Triangular pendents of the early Iron Age in the forest-steppe and forest zones of Eastern Europe: typology, distribution, semantics

Abstract

Submitted on the monuments of the early Iron Age of the forest-steppe and south of the forest zone of Eastern Europe, triangular bronze pendants (elements of necklaces, female set of jewelry) are subjected to typological analysis. There are four types of elements constituting panel decor (rings with through holes, pseudozer, hemispheres, «shells», bispiral S-visible volitions). The map analysis showed that for each type its special range is characterized, despite the fact that all the ranges are partly overlapped. It is likely that this indicates related ethnic groups of the population (forest balts), relevant to the Yukhnovo archaeological culture and traditionally considered a single Milograd-Podgortsevo archaeological culture. At the same time, typical forest-steep Podgortsevо antiquities and forest Milograd antiquities are clearly geographically divided. Another part of the findings most characteristic of the Yukhnovo antiquities of Seim and Desnas indicates indicates the existence of an enclave of the Yukhnovo or a similar population in the Oskol River basin. However, given the fact that it is proposed about the female jewelry, finds can reflect regular intergovernmental marriages.

Keywords

• early iron age
• eastern europe
• triangular letters
• yukhnovo culture