The Scythian tombs

Construction and geographical orientation

Datos Bibliográficos

ID7175157
AutoresMaria A Ochir-Goryaeva (0000-0002-0210-7595, Institute of Archaeology, autor de correspondencia), Maria Ochir-Goryaeva
Año2015
Volumen18
Número3
Páginas477-496
Fecha de publicación2015-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaEuropean Journal of Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1461-9571 • E-ISSN: 1741-2722
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1179/1461957114y.0000000086
OpenAlexW2107712481
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas1

This paper details a new approach to the study of the Scythian burial mounds—the ‘planigraphy’ (or spatial analysis) of the mound and its burials, which follows two lines of enquiry that have so far been largely overlooked. Firstly, the statistics concerning the depth of all types of graves, such as primary and secondary burials, servants’ and horse graves, have been closely examined and compared because this parameter is an important mark of the social status and hierarchy of the deceased and their burials in Scythian funeral ceremonies. Secondly, grave locations within the mounds have been analysed with regard to their arrangement in relation to the ideal latitudinal and meridian axis of the Scythian mound. This analysis has led to the discovery of new facts concerning the planigraphy of the Scythian burial mound, which contribute to a more detailed understanding of the spatial representation of kinship and family hierarchy in Scythian society. The new evidence also sheds light on their system of geographical orientation in terms of cardinal points

Ancient history · Archaeology · Genealogy · Geography · Hierarchy · Kinship · Representation (politics · Social hierarchy · Sociology · Anthropology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Classical Antiquity Studies · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History · Law