TRADES OF THE MIDDLE DON POPULATION OF THE SCYTHIAN TIME
Abstract
The article analyzes archaeological data on hunting, fishing and gathering among the Middle Don population of the Scythian period (5th — early 3rd centuries BC). The materials under consideration come from 13 settlement sites of the Don forest-steppe. Among them are osteological collections, fishing tools, paleobotanical finds. The results of the study show that hunting was predominantly meat-oriented, but at some sites fur-bearing animals predominated. Among ungulates, the most popular hunting objects were wild boar and elk, and among fur-bearing species — fox, beaver and hare. In general, the low proportion of wild animal bones in osteological collections does not allow us to assign an important role to hunting in the life support system of the Middle Don tribes. Among fishing trophies, predatory fish were most common — catfish, pike and pike perch, finds of bones of fish of the carp family are also known. They were caught using hooks, spears or harpoons, and nets. Data on gathering among the population in question is still sporadic. At present, mollusk shells (mainly river pearl mussels), hazelnut shells, and prints of blackthorn and plum stones on ceramics are known at settlement sites. The harvesting analyzed in the article were not of great importance in the economy of the inhabitants of the Middle Don settlements and hillforts, but rather served as an additional source of food.
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References
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