Luksuzni brusevi u bronzanom i željeznom dobu Evroazije
Luxury Whetstones in the Bronze and Iron Ages of Eurasia

Summary/Abstract: This paper discusses the research conducted so far on the oblong stone whetstones with a perforation for hanging, with a particular focus on the question of their interpretation. A distinction is made between the simple, utilitarian variants of this type of whetstone and the luxury, ceremonial forms, which are the main subject of this discussion. The luxury forms most frequently occur as offerings in graves, in association with metal weapons, which, in addition to their utilitarian purpose, highlights their symbolic role as a warrior’s emblem. It is established that the appearance of these whetstones can be dated to the first half of the fourth millennium BC in the region of the North Caucasus, and that it is coeval with the appearance of the first daggers made of arsenic bronze. The further development of the whetstones, during the third and second millennium BC, took place mainly in the territory of Mesopotamia and western Iran. At this time, these tools occurred only sporadically in central and western Europe. It was not before the first millennium BC that their presence in these areas increased, in connection with the so-called Cimmerian invasion that started off from the region north of the Caucasus and reached Pannonia and eventually central Europe. The final appearance of the luxury whetstones is connected with the Scythians and their expansion across the steppe regions of Eastern Europe.

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