Pages: 129-141

Since the end of the Late Bronze Age — the beginning of the Early Iron Age the population of the steppes of the Northern Black Sea littoral constantly used such everyday objects as fire flints. The big number and exceptional preservation of the funerary complexes of the Glinoe cemetery (Slobozia region) situated on the left bank of the Lower Dniester and dated back to the end of 4th—2nd centuries BC let us formulate a well-founded idea on the way of making fire by the population, which left that cemetery. Obviously, the fact of putting these items in burials is explained by their constant use in everyday life. Flints found in the area of the pelvic bones of the buried persons, probably, were worn in pouches on the belt, in the lifetime apparently with the tinder. Judging by the emplacement of the fire flints in various funerary complexes of the Early Iron Age, they could also be worn in a pouch on the neck. Absence of any reliable finds of special metal flints shows that ordinary tools were usually used to strike fire, probably, knives and awls. Review of the published burial complexes of the population of the Northern Black Sea littoral of the I millennium BC with finds of fire flints testifies the widespread use of these items, so they often were part of grave goods.

Keywords: North Black Sea littoral, Early Iron Age, Scythian culture, fire flints, funerary practice.

Information about authors:

Nicolai Теlnov (Kishinev, Moldova). Doctor of History. Institute of Cultural Heritage of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. Stefan cel Mare Bd., 1, Kishinev, MD-2001, Moldova
E-mail: [email protected]
Sergey Razumov (Tiraspol, Moldova). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Shevchenko Transdniestrian State University. 25 Oktiabria St., 128, Tiraspol, 3300, Moldova
E-mail: [email protected]
Vitalij Sinika (Tiraspol, Moldova). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Shevchenko Transdniestrian State University. 25 Oktiabria St., 128, Tiraspol, 3300, Moldova
E-mail: [email protected]