essay

The material culture of the Saka and historical reconstruction

nomads of the eurasian steppes in the early iron ageBerkeley, Calif. • Published In 1995 • Pages: 199-239

By: IAblonskii, L. T. (Leonid Teodorovich).

Abstract
Yablonsky describes the material culture of the Saka. As with most of the Early Nomads, what is known about the Saka comes from excavations of their kurgans or cemeteries. Described are grave construction and some funerary rites, and mortuary artifacts such as weapons, tools, tack for horses (horse trappings), food offerings found in the graves, mirrors, portable altars, spoons, bronze cauldrons, pottery, ornaments, and art syles. Yablonsky also briefly touches upon differences in male and female graves and their possible status differences and on the physical appearance of the Saka (such as, '… some skulls of the Saka Period display Mongoloid admixture, particularly prominent among the female skulls.' [page 214]).
Subjects
Cultural participation
Metallurgy
Weapons
General tools
Animal transport
Visual arts
Burial practices and funerals
Ethnozoology
Chronologies and culture sequences
tradition
Early Nomad
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Central Asia
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry ; 2000
Field Date
not specified
Coverage Date
2800 BP-2200 BP (8th through 3rd centuries B.C.)
Coverage Place
Saka; China, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turmenistan, and Uzbekistan
Notes
Leonid T. Yablonsky
For bibliographical references see source number 18: Anonymous
LCCN
95060805
LCSH
Asia, Central--Antiquities