Xinjiang Mohuchahan cemetery (Chawuhu culture) in the Tien Shan foothills

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.I. Shulga ◽  
◽  
D.P. Shulga ◽  

Th is study is the third book of the author’s series dedicated to the Scythian-like cultures in China. Th e book investigates China materials from the Mohuchahan cemetery belonging to the Chawuhu culture in the period of 9th–8th centuries BC. Th is cemetery is one of the earliest sites found in the Eastern Scythian world. Th e representative data on funeral rite and goods used by the Chawuhu population that had lived a century earlier than anticipated was fi rst obtained at this site containing 235 burials. Th e relative chronology of four burial groups identifi ed in the cemetery with the goods being gradually modifi ed in the 9th–8th centuries BC is of particular importance. Th e Caucasian population who left the Mohuchahan cemetery was found to maintain ties with the Southern Siberian and Kazakhstan cultures at an early stage, which suggests a much wider distribution of such transitional sites. Th e monograph is intended for archaeologists and scientists engaged in studying the history of the Eastern Scythian world as well as the features of transition from the late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age.

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 133-151
Author(s):  
Georgia Pliakou

This article offers an overview of the habitation history of the basin of Ioannina Epirus, from the Early Iron Age to the Roman period. The numerous settlements in this region experienced continuous, often uninterrupted, habitation from the Late Bronze Age to the Hellenistic or even Roman Imperial period. The foundation of fortified settlements/acropoleis in the late fourth to early third century BC should no longer be interpreted as a result of a synoecism, since unfortified villages continued to flourish. From the Augustan period onwards, Romans seem to have settled in the area, although it is also possible that the local population adopted Roman habits.


2019 ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
Tatyana Yu. Sem ◽  

The article deals with the history of shamanism and interpret the images on the petroglyphs of the Upper Amur, Olekma and Aldan rivers, dating back to 2000–1000 BC. Important role in the petroglyphs is played by the images of the Supreme gods and forest spirits that were accessed by shamans and shamanic spirit-helpers. The opposition of light and dark spirits-assistants in the form of deer and bear riders symbolizing the two worlds of the universe – the upper and lower ones – stands out among the latter. The first rider was accompanied by mushroom-shaped spirits, the second one – by hammer-shaped, sharp-headed spirits. The first spirits were associated with the mushroom ritual drink from used during the ritual to communicate with the gods, and the second ones – with farriery. Images of one-legged and two-legged hunchbacks and mother goddesses were widespread as well. The scene of making a sacrifice to the spirits highlights two shamanic guardian spirits: the first is depicted with a radiant head; the second is a sharp-headed one, having similarities with main shamanic patron spirits of the Tungus-Manchus – Buchu and Manga. Images of spirits-assistants of shamans in the form of one-legged hunchbacks, deer and bear riders, mushroom idols and mother goddesses depicted in the petroglyphs of the Upper Amur and Aldan rivers also have direct correspondences in shamanism of Tungus-Manchu peoples (Evenks, Nanais, Udege) that testifies to participation of ancient Upper Amur tribes in ethnocultural genesis of Tungus-Manchurians. Some plots of the sacrificial ritual are genetically related to the Okunev culture, probably also being genetic and cultural impulses for the Upper Amur population of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The opposition of the spirits of the light and dark sides of the sky has analogues in the culture of the Yakuts and Buryats. Blacksmith ongons as the assistant spirits of the shamans are found in the Buryat culture. This indicates the participation of the Upper Amur tribes of the Bronze Age in the cultural genesis of some peoples of Siberia


Radiocarbon ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 499-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy De Mulder ◽  
Mark van Strydonck ◽  
Mathieu Boudin ◽  
Walter Leclercq ◽  
Nicolas Paridaens ◽  
...  

The urnfields in western Belgium have been studied since the second half of the 20th century. Most of these studies, as well as the excavations themselves, date from before the last quarter of the 20th century, except for the urnfields at Velzeke and Blicquy, which were excavated recently. The chronology of these cemeteries was largely based on typochronological studies of pottery. Other funeral gifts, like bronze objects in the graves, are rather exceptional. The typochronology was worked out in a comparison with the framework of neighboring regions and central Europe. There was a need, then, for a chronology based on absolute dates. This was only possible by radiocarbon dating of the cremated bones. Tests on duplicate samples, like cremated bone in context with charcoal or 2 depositions of cremated bones within 1 urn, have shown that the results are reproducible and that there is no discrepancy between the charcoal and the cremated bone dates.The results of the 14C dating project on the cremated bones of the 2 urnfields at Velzeke and the one at Blicquy are promising. The interpretation of the occupational history of both sites at Velzeke can be revised, and the currently accepted ceramic sequence for this period needs reworking. In addition, the chronological framework of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age is open for discussion. It seems plausible that the urnfield phenomenon starts earlier in western Belgium than previously expected. These dates can also contribute to the discussion about the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 1645-1656
Author(s):  
Guy De Mulder ◽  
Mark Van Strydonck ◽  
Mathieu Boudin ◽  
Ignace Bourgeois

ABSTRACTRecently a cremation cemetery was excavated at the site of Wijnegem where 29 cremation graves and 9 funerary monuments were uncovered. Thirty radiocarbon (14C) dates were carried out, mostly on cremated bone but also 10 charcoal samples were dated. Twenty-four cremations were studied. Four ring ditches were dated by charcoal samples from the infill of the ditch. The 14C dates showed an interesting long-term occupation of the cemetery. Different phases were ascertained. The history of the cemetery starts in the northern part of the site around a circular funerary monument. Two cremations were dated at the transition of the Early to Middle Bronze Ages. Two other graves represent the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Ages. The main occupation period dates between the end of the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. Finally, an isolated cremation grave marks the definite abandonment of the site during the Late Iron Age.


1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Alcock

The situation, character, and antiquarian history of South Cadbury Castle, Somerset, have already been described (Alcock (1967a); (1967b)). A reconnaissance excavation in 1966 hinted that occupation of the hilltop had begun in the Early Neolithic, and after a hiatus had been resumed sometime in the Late Bronze Age. It demonstrated that from early in the pre-Roman Iron Age there was a rich and intensive occupation, during which the defences were probably built. This appeared to have been ended by a sack at the hands of the Roman invaders c. A.D. 45. Late Roman pottery, metalwork, and coins showed that activity was renewed in the third-fourth centuries A.D. Imported pottery of well-known forms proved that the site was reused in the fifth—sixth centuries. Finally, it was refortified with a mortared stone wall as a Late Saxon burh. The reconnaissance also showed that on top of the hill (fig. 1, c) rock-cut pits and post-holes were readily discernible under the turf; that on the slopes within the defences (fig. 1, B) traces of buildings of various dates had survived many centuries of ploughing; and that in the rear of the inner rampart (fig. 1, A), a great depth of hill-wash and plough-soil overlay stratified levels of the Iron Age.


Author(s):  
Peter M. Fischer ◽  
Teresa Bürge ◽  
A. Gustafsson ◽  
J. Azzopardi

Tall Abu al-Kharaz, in the central Jordan Valley, was occupied during approximately five millennia. A walled town, which had a dominant position in the Jordan Valley, existed already in the Early Bronze Age IB, viz. before 3050 BC. Walled settlements also flourished at the end of the Middle Bronze Age (around 1600 BC), during the Late Bronze Age (roughly 1500–1200 BC) and throughout the entire Iron Age (roughly 1200–600 BC). It is most likely that Tell Abu al-Kharaz is identical with Jabesh Gilead: this city is mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. During earlier seasons most of the Early Iron Age remains were found to have been disturbed by later settlers. It is, therefore, essential for the documentation of the settlement history of this city, that the expedition of 2009 unearthed an extremely well-preserved city quarter dating to the 12/11th century BC (according to high-precision radiocarbon dates). The excavations were extended in autumn 2010 and a stone-built, architectural compound was uncovered. Fourteen rooms (state October 2010), with walls still upright and standing to a height of more than 2 m, were exposed. The inventories of these rooms, which comprised more than one hundred complete vessels and other objects, were remarkably intact. Amongst the finds were numerous imports from Egypt and Lebanon. There are also finds which should be attributed to the Philistines, according to several Aegean-style vessels. The find context points to a hasty abandonment of the city. In the past, the beginning of the Iron Age has often been described as “the Dark Ages”—a period of cultural regression: this categorization is not relevant to the find situation at Tall Abu al-Kharaz where the remains of a wealthy society, which had far-reaching intercultural connections, can be identified.


2019 ◽  
pp. 527-539
Author(s):  
Zoltán Czajlik ◽  
Katalin Novinszki-Groma ◽  
László Rupnik ◽  
András Bödőcs ◽  
Eszter Fejér ◽  
...  

The Early Iron Age site complex of Süttő is located on a loess plateau on the right bank of the Danube. After a long history of research of the Early Iron Age fortified settlement, tumulus groups and flat cemetery, between 2013–2017, some pioneer investigations were carried out using non-invasive methods. In 2018, members of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Archaeological Heritage Protection Directorate of the Hungarian National Museum conducted an interdisciplinary research project (archaeological excavation, geophysical measurements, metal detecting survey, systematic field walking, geological drilling) on the plateau in the framework of the Interreg DTP Iron Age Danube project. As a result of intensive research, it became clear that aside from the Early Iron Age necropolis, the eastern part of the plateau was used as a burial site in the Early Bronze Age, as a settlement in the Late Bronze Age, and we must consider the existence of a Late Iron Age settlement in this area as well.


1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Raisen ◽  
Thomas Rees

Summary Three cropmark sites were excavated by Peter Raisen for Historic Scotland during 1989 in advance of the construction of the A7 Dalkeith Western Bypass. The report on these sites was completed in 1995 by Thomas Rees. The first site comprises two parallel linear cropmarks which are interpreted as flanking ditches to a possible track of unknown date. The second site, a small sub-oval enclosure, proved to be an unenclosed round-house, formed by a ringgroove with external and internal post-holes. Radiocarbon dates and a saddle quern suggest an early Iron Age date for this structure. Excavation of the third cropmark revealed a palisaded enclosure which surrounded an inner enclosure formed by a slot with a shallow internal gully. Radiocarbon and ceramic evidence suggests either a later Bronze Age or Iron Age date for these enclosures. Two bipartite pits, at the northern edge of the palisaded enclosure, were dated to the Roman period. Historic Scotland funded the fieldwork, the post-excavation analyses and the publication of the report.


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