BRONZE CRESCENT-SHAPED BEBUT DAGGERS OF THE TSEPAN CULTURE REPRESENTING EARLY IRON AGE IN THE NORTH ANGARA REGION

Abstract

The paper discusses the bronze crescent-shaped bebut daggers of the Early Iron Age in the Northern Angara Region. The authors present the results of scientific research of the bebut daggers belonging to the Tsepan culture. The daggers were discovered in the burial complexes belonging to the cultural layers of Early Iron Age sites. The material of museum collections and archives sources were also used. A new block of sources belonging to the archeology of the Early Bronze Age in Siberia is introduced into scientific use. It makes it possible to determine the origin of bebut daggers, to trace their evolution, to specify their chronology and the period of use on the territory of the Northern Angara Region. The authors made use of the historical reconstruction method and the method of comparative typology. They also present spectral analysis data of ancient bronze and radiocarbon analysis of carbon and birchbark. The results obtained make it possible to broaden and specify our idea of life and activities of the taiga populace living in the Northern Angara Region during the first millennium BC.

Keywords

• northern angara region
• tsepan culture
• bebut daggers
• arrow heads