Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies 2013, 1(1), 53-67
DOI: 10.24411/2310-2144-2013-00010
Stone slabs with images of the Late Bronze Age of the Kurgan complexes in Eastern Ukraina
Yuriy B. Polidovich*1; Anatoliy N. Usachuk2
1Donetsk Museum of Regional Studies, str. Chelyuskincev, 189a, Donetsk, 83048, Ukraina; E-mail: yurkop@ukr.net
2Donetsk Museum of Regional Studies, str. Chelyuskincev, 189a, Donetsk, 83048, Ukraina; E-mail: doold@mail.ru
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed
Abstract
The article is devoted to the publication of stone slabs with images found in Timber-Grave community burials of late Bronze Age in the Donetsk region (Ukraine). The burial from the group Rusin Yar was a complex stone structure type box. Here was buried a grown man, who belonged to the social class of carriers of the production function. It was found 3 ceramic vessels, bronze knife, wooden tray with the remains of animal food, 2 wooden objects. On the southern slab were coated with an image in an oval which consisting of dashes, crosses and circle. Image related to the cult of the Sun and indicates the high social rank of the deceased man. The second burial from the group Popov Yar-2 belonged to the young man. The funeral inventory consisted of one vessel. The slab with images was overlap of the burial pit. Images were printed on both sides of the slab, and at one edge. Trasological analysis showed that the image is applied for a long time, and the slab performed a ritual function before the funeral ceremony.
Keywords: stone slab, Bronze Age, burial, cult of the Sun, ritual.
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