Pages: 15-26 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp2531526

The article is the first study of the finds of bronze bells from the territory of the Saka culture of the Tien Shan region. The key challenge in their research is that only a small part of them comes from archaeological sites, the rest being some accidental finds. Bells of the Saka period from this region can be divided into large, medium, and miniature in size. But, despite this, they are quite similar in their morphological features, except for a miniature bell from the Aksai (Akesai) burial ground in the upper stream of the Ili River. The main part of the bells from the Tien Shan region can be dated to the 7th—4th centuries BC, except for one bell from the Aksai (Akesai) burial ground, which dates to the 3rd— 2nd centuries BC. Large and medium-sized bells were used as an element of the ceremonial decoration of horses, which is confirmed by Persepolis reliefs, as well as several archaeological evidence from adjacent regions. However, miniature bells were apparently used as decorative details on clothing rather than as horse decorations. The genesis of bronze bells in the Tien Shan region can be associated with the territories of Urartu and Assyria, where the earliest prototypes are known, possessing several similar morphological and functional details.

Keywords: Early Iron Age, ancient nomads’ epoch, Saka period, Tien Shan region, bronze sickles

Information about author:

Sergey Ivanov (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn. Frunze St., 547, Bishkek, 720033, Kyrgyzstan
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-4081-3749