OLGA BACHURA

By this author

SEASONAL HUSBANDRY CYCLE OF THE POPULATION OF THE SINTASHTA CULTURE OF THE SOUTHERN TRANS-URALS

Issue 2 from 01.04.2014

The article is devoted to the reconstruction of the annual husbandry activities dynamics of the inhabitants of the fortified settlements of the Sintashta culture. The materials from 5 settlements are used in this article: Step-noye, Ustye, Kamenny Ambar, Arkaim and Alandskoye. The reconstruction of the seasonal cycles is based on the data of the time of domestic animals death. The season of cattle death was identified with the help of the methods based on the studying of the annual layers in teeth (cement and dentin). It is shown that there was similar seasonal husbandry cycle at the studied settlements of Sintashta culture. The inhabitants were indwelling at the settlement mostly during cold seasons (from autumn to spring or the beginning of summer). At this period cattle was managed and herded not far from the settlements. During summer season the most part of the cattle was herded on areas distinct from the permanent settlements in order to preserve forage base for cold season. In summer there was probably only small part of the population and the others went away with herds. In summer season the number of inhabitants on the territory of Arkaim was bigger than on other territories.

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