Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 53 (1) 2025   doi:10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.1.083-089

Annotation:  The Peopling of Uzbekistan by Homo sapiens denisovan Microblade Production in the Sukhotino-4 Industry, Eastern Transbaikalia Masks and Sculptured Human Heads in Early Neolithic Complexes of Northern Mesopotamia Shell of Tritia nitida Sea Snail from a Neolithic Burial at the Ust-Aleyka-5 Flat Burial Ground, Bar A Neolithic Burial in the Northern Upper Ob Basin A Study of Seima-Turbino Bronze Artifacts Discovered in China Metal Production of Andronovo Communities and Farmers of Central Asia and Iran: Stages of Developme Antimony Ornaments, Votive and Ritual Items of the Koban Culture in the Caucasus as a Historical So Burial of a Warrior in the Pazyryk Mound at Khankharinsky Dol, Altai A Tes Stage Mound-Vault at Skalnaya-5, Khakassia “Angular” and “Trestle” Forts in 17th to Early 18th Century Russia Ritual Structures in the Volga and Ural Regions, Based on Findings of the Peter Simon Pallas Expedit A Relative in Bearskin: The Bear in Lower Amur Folk Beliefs Reminiscences of Traditional Prayer Rituals in Modern Udmurt Culture Digital Forensic Analysis of Tooth Wear in Prehistoric and Modern Humans   

Antimony Ornaments, Votive and Ritual Items of the Koban Culture in the Caucasus as a Historical Source

V.T. Chshiev¹, T.T. Magkoev², I.V. Tvauri², and B.A. Totoeva²

¹1nstitute of History and Archaeology of the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, Vatutina 46, Vladikavkaz, 362025, Russia

²Khetagurov North Ossetian State University, Vatutina 44-46, Vladikavkaz, 362025, Russia

Archaeological excavations carried out in the Republic of North Ossetia - Alania over the past 15 years have yielded numerous artifacts associated with the Proto-Koban (15th/14th to early 12th century BC) and “classic” Koban culture (9th-8th centuries BC). Here, we analyze antimony artifacts from the cemeteries of Adaidon, dating to the Proto-Koban stage, and Elkhotovo, representing “classic” Koban. The analysis of composition of the metal revealed the recipes used by ancient craftsmen for manufacturing weapons, ornaments, and votive items. Antimony ornaments from Elkhotovo suggest that this substance was used not only in the Middle and the beginning of the Late Bronze Age in the Caucasian highlands, but also much later in the piedmont zone of the region. The study of certain bronze artifacts from Adaidon suggests that to make ornaments and votive items more attractive, antimony in the amount of 4.5-5.0 % was added. As a result, they acquired a light-golden color and luster.

Keywords: Bronze and Early Iron Ages, Caucasus, Koban culture, antimony ornaments and insignia, metal composition of artifacts, antimony deposits in the Caucasus, Adaidon and Elkhotovo cemeteries