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5. PLANTS IN LIFE OF THE POPULATION OF GONUR-DEPE (ANCIENT MARGIANA)

PLANTS IN LIFE OF THE POPULATION OF GONUR-DEPE (ANCIENT MARGIANA)

Sataeva Liliya

Bashkir State Agrarian University, Ufa, Russia

Sataeva Liliya, e-mail: lvsataeva@mail.ru.

Abstract

This research is devoted to results of the study of plant remains from excavations of a Bronze Age site Gonur-depe (Turkmenistan, Bactrian-Margiana Archaeological Complex or Oxus Civilization). Plants were widely used in both utilitarian and rituial purposes. Agriculture was developed in the settlement. Several kinds of wheat, barley, millet, legumes, fruit trees, grapes were cultivated. Saxaul, arboresced thistle, tamarisk, djuzgun, and camel-thorn were used as fuel. Poplar (Populus sp.) and willow (Salix sp.) were used in the buildings structures (beams in the palace, roofs of the external walls of the Kremlin). Some types of wood were brought from afar, and used for making of the artifacts: maple, elm, sumac or smoke tree (Cotinus corrygria), Vitex sacred (Vítex agnus-castus) and others. Plants theme is often found in cult things (pottery, seals, amulets, mosaics). Different images of the “world tree” were found. Among the finds, there is a unique figure of “the goddess of vegetation” with accurately executed ears of wheat. On the seals and amulets floral images which can be interpreted as “tulip”, “poppy”, “cannabis” are seenb. Furthermore, large vats and baths for pre-soaking plants, stone graters, pestles, mortars and strainers (conical vessels with holes in the center of the bottom) were found. It is assumed that they could be used for making a ritual drink – like Soma – Haoma.

Keywords

archaeobotanical researches, Oxus Civilization, Gonur-depe, Bronze Age

Цит.: Sataeva Liliya PLANTS IN LIFE OF THE POPULATION OF GONUR-DEPE (ANCIENT MARGIANA) // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2014; 3/2014; с. 109-109