Reconstruction and Interpretation of the Belt Set from the Barrow № 3 of the Burial Ground Karban-2 (North Altai)

• Published in: Povolžskaâ arheologiâ Vol. 1; no. 43; pp. 182 - 194
• Main Authors: Golovchenko, Nikolay N., Demin, Mikhail A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan, A.Kh. Khalikov Archaeology Institute 29.03.2023
• Subjects: altai; archaeology; belt set; pazyryk culture; the early iron age; zoomorphic ornament
• ISSN: 2306-4099; 2500-2856
• DOI: 10.24852/pa2023.1.43.182.194

The article deals with the analysis and interpretation of the original belt set, found during the study of the only barrow № 3of the burial ground Karban-2 (North Altai). Different elements are revealed in the belt set composition: local (buckles made of antler), Pazyryk and imported (butterfly-like buckles, spike - tool for weaving). The reconstruction of wolf-like predator image, made on fragmentary antler buckles, is represented. The functional and stylistic reconstruction of the complicated multifigured desing of a belt is made. The authors make a conclusion that the decor of the Pazyryk people’s military belts was used to emphasize vital status of the owner and to be a part of barbar luxury, to show the definite mythological concepts of military aristocracy. Karban belt set included the elements with the image of a mythical and realistic wolf-like predator and also of a schematized griffin. It completely corresponds to the modern understanding of the “Pazyryk style”. The presented in the belt decor pictures are ambivalent images, so the understanding the definite meaning of them in the world outlook system of the Pazyryk people is unfortunatelly unavailbale to modern specialists.