Scythian Burial with Tamga of the Turn of 4–3 Centuries BC from the Left Bank of the Lower Dniester

Abstract. The paper deals with description and analysis of the materials obtained during the excavation of the barrow 3 from the «Vodovod» group near Glinoe village, Slobodzeya district, on the left bank of the Lower Dniester river. The secondary burial in this barrow remained undisturbed. There were found black-glazed cup, two bronze arrowheads, pebble and wooden dish with preserved iron braces, iron knife with a horn handle. Judging by a set of inventory, this burial belonged to an ordinary community member. The greatest interest deserves the black-glazed cup with traces of repair, testifying to long-term use of the vessel. On its circular foot the tamga was scratched. This sign has analogies in Sarmatian complexes of the Northern Black Sea. However, membership of this complex to Scythian archaeological culture is beyond doubt. Moreover, its date – the turn of 4–3 centuries BC – is defined on the basis of the cup, on which the tamga was drawn. Thus, at the present time the appearance of ancient tamgas in Europe should be assigned to the turn of 4–3 centuries BC and they should be associated with the Scythian archaeological culture, and not with the Sarmatian.

Keywords: Scythian burial, tamga, left bank of the Lower Dniester littoral, black glazed cup, bronze arrow heads, the turn of 4–3 centuries BC.