Псалии Центральной и Южной Европы от Оарца де Сус и Микен до Бабадага: археологические контексты
Cheek-pieces of Central and Southern Europe from Oarţa de Sus and Mycenae to Babadag: archaeological contexts

Summary/Abstract: The ritual use of the cheek-pieces (made of horn, bone and bronze which are typologically close to them) in the cultures of Central and Southern Europe of BA2-HB3 periods has been considered in the paper. The authors have proved that in the course of various ceremonial procedures cheek-pieces could be placed in graves, buildings, pits, which were located outside of build- ings, ash-pits, treasures, etc. It should be noted that two of cheek-pieces often became simultaneous attributes of rites. Worn-out and broken parts of a horse bridle were often included in the context of a ceremony. Perhaps some of the found cheek-pieces had been intentionally damaged during the ceremonies. In some complexes, weapons were found beside cheek-pieces, but in most cases they were not. Thus, a horse bridle is not an exclusive attribute of warriors. In some periods, a surge of the ritual use of cheek-pieces is observed (BA2, BB1, BD, HA1). The paper also highlights the similarities and differences in the ritual use of the cheek-pieces in the cultures of Central and Southern Europe, on the one hand, and in the cultures of the Eurasian steppe and forest steppe, on the other.

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