Cheek-Pieces of the Stepnoie 1 burial ground: practical and semantic aspects of use

Abstract

The paper considers the cheek-pieces which were found in the burials of one of the barrows of the Stepnoie-1 burial ground in the South Trans-Urals. Firstly, this is of special interest that a considerable quantity of cheek-pieces (11 specimens) were found in two burials. A trace evidence analysis of the findings was carried out, the particularities of manufacture and use of these cheek-pieces were determined, graphic reconstructions of some of them were made. Based on the obtained technological information in combination with the context of finding the cheek-pieces, the authors come to the conclusion that the Sintashta funeral rite is theatricalized, it has a weak connection with the personality of the buried individuals and it tends to represent a certain collective "message".

Keywords

• cheek-pieces
• manufacturing technology
• use
• burial
• rite
• sintashta culture