The Wooden Bowl in the Pastoralists’ Culture of the Zrubna/Timber-Grave Entity

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of the burial of the Zrubna/Timber-Grave entity (Late Bronze Age) from the mound near the village of Komyshuvate in the North Azov Area in the south of Donetsk Region of Ukraine. The article deals with issues related to some peculiarities of the material and spiritual culture of the ancient population of the Azov steppes, their social organization and funeral rites. Wooden utensils are a fairly rare category of funeral implements of the Bronze Age in Eastern Europe, which are fixed in the tombs by metallic elements. The analysis of the remains of a wooden vessel studied in the burial allowed us to make some observations on the technology of manufacturing this category of funerary equipment. This allowed us to approach the problem of social reconstruction. The presence of a wooden bowl with a metal figured enclosure in the burial is considered by the authors as a status sign marking the persons involved in ritual activities. The purpose and use of the application-decorated bowls had more than regular domestic significance.