On zoomorphic image from Kindinskoye II ancient settlement

The flat zoomorphic cast artifact discovered at Kindinskoye II ancient settlementdates from the Early Kulay stage. Early Kulay flat zoomorphic products are characterized by a flat one-sided openwork castingtechnique and stylization of images. Among the most common images of ungulates are those of elk, less frequently - of deer. All imagesof elks and deers are profiled, openwork, with a disproportionately large head. The bodies have either a "skeleton" structure or areshown by a single line. The mouth of animals, in most cases, is wide open and is shown by a deep notch along the contour. The eyes areshown by a through hole. Apart from zoomorphic castings the traces of ferrous metalworking were found in the studied settlement:fragments of crucibles, funnel of bronze artifact, splashes and ingot of bronze. On this basis we can conclude that the studied article wasmoulded by a local craftsman. At the same time, there is no consensus about the species of the illustrated animal among researchers. Forexample, some of them see in this artifact a sample of Scythian-Siberian bronze sculpture with its characteristic rounded composition.The others see the animal in a stop position. A lack of clarity in the identification of the illustrated animal species leaves this piece ofwork beyond the current classification schemes of Early Kulay bronze casting. In our opinion, the article is a schematic representation ofan ungulate in profile and has large curved horns and a disproportionately large head. The head is displayed in the traditional EarlyKulay manner - with its mouth open, eyes indicated by a round hole. According to all external characteristics of the species the itemcaptures the figure of a mountain goat Capra ibex sibirica. The image of a mountain goat is not typical for Kulay pictorial tradition. Atthe same time in the materials of the circle of Scythian-Siberian cultures - the Tagar and the Pazyryk - this image occurs quite often.The syncretic complexes containing the signs of neighbouring cultural types are distinguished in the contact zones of archaeologicalcultures. Such complexes are not numerous and are characterized by more pronounced signs of the dominant cultural tradition. Theconsidered artifact combines the features of Early Kulay and Scythian-Siberian pictorial traditions. The closest analogies are found inthe materials of the Scythian-Siberian circle cultures - the Tagar and the Pazyryk. This image is an evidence of the interaction ofdifferent but close in the religious and mythological aspects cultural traditions reinforced by trade and exchange relations.

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