Pages: 157-168

In 400—350 BC the nomads of the South Urals developed a tradition of making swords and daggers with rectangular hilt. The origins of this tradition comes from Eastern regions of Eurasia, where they go back to the period of the Late Bronze Age. The point of reference could be North and Northwest of China, Western Mongolia, Minusinsk Hollow or Altai. Blacksmiths who manufactured weapons for nomads of Southern Urals did not simply copy eastern samples of bladed weapons, but combined the new form of rectangular hilt with the usual pommels (straight and bent). This series of swords and daggers could serve as a prototype for the formation of handles of Prokhorovka type bladed weapons, which got spread in 3rd—1st c. BC.

Keywords: Southern Ural, 4th—3rd cc. BC, sword, dagger, Prokhorovka type

Information about authors:

Aleksey Denisov (Samara, Russia). Volga Region State Social-Humanity Academy. Maksim Gorky St., 65/67, Samara, 443099, Russia.
E-mail: [email protected]
Aslan Mamedov (Aktobe, Kazakhstan). Master of Archaeology and Ethnology. Aktobe Regional Protection Inspectorate of Historical and Cultural Heritage. Pobedy Pr., 31, Aktobe, 030007, Kazakhstan.
E-mail: [email protected]