Pages: 49-58

The grave goods contained in the main burial complex of Zintseva Balka 2/17 (North-Eastern Azov Sea Region), a Pit Grave Cultural and Historical Community site, were very expressive, including a damaged flint biface and a stylized sandstone figurine, which was morphologically similar to the stele from the Early Bronze Age barrows. Analysis of existing analogies showed that use of small stylized stone sculptures, often in combination with cutting tools, was a part of the funerary rite of the cattle-breeding population of the steppe zone of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, reflecting its ideological representations. Presence of such figurines in graves may indicate a special social and/or sacral status of the buried.

Keywords: North Black Sea region, the Early Bronze Age, Pit Graves cultural and historical community, barrow, funerary rite, sculpture, flint items

Information about authors:

Sergey Razumov (Tiraspol, Moldova). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Pridnestrovian State University named after T. G. Shevchenko. 25 Oktiabria St., 128, Tiraspol, 3300, Moldova
E-mail: [email protected]
Anatoly Usachuk (Donetsk, Ukraine). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Donetsk Regional Museum of Local History. Chelyuskintsev St., 189A, Donetsk, 83048, Ukraine
E-mail: doold@mail. ru