EARRING IN THE SHAPE OF A RING WITH UNLINKED ENDS AND SUSPENDED TRIANGLES FROM MINGECHAUR

Abstract

Earring in the shape of a ring with unlinked ends and suspended granulated triangles were found in earth pit graves of Mingechaur. These graves are dated by the VII-IV centuries BCE. According to the point of view of researchers these objects originate form the female burials. Cone shaped granulated earrings were widespread in the cultures of Tuva and Altai of the Early Scythian period (VIII VII centuries BC). K.V.Chugunov believes that these earrings originate in the eastern part of the Scythian world and later starts their movement to the West. All of the earrings under research, from Altai, Tuva and MIngechaur, were produced using granulation technique. Cone shaped granulated earrings were found in the Arzhan 2 burial mound. In one set with them archaeologists found rings, with the depictions of triangles, which were made using granulation technique. This evidence leads to the conclusion that in the culture of the Scythians the triangle and cone had similar semiotic meanings. According to Ariel Golan in the Ancient World the triangle symbolized woman and Heavenly Goddess. On the cone shaped earrings of Tuva and Altai of the Early Scythian period there are depictions of a comma shaped ornament (buta ornament). It is identical in shape to the trace of a female reindeer. The presented data indicate that the earrings under research symbolized the goddess of the Scythians.