I have the idea to discuss the phenomenon of Sintashta culture. There is the area near the South-Ural mountains (Russia), where Gening and Zdanovich (they are archeologists from Ekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk) found about 20 settlements of Bronze Age. They were dated 1700-1500 BC. The particular feature of these settlements is advanced system of fortification and defensive installations. Most famous among them are Sintashta (excavated by V.F.Gening) and Arcaim (excavated by G.S.Zdanovich). Russian pronouncation is [sintashtA:] and [arka:Im], Russian transliteration is Синташта and Аркаим.
The archeologists consider that it was indoarian culture, and it's population was withdrew by Petrovskaya culture's tribes in 250 years. By 1500 BC we can't find the traces of Sintashta culture.
The fortification system of Arcaim (may be it should be Arkaim)included two rounded walls, the moat and the system of false and hidden installations. From the bird's fly height Arcaim looks like two rounds of walls and the buildings. The trapezoid-shaped houses have their enters in the internal square, and there are secret enters in the back wall of buildings. These enters have a defensive goal, through them defenders of the town could attack their enemies from the back. There is also a lot of interesting material, I don't want to describe all these matters.
The scientists called the culture as "Protocity civilisation". The climate conditions of this area didn't provide the successful development of it; the agrarian skills of Sintashta population could not increase it's level. The nomads and less advanced tribes destroyed this culture.
Is the problem of the Sintashta researching in Europe? May be, there are some works about it. Or this matter is our (Russian) internal problem?
Best regards. Excuse my bad English.
Artemiy Danovskiy aka Sandtod del Khand
Moscow State University, Russia.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|