Pages: 217-242

The planigraphy of five sedentary necropolises of the 1st—3rd cc. CE with tamga-signs series analyzed for two regions of European Steppes which were the contact zones of the local agricultural population and nomadic Sarmatians: the Late Scythians of the Central and South-West Crimea (Belbek IV, the east of Scythian Neapolis, Bitak) and the Maeotes of the Don Mouth (Kobyakovo, Krepostnoe). The sedentary Sarmatians’ necropolis Neyzats of the 2nd—4th cc. in the Central Crimea was studied too. The most popular objects with tamga-signs were the small female mirrors with a side handle (probably, they were the marriage symbols). The analysis of tamgas’ planigraphy focused on types of graves, elite tombs presence, the age of the dead. There were some dozens of Sarmatian (not noble) clans which gave their brides to the sedentary neighbours. Some rare objects with 2—5 signs are also of special interest. In Kobyakovo, women with such small mirrors often had a specific costume, different from usual women’s costumes, and some of them were warriors.

Keywords: Sarmatia, 1st —4th cc. CE, necropolises’ planigraphy, tamga-signs, contact zones

Information about author:

Sergey Yatsenko (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Russian State University for the Humanities. Miusskaya Sq., 6, Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]