Tamga-Shaped Symbols on Ceramics from the Sites of Otrar Oasis of the Pre-Arabic Period

Abstract

The article considers tamga-shaped symbols from excavations at Pshakshitobe, Besinshitobe and Kuyuk-Mardan settlements in Southern Kazakhstan. Tamga symbols on ceramics are represented by various types. They are distinguished by clearly defined application techniques. A vast majority of symbols are based on absolutely straight lines with generally rounded ends. A comparison of tamga-shaped symbols with pasted ornaments frequently encountered in the material culture of Kanguy tribes in the basin of the Syrdaria allows to consider the former as Kanguy. Perhaps, some of them were subsequently used by the local rulers of Chach and Khwarezm. Counterparts of the symbols in questions have been discovered in materials from Achaemenid Iran, ancient Khwarezm and Sarmatiya of 1st –3rd centuries A.D., and the Middle Syrdaria region of 1st – 8th centuries A.D. Further identification and study of tamgas on the ceramics from Otrar oasis with the involvement of materials from excavations will probably allow to draw more substantiated conclusions with respect to their dating and attribution.

Keywords

• archaeology
• Southern Kazakhstan
• ceramics
• tamga symbols
• Kanguy period
• Otrar-Karatau culture
• seals
• swastika-shaped symbol