Скифский курган №7 у с. Пуркарь на Нижнем Днестре
A Scythian Barrow 7 near Purcari in the Lower Dniester

Summary/Abstract: Barrow 7 near Purcari was excavated in 2011. Three graves were investigated, one of them belonging to a medieval nomad, the other two graves are of Scythian origin. The main burial contained skeleton of a 30—35 years old male, extended on the back, with the head to the west. In the south-western part of burial chamber a Heraclea amphora with 2 iron spearheads and 2 javelins were placed. The attribution of the amphora is determined by a stamp of Eurydamos belonging to the so-called Early manufacturing group (5th c. — 90s of 4th c. BC). An Attic black-glazed saltcellar with concave walls was located near the right shoulder. An iron sword akinakes decorated in Animal Style was placed across the hips with the hilt at the left hand. The pommel extends on each side into two semi-abstract bird heads. Analogies for this akinakes are spread over a vast big territory from lower Danube to Southern Ural within a chronological span of 450—350 BC. A pair of anatomically shaped bronze greaves (cnemidae) were found on the legs. On the chest of the deceased, several fragments of iron plates were identified, which could represent the remains of a flat body armor made of leather covered with iron plates. Also, the burial yielded ca. 110 bronze arrowheads concentrated in different locations. So, the preliminary chronological analysis of the grave goods shows that the most convenient chronological framework of this grave is the late 5th c. BC.

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