Archaeology and Early History of Ukraine

International Scientific Journal "Archaeology and Early History of Ukraine"

ISSN 2227-4952

Published since 2009

Issues: The journal publishes the results of research on the archaeology and ancient history of Ukraine and neighboring regions. The issues of socio-economic development and cultural relations in the Stone and Copper-Bronze Ages, pages on the history of the Cimmerians, Scythians and Sarmatians, material and spiritual culture of the ancient Greeks in the Northern Pontic region, ethnogenesis and early history of the Slavs, the development of Greek and Roman cities and villages, the material culture of the Middle Ages and early modern times are covered. New archaeological materials, the research on the history of archaeology and archival sources are published.

Founder: Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Frequency: quarterly (March, June, September, December) since 2015 .

Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, English.

Abstract

The article analyzes the origins of the iconography of a woman’s face with a hairstyle that has characteristic curls, which have been deployed in different directions, on the objects of Scythian material culture. This feature of iconography is fixed twice. The first case are four silver and gilded pendants from the barrow 34 near the village Sofiyivka, Kherson region (Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine — a branch of the National Museum of History of Ukraine, inv. no. 2755/1—4). The second case, is the image on the working part of a bronze stamp from the Kamyanskoe settlement (Archaeology Museum of the Karazin National University of Kharkiv, inv. no. VN 2089). As for the female hairstyle on these images, it is not typical for classical Hellenic art, but finds parallels in the art of the Eastern Mediterranean and Ancient East. This style is similar to the so-called «Hathoric wig» in the art of ancient Egypt (on stelae, sculptures, amulets, painting on coffins, mirrors, musical instruments, etc.), which influenced the iconography of the hairstyles of female deities («Oriental Aphrodite») of the Mediterranean. The image of the goddess in the «Hathoric wig» could permeate to the Northern Pontic Sea Region through the Hellenic craftsmen, as a replica of the image of «Oriental Aphrodite» cult of whom may have existed in the region. At the same time, these images could be a «copy» (imitation) made by the Scythian craftsmen directly from the Egyptian original, most likely from some faience amulet, which usually has similar size and sometimes reproduces the head of Hathor. According to Herodotus, in the Scythian pantheon, the figure of Celestial Aphrodite (Aphrodite Urania) was corresponded by Argimpasa (Herod. IV, 59). Consequently, in such an iconographic form these images could depict this goddess. The image of the «Hathoric wig» on these objects can be considered the most northern examples of this iconographic element.

Abstract

The article is devoted to the attribution of objects from the collection of B. and V. Khanenko, which were received in the 1900s. from the market of antiquities as occurring «from the barrows near the city of Nikopol». These are various applicative decorations mostly dated to the 4th century BC. Stylistic analysis allows us to talk about the heterogeneity of this group of products and with great probability to assume that they are associated with predatory excavations of mounds in the steppe Black Sea region, the Crimea, the forest-steppe Dnieper and Middle Don region. Some of the items probably represent finds in the «royal» burial mounds, which broke out in the second half of the nineteenth century by private collections.

All assumptions about the attribution of gold finds from the collection of Khanenko are provisional and based mainly on their iconographic analysis. Further research will undoubtedly help clarify, confirm or disprove the conclusions.

Abstract

In 1973 Dnipropetrovsk Yavornitsky National Historical Museum conducted archaeological rescue works near the village Kalinovka, Solonyansky district, Dnipropetrovsk region.

Scythian barrow 2 was the 4 m high with a diameter up to 30 m. The mound was surrounded with the circle of the stone blocks. Four Scythian burials were discovered. Three of them belong to children of different ages, one — to the family. All burials were in destroyed catacomb graves. The skeletons lied supine with their head directed to the east. They were accompanied by gold and bronze jewelry and glass beads.

The primary grave 3 deserves the greatest attention. It was also made in catacomb grave in the centre of the barrow, on the same axis with children’s tombs. The gave has been repeatedly looted and the looting mine and other violations of the grave were fixed. The burial was collective — two adults (a man and a woman) and a child laid supine with their head directed to the east.

Abstract

The question of the large cone-shaped gold objects found in a number of Scythian burial mounds of the middle of the end V — IV centuries BC on the territory of the Northern Black Sea Coast and the present Stavropol Territory is considered in the article. In total 8 such genuine objects are known to us.

Undoubtedly, the purpose of the various cones also varied. Among them are. 1 — Helmets-pylons (Ak-Burun, Perederieva Grave, possibly cone 2 from the treasure in the mound near Sengeleevskoye village, Stavropol Territory). 2 — Tops of Bunchuk — symbols of power (the burial mounds of Bratolyubovsky, near the village of Ilyichevo, from the Kazinsky treasure and cone 1 from the treasure near the village of Sengeleevskoye).