MAIASP. 2024. No. 18

Alexey Tishkin (Barnaul, Russia), Asan Torgoev (Saint Petersburg, Russia), Kubatbek Tabaldiev (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan), Bauyrzhan Besetayev (Almaty, Kazakhstan)

A set of bronze items from the Early Saka period for horse equipment from Gornaya Maevka (Kyrgyzstan)

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2024.28.44.004

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Pages: 68—90

Horse equipment is considered to be one of the main categories of the so-called “Scythian triad” and is a key element of the equestrian culture, the material base of which has been significantly replenished in the course of research in recent decades. Accordingly, the agenda includes comprehension of the collected data, analysis of the problems of evolution and transformation of horse ammunition of the Early Iron Age, based on the typological method of scientific knowledge. The object of this study is the bridle complex and its constituent elements, the development of which originates in the Bronze Age and already in the Early Iron Age is characterized by the search for the most optimal functional variations of use. The article introduces for the first time into scientific circulation the materials discovered on the outskirts of the village of Gornaya Mayevka (Kyrgyzstan). The uniqueness of this material lies in a new way of connecting rods and psalms. A comparative typological analysis of all the finds revealed a range of analogies closest in morphological and technical characteristics, the analysis of which to a certain extent indicates belonging to the Early Saka society. The authors also presented a typology of ways to connect bits and bit hoops. Summing up all the chronological indicators given, this complex is tentatively dated within the framework of the 8th—7th centuries BC.

Key words: archaeology, early Iron Age, Early Saka time, horse equipment, bits, bits hoops, X-ray fluorescence analysis.

Received  July 14, 2024

Accepted for publication July 31, 2024.

About the authors:

Tishkin Alexey (Barnaul, Russia). Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Archaeology, Ethnography and Museology, Chief Scientific Officer, R&D Support Department, Altai State University.

E-mail: tishkin210@mail.ru

Torgoev Asan (Saint Petersburg, Russia). Candidate of Historical Sciences, Leading Researcher, State Hermitage Museum.

E-mail: torgoevasan@mail.ru

Tabaldiev Kubatbek (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Kyrgyz-Turkish University “Manas”.

E-mail: kubatbek. tabaldiev@manas.edu.kg

Besetayev Bauyrzhan (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

E-mail: bauyrzhan.besetayev@kaznu.edu.kz