Torques from the 3rd century BCE Scythian graves in the North-West Black Sea region

Abstract

One representative of these personal ornaments was found in a catacomb grave on the left bank of the Lower Danube, the other two were recovered in graves on the left bank of the Lower Dniester. The torque with serpentine heads (Dervent 13/1) and that with spatula-shaped ends (Glinoe 60/1) may testify to the Thracian influence on the Scythian material culture. The unique torque from the catacomb grave Glinoe 116/1 reflects the direct contacts of the Scythians on the left bank of the Lower Dniester with the bearers of the La Tène/Germanic cultures in Central Europe. Torques, as well as other grave goods, may signalize continuity of the set of personal decorations dated back to the 3rd and the 2nd centuries BCE in relation to the Scythian culture of the older times (the 5th and the 4th centuries BCE).

Keywords

• left bank on the lower dniester region
• scythians
• graves
• torques
• the 3rd century bce