Pages: 39-49

In Early Iron Age, North-Western Pontic region turns into the area of such specific clay objects as pintaderae. This phenomenon spreads widely in Carpathian-Pontic region in 6th —4th c. BC. The main area of pintaderae was Vekerzug culture on Great Hungarian Plain. It is known that these objects were brought here by Siginnae from Northern Caucasus during their migration to the West. Some pintaderae were found in the area of Getian culture in 5th c. BC. The author offers a reconstruction of the process of distribution of pintaderae outside of their main area. Considering the chronology, topography and cultural identity of sites with these clay items to the East of the Carpathians, it could be established that pintaderae appear between the Dniester and Siret rivers as a result of the disintegration of the cultural phenomenon from Great Hungarian Plain as Vekerzug culture. The dissolution of this Scythian enclave was recorded in 5th c. BC, so the late dates of pintaderae from Dniester-Carpathian region could indicate the direction of migration of the Vekerzug population. Despite the existence of various interpretations of this category of material culture (as tools for tattooing or body painting), their real purpose remains uncertain.

Keywords: Carpatian-Pontic region, Early Iron Age, pintaderae, Vekerzug-Culture, Getae

Information about author:

Igor Bruyako (Odessa, Ukraine). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Odessa Archaeological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Lanzheronovskaya St., 4, Odessa, 065026, Ukraine.
E-mail: [email protected]