Accompanying Horse Burials in Scythian Mounds of the Northern Black Sea Region
https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2017-31-3-100-109
Abstract
The article analyzes accompanying horse burials of Scythian mounds. Studies of the locations and conditions of horse bones as well as the sizes and depths of corresponding graves made it possible to refute the widespread scholarly opinions that horses used to be buried alive, and to show - with evidence from statistical calculations - the horses had been killed and disemboweled before being buried. The author’s reasoning is confirmed by Herodotus’s evidence. The analysis of horse burials in relation to the owner’s grave and the fact his / her status directly determined the luxury of the horses’ bridles and furniture gave rise to the conclusion that horses served as costly and prestigious burial implements within the ceremony. This is also supported by the fact that the horse burials were never disturbed during post-funeral rituals. Despite high values, silver and gold decorative elements of horses never acted as hereditary symbols of status. The spatial analysis of mounds in the North Black Sea Region showed that horse burials had been placed in most non-prestigious parts of a burial facility - in the western part of the mound - while human burials had been located in the eastern part or to the north and south from the central (main) burial. The investigations of sizes and depths of horse burials revealed that horse burials of Scythians of the North Black Sea Region were commonly narrow and comprised various fittings, such as ledges, cross-walls or logs to fix the horses in the upright or prone positions. According to the statistical calculations, in most of the horse burials every horse occupied some 60-70 cm which means that the animals were placed into the graves not only dead but also disemboweled. Thus, in burial facilities of Scythians horses played the role of costly burial implements as important means of transport, being perceived as - unlike oxen and camels also used by nomads for transport purposes - special prestige signifiers. Luxurious bridles were to underline a high status not of the buried horses as such but that of the buried individual - their owner.
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Review
For citations:
Ochir-Goryaeva M.А. Accompanying Horse Burials in Scythian Mounds of the Northern Black Sea Region. Oriental Studies. 2017;10(3):100-109. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2017-31-3-100-109
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