GROUPS OF BONE ARROWHEADS OF THE ELOVKA SETTLEMENT OF THE LATE BRONZE PERIOD (TOMSK REGION)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the identifi cation of groups of bone arrowheads found during the excavations of the Elovka settlement of the late Bronze Age, located on the left bank of the Siman (channel Ob river), 0.5 km north of the village of Elovka of the Kozhevnikovsky district in the Tomsk region. During the excavations of the settlement in 1982 by V. I. Matyushchenko stone, bone and bronze arrowheads were found, which, judging by the location in the cultural layer, can be attributed to the late phase of the functioning of the site. Th e bone arrowheads, which make up a series of 60 items, are quite like each other. Unfortunately, it is too early to talk about the typology of these items. However, they can be divided by size: short up to 12 cm, and long over 12 cm. Th is suggests two ways of their use. Short arrowheads were used for archery, which suggests active hunting of animals. Long arrowheads could have been used to mount crossbows, indicating the existence of passive hunting. There is information on active and passive hunting as in the archaeological materials of the Ist millennium BC in the sites of the Upper Ob region, and in ethnographic materials relating to the natives of Siberia in the 18th–20th centuries. Th e third group of arrowheads diff ers from the previous ones in the presence of spikes on the blades of the arrowheads, made so that they do not fall out of the wound. Judging by the fact that they were «standardized» in size, section, and proportions, it can be assumed that the ancient archers were intent on making their shooting as accurate as possible. Th is usually becomes necessary in combat conditions. This suggests that at the late stage of the functioning of the Elovka settlement, relations between its inhabitants and neighbors could become aggravated.

Keywords

• bone arrowheads
• elovka settlement
• late bronze age
• upper ob region