Жертвоприношения животных в Северном Причерноморье в сарматскую эпоху

Вестник древней истории. 2025. Т. 85. № 2. С. 378–411.

Mordvintseva V.

A comparative analysis of the remains of sacrificial animals found in the North Pontic
region makes it possible to identify different local patterns in the cultic sphere, which can
be preliminarily identified as representing ‘nomadic’ and ‘agricultural’ ideologies. In some
cases, we observe the emergence of the ‘nomadic’ pattern on the new territories (e.g., the
Right Bank of the Kuban in the third century BC, and the Lower Dnieper in the first century
AD). In other cases, the ‘nomadic’ pattern disappeared (the Right Bank of the Kuban in
the first century AD) or has been replaced by the ‘agricultural’ one (e.g. Crimea in the third
century BC, the Don Delta in the first century AD). These changes could occur both under
the influence of climatic factors and as a result of political events, for example, due to the
new political actors, involvement of local elites in new alliances and new economic activities.

Keywords: Северное Причерноморье, North Pontic region, постпогребальные обряды, жертвоприношения животных, сарматская эпоха, Sarmatian era, burial rites, animal sacrifices