О формировании раннескифской культуры на Среднем Днестре
On the Formation of the Early Scythian Culture on the Middle Dniester Region

Summary/Abstract: The ethnocultural situation in the Middle Dniester region at the beginning of the Scythian period suffered noticeable changes. In the Pre-Scythian period, the region was the borderland of the Central European and Northern Black Sea cultural zones, represented by the Gáva-Holigrady and Late Chernoles — Zhabotin cultures, and in the northeast — the population of Vysotska culture. At the beginning of the Scythian period, the Zhabotin tribes begin to move towards the west, as a result of which the Holigrady sites in the North-Eastern Carpathian region cease to exist. At the same time, the new dominant ethnos starts using products of Scythian types in large quantities: weapons, bridles, items manufactured in the animal style. Changes occur in the ceramic tableware assemblage. The presence of Scythian types of mirrors on the Middle Dniester and cauldrons is indicative. It can be assumed that the basis of the population of the West-Podolian group was the local forest-steppe population. However, the Iranian-speaking Scythian nomads, who could have dynastic relations with the local nobility, penetrated into the region. As a result, a syncretic cultural assemblage was formed, which was reflected in a diverse funerary rite and material culture.

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