Tyragetia 19 , s.n., vol. XVIII [XXXIII], nr. 1, 19-32., 2024
The article discusses several rare finds from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, which bel... more The article discusses several rare finds from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, which belong to the Early Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age. The finds of the Early Eneolithic are represented by three flat flint axes with an arched and refined butt. Axes of this type were widespread in the steppe zone in the second half of the 5th millennium BC from the North Caucasus to the Lower Danube. They are often found in the ritual sphere - in the form of hoards and funeral offerings. In terms of their morphological features, size and thoroughness of workmanship these items correspond to axes of the Varna type made of jadeite, which were widespread in the territory of South-Eastern Europe in the Eneolithic and were part of the most prestigious items of funerary inventory. Jadeite axes of this type could serve as a prototype for the original flint axes of the steppe Eneolithic.
The find of the Early Bronze Age (the first half of the 3rd millennium BC) is represented by a bronze (apparently) knife with a curved point. Knives of this type are widespread mainly in the steppe Ciscaucasia and in the basin of the Lower Don and the Seversky Donets Rivers. They are mainly found in the burials of the Maykop, Yamnaya, Novotitorovskaya and Catacomb cultures. In the western part of the steppe zone, this is the first find of this kind. Some researchers consider these objects to be ritual knives. However, it seems preferable to classify these tools as razors or razor-knives. This type of toiletry accessories was well known in Europe in the Bronze and Early Iron Ages and was found until the late Middle Ages.
Uploads
Papers by Igor Manzura
The find of the Early Bronze Age (the first half of the 3rd millennium BC) is represented by a bronze (apparently) knife with a curved point. Knives of this type are widespread mainly in the steppe Ciscaucasia and in the basin of the Lower Don and the Seversky Donets Rivers. They are mainly found in the burials of the Maykop, Yamnaya, Novotitorovskaya and Catacomb cultures. In the western part of the steppe zone, this is the first find of this kind. Some researchers consider these objects to be ritual knives. However, it seems preferable to classify these tools as razors or razor-knives. This type of toiletry accessories was well known in Europe in the Bronze and Early Iron Ages and was found until the late Middle Ages.
The geomagnetic surveys uncovered remains of typical Balkan settlements with regular layout, ditches and a palisade. Remains of surface pisé houses also demonstrate relation to Balkan architecture traditions. The material culture of excavated settlements shows clear distinctions depending on their location. The materials of the Orlovka-Kartal settlement are more diversified and contain a higher percent of fine pottery and tools made of Balkan flint of high quality in comparison with materials of the Cealîc settlement. At the same time inhabitants of the Cealîc settlements could organize in real steppe conditions a fairly effective logistic network in order to obtain lithic and flint raw material from distant sources in the Balkans and the Carpathians.
In conclusion some questions are discussed concerning farming colonization in the steppe zone and the sudden disappearance of the culture.
number of prestigious painted pottery as well as concentrations of metal objects, exotic articles and symbols of the highest social status. The second group embraces cemeteries which could also have complex surface structures or other constructive elements like ditches. The burial pits are smaller and the quantity of painted pottery and other valuable things is less than in the first group. The third group consists of cemeteries with simple burial mounds or flat graves. It is distinguished by small size pits, an obvious predominance of coarse pottery, very rare metal finds and the total absence of exotic adornments or symbols of high status. The division of cemeteries in three distinctive groups can testify to existence of three social strata within the Usatovo society. The upper stratum was represented by supreme chiefs and representatives of their families and lineages. The second social layer was occupied by noble people, perhaps with some priestly functions. The third lowermost stratum probably included commoners who were involved in economic activities connected with agriculture, herding and handicrafts.
The find of the Early Bronze Age (the first half of the 3rd millennium BC) is represented by a bronze (apparently) knife with a curved point. Knives of this type are widespread mainly in the steppe Ciscaucasia and in the basin of the Lower Don and the Seversky Donets Rivers. They are mainly found in the burials of the Maykop, Yamnaya, Novotitorovskaya and Catacomb cultures. In the western part of the steppe zone, this is the first find of this kind. Some researchers consider these objects to be ritual knives. However, it seems preferable to classify these tools as razors or razor-knives. This type of toiletry accessories was well known in Europe in the Bronze and Early Iron Ages and was found until the late Middle Ages.
The geomagnetic surveys uncovered remains of typical Balkan settlements with regular layout, ditches and a palisade. Remains of surface pisé houses also demonstrate relation to Balkan architecture traditions. The material culture of excavated settlements shows clear distinctions depending on their location. The materials of the Orlovka-Kartal settlement are more diversified and contain a higher percent of fine pottery and tools made of Balkan flint of high quality in comparison with materials of the Cealîc settlement. At the same time inhabitants of the Cealîc settlements could organize in real steppe conditions a fairly effective logistic network in order to obtain lithic and flint raw material from distant sources in the Balkans and the Carpathians.
In conclusion some questions are discussed concerning farming colonization in the steppe zone and the sudden disappearance of the culture.
number of prestigious painted pottery as well as concentrations of metal objects, exotic articles and symbols of the highest social status. The second group embraces cemeteries which could also have complex surface structures or other constructive elements like ditches. The burial pits are smaller and the quantity of painted pottery and other valuable things is less than in the first group. The third group consists of cemeteries with simple burial mounds or flat graves. It is distinguished by small size pits, an obvious predominance of coarse pottery, very rare metal finds and the total absence of exotic adornments or symbols of high status. The division of cemeteries in three distinctive groups can testify to existence of three social strata within the Usatovo society. The upper stratum was represented by supreme chiefs and representatives of their families and lineages. The second social layer was occupied by noble people, perhaps with some priestly functions. The third lowermost stratum probably included commoners who were involved in economic activities connected with agriculture, herding and handicrafts.
The late Eneolithic and early Bronze Age periods are represented by 23 graves, which are the earliest funerary complexes discovered in the targeted area. These complexes can be divided into three separate cultural and chronological groups. The first group, the oldest, dates to the late Eneolithic and belongs to the Cernavodă I culture or the Hadjider type. The second group can be defined as the type Jivotilovka, from the beginning of the Bronze Age, synchronous with the second phase of the CII period of Tripoli culture. The third group is represented by a single complex, which belongs to the category of graves with the deceased lying on the back, which is usually culturally-chronologically correlated with the post-Mariupol or Kvitean culture.
The largest number of graves belongs to the Yamnaya culture (115), which is the following cultural horizon. The burials of this culture were identified in 30 mounds, of which 22 graves were central under the mound mantle. The largest number of complexes of this culture was noted in mounds 10 and 14 of the Taraclia II group and mound 17 of the Cazaclia group. The tombs of the Yamnaya culture, mostly discovered in the researched mounds, can be attributed to the early stage of this culture in the northwestern region of the Black Sea, represented by the so-called Dniester variant.
The catacomb culture is represented by 26 funeral complexes. Catacomb culture graves are characterized by distinctive elements present throughout the entire area of this culture, but can be dated later, compared to those in the eastern area. The multi-cordoned ware culture is represented by 30 funeral complexes. All the complexes discovered in mounds have analogies in the complexes of this culture on a very vast territory - from Don to the Lower Danube. Graves (43) attributed to the Sabatinovka culture are characterized by common elements with other funerary complexes of this type found on the territory between the Lower Dniester and Danube area.
The funeral complexes of Belozerka culture were discovered in five mounds. All graves are central under the mound mantle and can be dated to the early phase of this culture.
Graves attributed to the Scythian culture were discovered in only four cases. The next cultural-chronological stage is represented by 31 tombs of the Sarmatian culture.
Two tombs can be attributed to the Alans culture.
In the mounds were discovered 50 graves, which can be interpreted as burials dated to the late Middle Ages.
Part of the funeral complexes (36), because they were discovered in a precarious state, cannot be attributed to any cultural-chronological group.