Pages: 273-282

The article examines a representative series of stone axes-hammers of the Kabarda-Pyatigorsk type and their miniature replicas from the South Transurals and the neighbouring regions. These axe-hammers and their stone and ceramic miniature replicas are identified by the author as the material reflection of the socio-religious practices of the population of the southern Urals Late Bronze Age. At the same time, there is no evidence to support the idea that the axes of this type were weapons of war and/or tokens of the fact that the buried belonged to the military. It is most probable that this axe type was used in religious practices connected with metal-working. The author puts forward the idea that the axes of this type were connected with the cult of a deity or a hero smith similar to the Tvashtar of the Vedic pantheon. Such axes do not have any local prototypes and were most probably borrowed from the North Caucasus region.

Keywords: South Transurals, Late Bronze Age, socio-religious practice, stone axes, Kabarda-Pyatigorsk type, metal production

Information about author:

Nikolai Vinogradov (Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. South Ural State Humanitarian and Pedagogical University. Lenin Ave., 69, Chelyabinsk, 454080, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]