EAA2021: Abstract
Abstract is part of session #510:
Title & Content
Title:
Buckle up! A comparison of local decoration styles on Pazyryk riding gear regarding supra-regional exchange during the 3rd century BC
Content:
It is widely acknowledged that the horse had a key-role in the nomadic life-style of the Scythians situated in the Central Asian and Eurasian steppes. As the archaeological record shows, being able to control the horse through bridle, saddle and hobbles was an important element in Scythian culture, and a vast variety of different kinds of bridle styles indicate that their design was continously optimised.
Particularly the riding gear of the archaeological group of the Pazyryk Scythians is characterized by various types with a local choice of (animal) motifs and designs for the ornaments on it. Some horses were equipped with ostentatious headdresses as well that were similarly decorated as the other equipment. An example of local differences in the ornamental design of the riding gear and horse headdresses can be found at the necropolis situated in Pazyryk Valley. There, four of the five elite burials are alike while the ornamental style found in Pazyryk-1 is similar to the contemporaneous kurgan Berel’11.
In this paper, the design of bridle, saddle and headdress ornaments found in the elite burials of Pazyryk-1, Berel’11 and Ak-Alakha-3 kurgan 1 burial 2 is examined via a comparative approach. Based on the premise of intensive human-horse-relations, it is argued that the animal motifs shown on the riding gear and horse headdresses found in these burials are linked to a territorial organisation. They were chosen individually for each clan and functioned thus as their “coat of arms”, which were displayed especially via the headdresses. By additionally considering the different designs of the ornaments on the riding gear and headdresses and their spatial distribution, it might be possible to gain further insight into the Pazyryk Scythian (cultural) relations and exchange at a later phase of their culture in the 3rd century BC.
Particularly the riding gear of the archaeological group of the Pazyryk Scythians is characterized by various types with a local choice of (animal) motifs and designs for the ornaments on it. Some horses were equipped with ostentatious headdresses as well that were similarly decorated as the other equipment. An example of local differences in the ornamental design of the riding gear and horse headdresses can be found at the necropolis situated in Pazyryk Valley. There, four of the five elite burials are alike while the ornamental style found in Pazyryk-1 is similar to the contemporaneous kurgan Berel’11.
In this paper, the design of bridle, saddle and headdress ornaments found in the elite burials of Pazyryk-1, Berel’11 and Ak-Alakha-3 kurgan 1 burial 2 is examined via a comparative approach. Based on the premise of intensive human-horse-relations, it is argued that the animal motifs shown on the riding gear and horse headdresses found in these burials are linked to a territorial organisation. They were chosen individually for each clan and functioned thus as their “coat of arms”, which were displayed especially via the headdresses. By additionally considering the different designs of the ornaments on the riding gear and headdresses and their spatial distribution, it might be possible to gain further insight into the Pazyryk Scythian (cultural) relations and exchange at a later phase of their culture in the 3rd century BC.
Keywords:
Scythians, Pazyryk, Riding Gear, Animal Motifs, Horse Headdresses, Ornaments
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authors
Main authors:
Anna-Elisa Stümpel1
Co-author:
Affiliations:
1 University of Groningen