Pages: 305-324

Changing of the date of the Prohorov burial mounds made not only reconsider the question of the basis of the relative and absolute date of the monuments of the Prohorov culture but also made the problem of the III century B. C. in the Sarmatian archaeology topical. The essence of this problem consists in the fact that among the monuments of early nomads of the South Urals area we cannot single out those that are definitely dated by the III-rd с B. C. This conclusion is grounded today by a number of researchers, the author of the article inclusive. In my works I suggested the conception of a discrete development of the cultures of early nomads of this region. However, some researchers still prefer the traditional conception of continuous development of the "early Sarmatian culture" and try to fill the gap of the III-rd c. B. C. In particular, this path is taken by V. M. KIepikov and A. S. Skripkin, and by doing this they subject to revision their earlier conclusions. However, the analysis of the suggested solution made by the author reveals its groundless III с B.C. still must be completely excluded from the chronology of monuments of early nomads of South Urals region.