Pages: 63-120 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp21363120
Using statistical methods, a comparative morphometric analysis of the bones of the distal limbs of horses from archaeological sites of the 7 th—4 th centuries BC was carried out for the first time for the territory of the North Caucasus, in particular the Ciscaucasia, Central and Northwestern Caucasus. In total, the analysis includes 14 sites, materials from 12 of them are published for the first time. The exterior of the horses is described, and some of its changes over 400 years are revealed. It is shown that along with the general uniformity of animals, there are certain differences between the sites left by different archaeological cultures. However, these ethnocultural features can also be largely due to differences in the ecological and geographical conditions for horse breeding. The limited amount of material does not allow us to confidently assert the presence of directed selection of horses and breed formation in this historical period, to determine the origin of horses from different archaeological cultures. However, the general uniformity of animals may indicate, if not the origin, then at least the significant influence of the Scythian horses on the local population. The paper also discusses some methodological aspects of the study of archaeozoological material.
Keywords: Early Iron Age, Scythian time, archaeozoology, domestic horses, morphometry
Information about authors:
Natalia Spasskaya (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biologgical Sciences. Zoological Museum of the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 2, Moscow, 125009, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Anatoliy Kantorovich (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Lomonosov Ave., 27-4, Moscow, 119192, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Vladimir Maslov (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Petrenko Vladimira (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences.
E-mail: [email protected]
Belinskiy Andrey (Stavropol, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. “Heritage” Ltd. Osipenko St., 107b, Stavropol, 355019, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Vasilyeva Ekaterina (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). State Hermitage Museum. Dvortsovaya Emb., 34, Saint Petersburg, 190000, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Kolpakova Alisa (Novorossiysk, Russian Federation ). Novorossiysk Historical Museum-Reserve. Sovetov St., 58, Novorossiysk, 353900, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Moshinsky Alexander (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. State Historical Museum. Red Square, 1, Moscow, 109012, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Tatyana Ryabkova (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. State Hermitage Museum. Dvortsovaya Emb., 34, Saint Petersburg, 190000, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Mikhail Sablin (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Doctor of Biological Sciences. Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences. University Emb., 1, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Shishlov Alexander (Novorossiysk, Russian Federation ). Novorossiysk Historical Museum-Reserve. Sovetov St., 58, Novorossiysk, 353900, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Fedorenko Natalia (Novorossiysk, Russian Federation ). Novorossiysk Historical Museum-Reserve. Sovetov St., 58, Novorossiysk, 353900, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Pavlinov Igor (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Biologgical Sciences. Zoological Museum of the M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 2, Moscow, 125009, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]