MAIASP. 2025. No. 20

Aidos Chotbaev (Almaty, Kazakhstan), Igor Gorashchuk (Samara, Russia)

Weapons of the Saka elite: reconstruction of a decorated dagger using the method of experimental modelling

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2025.51.24.008

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Pages: 111120

Complex cast bronze and iron objects, so characteristic of the Early Iron Age of the Eurasian steppe, are generally associated with the use of the lost wax technique. In this article, an alternative hypothesis about the possible production of such artefacts is put forward. The assumption that they were cast in two-shell (two-part) moulds was tested by the method of experimental modelling. In the description of the modelling methodology, current perspectives of experimental modelling in science and technology are presented. Without claiming absolute certainty, the results obtained show alternative ways of moulding complex objects. In order to make an accurate and well-founded judgement on the production of a particular artefact, its thorough investigation is required.

Key words: Early Iron Age, dagger, “Running Wave" ornament, experiment, casting, modelling

Received May 5, 2025

Accepted for publication May 22, 2025

About the authors:

Chotbaev Aidos (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

E-mail: archtopmail@mail.ru

Gorashchuk Igor(Almaty, Kazakhstan). PhD (History), Research and production center “Bifas”, Ltd,

E-mail: goraschuk@mail.ru