Pages: 129-156

Since the beginning of 20th c. many researchers have paid attention to a series of Scythian swords with rounded pommel, oval handle and pseudo-triangle hilt. It is proposed to assign to this phenomena the following term — Chertomlyk type. Chronological analysis of burial complexes showed that this type was developed throughout the 4th c. BC., and the chronological frames of its biggest distribution are 350—325 BC. Chertomlyk type of akinakai is closely related to a group of ceremonial single-edged blade weapons — so-called Shulgovka type. It is obvious that in 4th c. BC centers of production of bladed weaponry moved to the South. Also, it is clear that at the end of Classical period the area of Scythian swords and daggers significantly contracts (comparing to the earlier types): the Eastern boundary of burial complexes is along the Don river, although complexes with Solokha type akinakai reached the Urals. The trajectory of this final line of evolutionary lineage reflects centrifugal trends in Scythian culture of late 4th c. BC, particularly leading to dissappearance of akinakai as a cultural tradition. Besides that, all these observations contradict to the widespread assertion, that the number of Scythian burials with akinakai had notably increased by 4th—3rd cc. BC.

Keywords: Northern Pontic region, Scythian culture, Classical period, 400—300 BC, akinakai, single-edged blade weapon, typology, chronology, Chertomlyk

Information about author:

Denis Topal (Kishinev, Moldova). High Anthropological School University. Zimbrului St., 10a, Kishinev, MD-2024, Moldova.
E-mail: [email protected]