the Greek colonization of the area. Because the nomads lacked the skills required for manufacturing the “Scythian” mirrors, the tradition declined in the 5th century BC. The contacts between Scythians and people of the Northern Pontic forest-steppe zone and of the Greek colonies caused the change in the construction of the “Scythian” mirrors: instead of the central (“Scythian”) lug, a “Greek” side lug appeared, rendering the mirrors “Greek” in shape. It is concluded that replicas of Greek prototypes in the Northern Pontic region can serve as chronological indicators since we know the centers where these prototypes were manufactured––Corinth and Argos. Because Archaic Greek mirrors appeared in the 6th century BC, Scythian assemblages with such artifacts cannot be earlier.

A complex of ritual objects from the elite female burial in Western Kazakhstan

The paper discusses in detail the items from the female burial of mound 6, Taksai-1 burial site, located in the West Kazakhstan Region, Terektinsky District, near the village Dolinnoe. A complex architectural gravestone structure, an accompanying rite of burial with the use of fire, the presence of rich clothing with various decorations, a complex of specific objects found in the pit, testify to the special status of the buried. All archaeological materials from the central pit of mound 6 performed a certain role in the life of the early nomads, composing a complex of ritual things for performing special rites. The functional significance of all the artifacts identified in the grave emphasizes the relation of the buried to the priestly class. In scientific literature there is no consensus about the existence of the priesthood as a profession in ancient times, but the early nomads revered the cult of a woman the ancestor, and the priestesses were guides, keepers of the fire, the Sun, revered the goddess responsible for fertility. The burials of rich priestesses are distinguished by their special pomp of funeral ritual, the presence of gold jewelry and the individual composition of the inventory. All these characteristics are traced in mound 6 of Taksai-1 burial, it is a cult monument confirming the existence of a special priestly status in a social organization of the nomadic society.