Oleksandr Shelekhan

The article reports the results of research focused on Barrow 3 in Ivanivtsi-Antonivka, Vinnitsia oblast, Ukraine, which was carried out by a Polish-Ukrainian team in 2019. This small and badly damaged barrow contained just seven features, including only two graves. The results of the multifaceted analyses indicated that despite the small number of sites, the history of the barrow can be divided into three phases – all resulting from the activity of communities associated with the Chornolis culture. Two phases were related to the placement of graves and the enlargement of the mound: Phase 2 (820–770 BC) and Phase 3 (750–685 BC). In contrast, the earliest Phase 1 (960–930 BC) probably covers the demarcation of the ceremonial/ritual space through the placement of a central post, the digging of a ditch, the rising of a mound (?) and the holding of a ceremonial feast. Remarkably, this stage did not end at all with the placement of a grave in the designated space or at least no traces of this have been found. The two excavated graves were intended for women. In both cases, the deceased were accompanied by a similar set of artefacts: a clay cup and a clay spindle whorl probably representing a spindle. It seems that this recurrent set was meant to stress one of the major tasks of women namely the manufacture of textiles. At present, the barrow discussed here does not find any full analogies, as sites concealing modest female burials associated with the Chornolis culture have not been studied in much detail.

The article presents the preliminary results of research by a Polish-Ukrainian team who in 2018-2023 worked on the project of comprehensive exploration of barrows situated in the forest-steppe between the Southern Bug and Dniester in modern Ukraine. There, two major stages of erecting and using barrows were distinguished for the 3rd and 1st millennia BC. Two barrows discussed herein, explored as part of the project, were erected in the second stage. Barrow 3 in Ivanivtsi-Antonivka can be dated to the second half of the 10th – first half of the 8th century BC, whereas Barrow 6 in Sloboda Noskovetska to the late 8th – early 7th century BC. The older one was erected and then used by communities related to the early period of the Chornolis culture. The younger one is at present one of the main pre-Scythian complexes of eastern Podillia. The multi-component set of artefacts deposited under its mound represents a mixture of the Chornolis culture, Basarabi-Şoldăneşti influences and impact of early steppe nomads (Cimmerians?). It illustrates well a complex cultural mosaic found in the forest-steppe between the Southern Bug and Dniester rivers.

The article examines Scythian long knives that are similar in length to double-edged daggers. Critically analysing the hypothesis which interprets these items as weapons, it shows that the difference between a fighting knife and utilitarian knife consists not in their measurements, but in their constructive features. In particular, long knives have much slimmer proportions, unlike daggers. They have neither cross guards nor pommels. This study is concerned with both flat full-metal knives and knives with a short tang. Considering those knives with a partial tang, even the longest ones looks less durable when compared with samples truly designed for combat, as the construction was not intended for heavy strikes. As a result, only full-metal specimens with organic plates on the hilt are here interpreted as weapons. They are similar to those finds from the Northern Balkan region and their morphological features allow us to consider them to be much like daggers. One can suppose that some of the long knives could have been used in ritual proceedings, during feasts or sacrificial offerings. In some cases, it is also possible to consider long knives as a symbolic alternative to the weapon in the burial inventory. At the same time, it is clear that long knives were in use mostly as utilitarian tools. The difference in morphology between the Archaic and Classical knives shows the variation in the culture of these two periods of the Scythian culture. The spread of the long knives across the Steppe and Forest-Steppe areas also indicates the cultural connections between these regions.

In this article, we shall analyse pieces of the late 5th -4 th centuries BC of Greco-Scythian art with depictions of bladed weaponry. “Barbarians” armed with swords and daggers were mostly represented by using Greek art templates. The figures are distinguishable by their Scythian “ethnographic” features (costumes, hair, weapons). Despite the usual detailed manner in which individual attire and sometimes even the human faces or other weapons were rendered, the depictions of swords and daggers remain, however, very simplified. It is possible that the Greeks were prevented from depicting a “truly Scythian” sword, which personified the Scythian war god. Still, detailed images of weaponry can be found on the Scythian stelae. This paradox may be explained by both the work of Scythian sculptors and because of the mythological connection between stelae, the identification of swords with the chthonic deity Ares, and the death realm

In 1970 and 1972 four Scythian Age barrows near Velyka Bilozerka village, Zaporizhia Oblast, were excavared. Barrow 2/1970. Two graves were discovered. One of them was totally looted. Another one was the tomb of the «archer» dated to the first half of the 4th century BC. It is notable due to the full quiver set where bronze, bone, and wooden arrowheads were combined. Barrow 1/1972. All Scythian Age graves were looted. Despite this fact, the barrow is interesting due to the dog burial in the ditch. Supposedly this dog had the role of the guard or guide between the worlds. Barrow 2/1972. It is a very noteworthy barrow. In the central grave 3 which is dated to the third quarter of the 4th century BC the unusual set of the gold appliquйs has been discovered. They have the images from the Greek mythology (Dionysus?), scenes of torment with lions and deer and scenes of opposed sphinxes, with the image of horned man. The unique masterpiece is the pendant in the shape of the female head in the high headwear (the Greek goddess Hera). In addition, in this grave the details of the heavy-armored warrior equipment: spearhead, javelin, scale armor, and bridle have survived. Barrow 3/1972. This late 4th century BC kurhan is interesting due to the catacomb with two dromoses. In addition, the gold appliquйs with images of the mythological creature that were interpreted as Bellerophon and Pegasus have been discovered here. Unique masterpiece is the glass intaglio with image of two fighting cocks. The kurhans under analyses were erected on the old trail that was known as Old Chumak Trail (branch of the Muravskyi Trail). Barrows 2/1972 and 3/1972, where most significant grave goods were found, could be interpreted as the tombs of the local kin leaders. Expressive materials show the strong impact of the Classic culture on the barbarian world in the 4th century BC.

This is the first publication of the barrow 6 of burial ground placed near Vodoslavka village in Novotroitskyi district of Kherson Oblast of Ukraine. Under the small mound of soil 1.4 m height two wealthy persons were buried in the same catacomb with two entering pits. Due to stratigraphy observation, the funeral rate in this case had two phases. Firstly, the body of Scythian noble warrior was placed in the grave in his armour and with weapon. Near him on the West his horse was putted in separate small grave. Some time since, the woman’s corpse dressed in ceremonial gown with gold decoration was placed near man in his grave. Lately, the grave was robbed (probably not long time since funeral rates). But robbers used the second entering pit for their purpose. It is very uncommon, that after taking some of the grave goods and disturbing the upper part of bodies, thefts have leaved in the second entering pit the animal sacrifice (?) — horse corpse. The grave goods demonstrate the high social level of the two Scythians. The man was buried with representative set of weapon: set of ranged weapon, spears and javelins, scaled armour and antique greaves. On the woman’s skeleton the number of gold clothes decorations were recorded. Besides that, the set of silver table ware was found inside the catacomb, and the entrance to the grave was lock with wagon parts. The analysis of the gold appliquйs and rings, armour, weapon and silver vessels shows the time of burial — second—third quarter of the 4th century BC. The area, where these noble Scythians found their last resting place, was strategically important at that time. This barrow was built on the way that leaded from the Bosporan Kingdom to the center of the Scythia in the Dnieper River area.

Oleksandr V. Shelekhan1, Maksym S. Osypenko2 1 PhD, Research fellow, Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine), ORCID 000-0002-3907-0239, oleksandr_shelekhan@iananu.org.ua 2 Research fellow of the sector of Mediaeval archaeology of the research department of preservation, National Museum of History of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine), ORCID 000-0002-7974-877X, osypenko.ms@gmail.com Arkheolohiia. 2019, 2: 95-103 https://doi.org/10.15407/archaeologyua2019.02.095 Section: Publications of…

This paper analyses a unique single-edged sword recovered from the Scythian grave 2, barrow 2, excavated near the village of Myrne in the Kherson Region, and provides typological and chronological analyses of similar artefacts from the North Pontic region. The paper also looks at the origin of such swords.

The article deals with excavations in the central part of Severynivka hillfort. In the mentioned area there was found and studied a part of the large multi-layered complex, which is considered as the remains of probable public worship structure. In the complex filling there were revealed numerous finds of wares, including a number of complete tableware and miniature forms, tools, jewelry and weapons. Also there were traced the tracks of rites administering that is recorded by the physical layout of objects in the complex and a female jaw find.