Культовый комплекс хазарского времени на р.Сухой Торец: Опыт междисциплинарного исследования

Abstract

The system approach to an interdisciplinary investigation that integrates archaeology, astronomy and geodesy enabled us to come to the following conclusions: The structure of the object under investigation could be represented as consisting of two levels. The first “inner” level constitutes the archaeological site as an original, complex and at the same time rather strictly organized system of characteristics and interrelations. The second “outer” level constitutes the site as a distinctive polysemantic attribute of the culture - a sacral centre of the universe. Polysemantic character of the cult complex shows itself in the following: 1) it served sort of an object-calendar having certain seasonal meanings; 2) the people who had created the complex considered it to be the model of universe: 3) it was an integral part of their funeral customs and rites. The latter characteristics are corroborated by the fact that the barrow was “inserted” in the chain of 10 earlier funeral mounds of other cultures. It suggest that the attempts of the people, who created the barrow under investigation, to secure the territory “ideologically” are evidence of recognizing all the barows to be though ancient but integral part of their own culture going back to their legendary ancestors.