HOMO LUDENS IN THE SOUTH URAL BRONZE AGE (GAMES AND TOYS)

Abstract

The game is a universality of the human culture. Nevertheless, it is difficult to identify its traces through the archaeological record so it is impossible to reconstruct the rules, teams of participants and space of activity. The main available source for the Ural Bronze Age can be the material attributes of the games (astragals, miniature ceramic item setc.). A part of them has the direct evidence of children’s participation in their making. Judging by the substituted data, the game element was also included in the hunting activity, training of charioteers and fisticuffs because the game was a vital part of life not only for the children but also for the adults. The main body of evidence was discovered during the excavation of the settlements but the archaeologists did not consider these artefacts as a special category of items or did not interpret them as game attributes. Our work starts filling this gap.

Keywords

• game
• toys
• bronze age
• south ural
• sintashta culture
• alakul' culture