Non-utilitarian context of the burnt flint artifacts from the Bronze Age settlements in the Seversky Donets River region

Abstract

This brief overview discusses the burnt flint found at the Bronze Age settlements located in the middle flow of the Seversky Donets River region. The objects came from the settlements’ layers associated with various archaeological cultures and periods: the Late Catacomb, Babino, different stages of the Timber Grave, post-Timber Grave, and Bondarikhinskaia cultures. Archaeological context of flint pieces suggests their non-utilitarian meaning. It has been assumed that the burnt flint may reflect a part of some complex ritual connected with funerary practice.

Keywords

• burnt flint artifacts
• settlements of the Bronze Age
• the Seversky Donets River region
• funerary ritual