Part II Archaeological Excavations - Center for the Study of Eurasian ...
Part II Archaeological Excavations - Center for the Study of Eurasian ...
Part II Archaeological Excavations - Center for the Study of Eurasian ...
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Kurgans, Ritual Sites, and Settlements: <strong>Eurasian</strong> Bronze and Iron Age<br />
Sea maritime zone, while to <strong>the</strong> south it is defined by Lake<br />
Sarykamysh and <strong>the</strong> Uzboi Valley. 1 A wide depression (a dried<br />
up sea bay) separates <strong>the</strong> Ustyurt Plateau from <strong>the</strong> Caspian Kara<br />
Bogaz Gol (bay) and <strong>the</strong> low Mangyshlak plateau to <strong>the</strong> west;<br />
<strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn edge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ustyurt Plateau is not steep and gradually<br />
merges into <strong>the</strong> Caspian Sea lowland valleys.<br />
No lakes, rivers, or mature vegetation are on <strong>the</strong> Ustyurt, but<br />
sweet and salty water is obtained from deep wells. The current<br />
ecological situation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> plateau is extremely harsh; essentially<br />
<strong>the</strong>re is no rain, and during <strong>the</strong> summer <strong>the</strong> temperature<br />
can reach up to 47 degrees celsius. In winter it is virtually impossible<br />
to survive on <strong>the</strong> plateau due to <strong>the</strong> constant strong<br />
winds and temperatures dropping as low as 30 degrees celsius.<br />
The severe climatic conditions in Ustyurt have changed little<br />
over <strong>the</strong> last three thousand years and consequently, because<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> harsh environment, it is generally assumed it would have<br />
been impossible <strong>for</strong> large populations to have lived on <strong>the</strong> plateau<br />
during <strong>the</strong> Early Iron Age. The discovery <strong>of</strong> two archaeological<br />
sanctuary sites on western Ustyurt near <strong>the</strong> Baite Wells<br />
in 1983, preliminarly dated to between <strong>the</strong> 4 th –2 nd centuries BC,<br />
was completely unexpected.<br />
Site description<br />
Analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baite sanctuaries has revealed that <strong>the</strong>y are<br />
a unique complex <strong>of</strong> sites <strong>of</strong> a type previously unknown<br />
throughout <strong>the</strong> <strong>Eurasian</strong> steppes. <strong>Archaeological</strong> expeditions<br />
conducted over several years in western Ustyurt and<br />
Mangyshlak have discovered more than a dozen o<strong>the</strong>r sanctuaries<br />
similar to <strong>the</strong> Baite examples. These o<strong>the</strong>r complexes<br />
are less impressive than <strong>the</strong> Baite sanctuaries in terms <strong>of</strong><br />
size and <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> statues (Samashev and Olkhovskiy<br />
1996; Olkhovskiy and Galkin 1997). All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuaries<br />
display a number <strong>of</strong> common features including <strong>the</strong>ir location<br />
on hills; <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> one to five mounds or moundshaped<br />
embankments; up to 35 stone anthropomorphic statues;<br />
round and rectangular stone altars; and dozens <strong>of</strong> small<br />
stone sacrificial memorial structures (Olkhovskiy and<br />
Galkin 1990). By <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> sites were discovered all <strong>the</strong><br />
statues had fallen from <strong>the</strong>ir original positions and a large<br />
number appear to have been deliberately destroyed. It is<br />
possible that some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> destruction may have occurred<br />
during antiquity.<br />
The sanctuaries<br />
The discovery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baite sanctuaries has raised a number <strong>of</strong><br />
important questions, namely who, when, and <strong>for</strong> what purpose<br />
were <strong>the</strong>se sanctuaries created in an almost inaccessible desert,<br />
far from <strong>the</strong> centers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancient civilizations? The sites are<br />
also important as repositories <strong>for</strong> an expressive anthropomorphic<br />
art style. Previously it was thought that <strong>the</strong> Sarmatian,<br />
Saka, and Massagetae tribes, who lived in <strong>the</strong> western Asian<br />
steppes, were familiar only with “Animal Style.” The results<br />
<strong>of</strong> a research program conducted over a several decades by a<br />
joint Russian-Kazakhstan expedition has enabled us to gain<br />
valuable insights into <strong>the</strong>se issues.<br />
34<br />
Plans <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuaries Baite <strong>II</strong>I, Teren, and Karamunke indicate<br />
that a round cultic construction up to 10 m in diameter, or<br />
a large mound, was <strong>the</strong> main structural features <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuaries<br />
(Fig. 2). The cultic structures were composed <strong>of</strong> large<br />
stone blocks that <strong>for</strong>med a circular wall approximately 1.5–2<br />
m in height, with a width <strong>of</strong> up to 1 m. A narrow passageway<br />
generally provided access into <strong>the</strong> interior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> structure. No<br />
remains <strong>of</strong> construction debris or household refuse was recovered<br />
from <strong>the</strong> interior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cultic structure or from <strong>the</strong> entire<br />
sanctuary territory; thus we are <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> opinion that <strong>the</strong> sanctuaries<br />
deliberately were kept clean. The circular cultic constructions<br />
have parallels with Zoroastrian dakhma, although no human<br />
bones or traces <strong>of</strong> burials synchronous with <strong>the</strong> sanctuaries<br />
have been recovered.<br />
The sculptures<br />
The anthropomorphic sculptures are <strong>the</strong> most dramatic feature<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sanctuaries (Olkhovskiy 1994). Although <strong>the</strong>y had fallen<br />
and were no longer in situ, it was possible to identify <strong>the</strong>ir original<br />
location because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir preserved foundation pits. It became<br />
clear that <strong>the</strong> statues had been positioned in groups composed<br />
<strong>of</strong> two to four monuments, and that each group had been<br />
located approximately 1–2 m from <strong>the</strong> next. The number <strong>of</strong><br />
sculptures located in each sanctuary ranged from one or two<br />
up to as many as 35, and a total <strong>of</strong> approximately 100 statues<br />
have been recovered. Although <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> statues were<br />
broken, it was possible to reconstruct most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> monuments<br />
from broken fragments. A cluster <strong>of</strong> tall statues (approximately<br />
3–4 m high), undoubtedly, would have made a strong visual<br />
impression<br />
The statues had been ra<strong>the</strong>r skillfully made, and provide evidence <strong>of</strong><br />
ancient masons’ stone working skills; <strong>the</strong> precision with which <strong>the</strong><br />
sculptors executed minute details enables one to au<strong>the</strong>ntically reconstruct<br />
<strong>the</strong> ethnographic appearance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earliest inhabitants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Aral-Caspian steppes. In general, each sculpture represents a standing<br />
man, his right arm lowered and his left arm, clasping <strong>the</strong> stomach,<br />
is bent at <strong>the</strong> elbow (Figs. 3–6). The faces are very expressive with<br />
almond-shaped eyes; a clear cut <strong>for</strong>ehead that gradually trans<strong>for</strong>ms<br />
into an elongated straight nose; a thin drooping mustache and a small<br />
mouth. In addition, a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> statues also have wrinkles clearly<br />
incised into <strong>the</strong> cheeks (Fig. 7). Although <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sculptures<br />
display European facial characteristics, o<strong>the</strong>rs have wide flattened<br />
faces, a lack <strong>of</strong> beards, and pronounced cheek-bones, features<br />
that are characteristically Mongoloid. It should be noted that<br />
paleoanthropological studies have indicated that peoples <strong>of</strong> Europoid-<br />
Mongoloid admixture lived in <strong>the</strong> eastern Caspian region during <strong>the</strong><br />
Early Iron Age (Samashev et al 1997).<br />
Their costume and assessories are also indicated. A wide lea<strong>the</strong>r belt<br />
with a metallic buckle, sometimes decorated with embroidery or<br />
appliqué, appears to have been an obligatory element <strong>of</strong> a warrior’s<br />
outfit (Fig. 3). A double-edged sword in a sheath was hung from <strong>the</strong><br />
belt front by two straps (Figs. 5 and 6), and a gorytus (quiver) was<br />
attached to <strong>the</strong> left side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> belt. The Bow in <strong>the</strong> gorytus small and<br />
sigma-shaped (Figs. 4 and 8), and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> type typically used by <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Eurasian</strong> nomads during <strong>the</strong> Scythian-Sarmatian period.