On the Series of Stone Slabs with Sarmatian Tamga Signs in Odessa Archaeological Museum

Abstract

The analysis of 4 stone slabs with a series of Sarmatian tamgas is based on a series of new detailed photos and on the interpretation of influence of geological factors on the modern appearance of the slabs. The Sarmatian slabs from Olbia and Krivoi Rog were installed vertically, probably on top of the hills. Later these steles were tipped face up and covered with earth, which may be due to meteorological magic. The peasants who found them later worshipped them. In Olbia depicts the scene of the conclusion of the union, where 4 hands hold different vessels and are accompanied by tamgas. In the center is tamga 6, associated with Crimean Sarmatians. Here are the signs of clans of Crimea and DonBasin, which were depicted in two stages. In Krivoi Rog 50 tamgas of 46 types are engraved around the head of the Master of Animals, which were applied for about 3 centuries. The earliest signs are associated with the Kuban and Crimea. Since the middle of the 1st c. CE, the tamgas of influential groups of Western Ukraine and the Lower Don and the barbarians of the Crimea predominate, since the middle of the 2nd c. CE the signs of the Lower Don are the most frequent. It the center there are two important signs of the 2nd c. CE (Khorezmian king Artaw and co-ruler of the Bosporan Eupator), the analogies to the signs of Kangju and Khorezm. On the slab from Tanais of 236 CE there are 5 signs of local Sarmatians. On the slab from Tanais of 192 CE a large tamga of a local clan is important, it connected with the elite of Xiongnu later with Sogdia and Chach of the period of Hunnic rule.