Mirrors of the Early Sarmatian Culture of the Lower Don Region

Abstract

The article discusses the classification and chronology of mirrors of the Lower Don Early Sarmatian culture of the 2nd – 1st centuries BC. In the Early Sarmatian culture of the Lower Don region of the 2nd – 1st centuries BC, large mirrors with a roller along the edge of the disk and a wedge-shaped handle-pin (department 2) and small mirrors in the form of a flat disk without a handle (department 1, type 2) are prevailing. Large mirrors with a roller along the edge of the disk and a wedge-shaped handle-pin (44.7%) gravitate towards monuments of the early stage, most of which are located in the eastern regions of the left bank. Mirrors in the form of a small flat disk without a handle (41.5%) are already known in the complexes of the early horizon of the Lower Don Early Sarmatian culture, but they become widespread later. At the final stage of the Early Sarmatian culture and in the Middle Sarmatian time, such mirrors completely prevail over mirrors of other forms. Other varieties of mirrors are represented by a small number of copies. Many mirrors were accompanied by the remnants of cases, one mirror had a stand. Most of the mirrors are found in female burials, much less – in male ones; with child’s bones, fragments of mirrors were found only twice. Most often, the mirrors were located close to the body of the buried, most often near the skull, shoulders, chest of the buried, sometimes on the body or under it. Most of the finds are fragments of mirrors, whole specimens are relatively few (only about 20%). Large fragments could be used for their intended purpose; small fragments probably served as amulets. Many mirrors are damaged – chopped, bent, broken, have traces of shock. It is believed to be the traces of some actions of a ritual-magical nature in order to free the soul of a thing or render the harmless of the deceased. It should be noted that in the funeral rites of the early Sarmatians, not only mirrors but also other categories of equipment – swords, knives, boilers, vessels, were subjected to mass ritual damage.