A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 37-38. - 1995-1996 (Nyíregyháza, 1997)

Régészet - Ivan Popovich: Periodization and chronology of Kushtanovica type sites in the Transcarpathian region

Periodization and chronology of Kushtanovica type sites... diameter of the mouth is 1.8 cm (Pi. VIII.

2). The second similar fitting is in worse condition. Among the remainder of the details we should mention a fitting that also had a cylindrical shape. Its body is decorated with geometric carving as well. There is a hole in its centre and an edge for attaching the object to the wooden component (Pi. VIII.

3). It is surprising that up to now in the circle of sites in question no arrow-heads have been found although at the same time they are very common in sites of the neighbouring cultures. The arching equipment is rare among Scythian finds as well because they were made from organic materials which do not preserve well. The closest analogies to some of our finds are known from neighbouring Hungary (CHOCHOROWSKI 1985.77-78.Abb.20.2.). We should note here that their functional role has not been determined. A bone fitting from the end of a bow with an analogous ornament came from Nyíregyháza (PÁRDLJCZ 1973.Taf.IX.l.). Our suggestion concerning the function of the bone fittings found in barrow 8 of the Kushtanovica cemetery is supported by a two-sided marble plate from Olbia on which an amazon is depicted. The plate from Olbia comes from the first half of the 5th century B.C. (ANTICHNYE 1984.289.Tab.XCIX.2.). However, the detailed analysis of bone fittings requires special study which was not included in the task of the present publication. From a historical-chronological point of view, finds from urn 8 of the same barrow are no less valuable. A polished whetstone was found in the urn. The whetstone has a hole in its upper part for suspension from the belt. It is 16.8 cm long (Pl. IX.6). Among the other finds placed in the urn we should mention an iron knife with an arched back and bone fittings decorated with a circular ornament. However, the main finds used in the determination Fig. 1 Electron plates - Kushtanovica, barrow 8 1. kép Elektronlemezek - Kustanovica/Kustánfalva, VIII. kurgán of the date of the burial are two electron whetstone fittings with an image made in an animal style (Fig. 1). The ornament was stamped on very thin, easily deformed plates, so the scene not very clearly depicted so that it has been variously interpreted. Some researchers thought that a horse was depicted on the plates (ILLINS'KA-TERENOZHKIN 1971.76.), while others said that it was a goat (SMIRNOVA-BERNIAKOVICH 1965.105.). J.Böhm andjjankovich considered it a scene carried out in an animal style characteristic of Iranian art (BÖHM-JANKOVICH 1936.48.). Despite the fact that the zoological features of the animals shown on the plates cannot be properly identified, in all probability what we are seeing is a dying deer with its face turned upside and an elongated neck. The deer is shown being attacked by a cat like beast of prey. The clearest depiction is that of the head and the frontal part of the body of the deer with its bent feet. The head of the beast is not clear enough although its ear is adequately emphasized. Its legs are shown in an active, dynamic position and the tail is curled (Fig. 1). Among the small number of toreutic finds from Central Europe we have to mention the famous depictions of deer from Tápiószentmárton and Zöldhalompuszta (Hungary) as well as the famous cast from Garchinovo (Bulgaria) (FETTICH 1934.), and the golden treasure from Vettersfelde (present day Witaszkowo, Poland) (FURTWÄNGLER 1912.1.496-516.) should be mentioned. Among the outstanding finds in the Vettersfelde treasure there is a fish shaped fitting with a depiction of struggling animals. Besides the analogous composition, there is no stylistic relationship between this piece and the one from Kushtanovica. In addition, finds from Vettersfelde are dated to the end of the 6th - beginning of the 5th centuries B.C. By this timeperiod the influence of Greek art can already be felt in them. Given this comparison, the electron plates from Kushtanovica appear a bit older. There are no clear small details, no plant ornamentation of the sort employed by the craftsmen who made the Garchinovo cast or the electron shield mounts from Tápiószentmárton and Zöldhalompuszta. However they appear on the golden objects from Vettersfelde. According to researchers from the North Pontic region this feature in animal style art appeared at the end of the 6th century and dominated into the 5th century B.C. (MELIUKOVA 1989.102-103.). A thorough analysis of the plates from Kushtanovica will require special study. The aim of the present publication is to determine their age. We think that they originate from a time not later than the middle of the 6th century B.C. An iron dagger, found together with some primitive black potsherds by T.Lehoczky under the remains of a rock, at the foot of the fortified Hallstatt settlement of „Bogoslov" near the village of Ardanovo/Árdánháza. has been dated to the end of the 6th - 5th centuries B.C. (LEHOCZKY 1892.52.). The dagger is 32 cm long while the length of the blade itself is 22 cm and 2 cm wide. There is a prism shaped, segmental crossbar at it. The blade is sharp on both edges which are almost parallel. The middle part of the blade is slightly profiled (PI. XIV. 1). In 1893, the dagger from Ardanovo together with other Scythian type finds was published by J.Hampel (HAMPEL 1893.386.) and since that time researchers have considered that it belonged to Scythian daggers A Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 1997 83