Pages: 265-283

The article provides data analysis of the weapon system from the Late Sarmatian burial grounds of Western Kazakhstan and Ustyurt. The statistical sample includes 315 burials from burial mounds and ritual burial structures. Weapon items, such as swords, daggers, fighting bimetallic knives, axes, arrowheads and spears, shields, bone plates for bows, were identified in 38 graves, which makes 12 %. However, this figure is undermined by the data from Ustyurt, where most of the mounds were robbed. Statistical data from Western Kazakhstan sites only increase this percentage to 16 %, which is the average indicator across the whole area of the late Sarmatian culture. The weapon system items found in the region’s burial grounds is standard for the mid-2nd — 4th centuries AD and suggests that it was generally intended for conducting a close offensive combat. Two shields found in the mounds on the eastern chink of Ustyurt (one of which is of Roman origin and the second is wicker) confirms that the later Sarmatians did have protective weapons.

Keywords: Western Kazakhstan, Ustyurt, 2nd—4th cc., nomads, late Sarmatians, weapon system

Information about authors:

Kairat Zhambulatov (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Institute of archaeology named after A. Kh. Margulan. Dostyk Ave., 44, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan; Al-Farabi Kazakh National. Al-Farabi Ave., 71, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
E-mail: [email protected]
Vadim Yagodin. Doctor of Historical Sciences.
Egor Kitov (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. N. N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology. Lenin Ave., 32-A, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation; Russian Academy of Sciences; Institute of archaeology named after A. Kh. Margulan University. Dostyk Ave., 44, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
E-mail: [email protected]
Raikhan Mussayeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Institute of archaeology named after A. Kh. Margulan. Dostyk Ave., 44, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan; Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Al-Farabi Ave., 71, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
E-mail: [email protected]
Vadim Yagodin (Nukus, Uzbekistan). Karakalpak Research Institute of Humanities, Karakalpak Branch of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Amir Temur St., 179-а, Nukus, 230100, Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan
E-mail: [email protected]