They came out of amulets: ancient amulets helped historians to better understand the customs of the Scythians

Russian archaeologists, together with colleagues from Transnistria, studied rare animal bone amulets found in Scythian graves and came to several unexpected conclusions. In particular, scientists have discovered the remains of turtles, which were allegedly left in graves by robbers in order to "neutralize" the spirits of the dead and avoid their revenge. Even more unusual was the hypothesis about the sedentary lifestyle of some groups of Scythians in the III–II centuries BC. Traditionally, these peoples are considered to be nomadic. However, the interpretation of archaeological finds largely depends on the point of view of researchers, experts noted in an interview with Izvestia. Therefore, it is important to take into account and preserve all the discovered facts.

How disturbed spirits were neutralized

Specialists from the Ural Federal University, T. G. Shevchenko Pridnestrovian State University, the A.A. Borisyak Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences studied materials from mounds on the left bank of the Lower Dniester.

— The Scythians are known for their striking bestial style, which they used in images on objects of harness and clothing. Our group analyzed rare finds from burials — natural amulets, that is, pendants made of teeth, claws, bones and other animal parts. They allow us to expand our understanding of the culture and customs of ancient people. Among the studied samples, there are animal remains that were not reflected in the Scythian ornament," explained Anton Kochnev, senior researcher at the UrFU Laboratory of Natural Science Methods in Humanitarian Studies.

According to the scientist, the amulets were definitely part of the funeral rite. The burial itself in a burial mound with burial equipment testifies to the special status of the deceased. At the same time, it was believed that the owner of the amulet was adopting the power of the animal from whose parts it was made.

Most often, the Scythians used dog fangs as amulets. The fangs of wolves, foxes, and wild boars were less common. Among the finds were unique samples that help reveal little-known aspects of the life of ancient people.

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For example, an amulet made from a leopard's claw phalanx found in one of the graves may indicate cultural ties with remote regions of Africa. In one of the women's graves, archaeologists also found the remains of a snake — 20 vertebrae and two ribs of an adult Caspian or yellow-bellied snake. Later, a man was buried at the same place. Radiocarbon dating has shown that the snake lived about half a century later than the woman.

— The absence of most of the vertebrae among the bones of the skeleton (less than a sixth of the entire skeleton was found), as well as the bones of the skull, leaves no doubt that part of the snake's body was left in the burial chamber intentionally. In our opinion, this find can be interpreted as a way to neutralize a woman whose remains were disturbed," said Anton Kochnev.

According to the scientist, in the mound of the second half of the III century BC, researchers found the shell and bones of a European marsh turtle. However, analysis has shown that they were laid in the grave in the 7th–8th centuries. The robbers probably left such items to neutralize the spirits of the dead.

What did the tooth of an ancient pig tell you about?

Another interesting find is an amulet from the tooth of a domestic pig, discovered in a burial mound of the III—II centuries BC, the scientist said. In his opinion, such finds may indicate that during this period the Scythians raised pigs and led a sedentary lifestyle.

— It is noteworthy that many unique finds were made in women's and children's graves. For example, the claw phalanges of a brown bear and a leopard were found in such graves. In the modern view, the bear is associated with the masculine, and the fox with the feminine. But the Scythians probably had completely different symbolic meanings," noted Anton Kochnev.

Such findings may indicate the special status of some women and children in society, the expert concluded.

— The study of burials is an invaluable resource for understanding religious beliefs, funeral practices, and the social structure of ancient civilizations. In addition to historical science, such studies help to explain the peculiarities of the development of modern cultures and societies," commented Vitaly Sinika, co—author of the study, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Head of the Archeology Research Laboratory at Pridnestrovian State University.

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According to Vladimir Stavitsky, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Department of General History and Social Studies at Penza State University, the culture and way of life of the Scythians have been studied quite well, including thanks to the written testimonies of Greek authors.

Nevertheless, rare finds often remain outside the field of view of researchers, and the data obtained is sometimes misinterpreted. The use of new natural science methods makes it possible to identify previously unknown facts and revise established ideas.

— For specialists, any finds are informative, especially archaeozoological ones: they allow us to obtain accurate information, including the identification of specific animal species and the period when they lived. At the same time, the interpretation of the data largely depends on the "optics" of the researcher. Scientists often see what they want to see themselves," said Polina Cenotrusova, Senior researcher at the Laboratory of Archaeology of Yenisei Siberia at the Siberian Federal University.

However, science is not a dogma, but a constant search, she added. Perceptions are changing, and what seems absurd today may eventually become a generally accepted point of view. Therefore, it is important to record and preserve all the revealed facts. In particular, information about sacred acts that could be committed by robbers in ancient tombs is noteworthy. Researchers usually pay little attention to such aspects of the past and do not analyze them.