Correlations Between Weapon Placement in Burials of the Donetsk-Don Catacomb Culture and Iconographic Sources of the Bronze Age

Abstract

The burials of the Catacomb cultural circle stand out from those of other Bronze Age cultures due to the “richness” of their grave goods. This reflects stable and complex beliefs about the afterlife. However, the significance of the spatial placement of these items remains unclear, as clear patterns are difficult to identify. Weapons are a rare component of grave inventories, suggesting that their placement followed specific customs.
Bronze Age anthropomorphic stelae serve as a unique and valuable source for understanding ancient societies, underscoring the relevance of this study. This article explores the spatial correlation between depictions of weapons on anthropomorphic stelae and their occurrence in the burials of the Donetsk-Don variant of the Catacomb culture. The aim is to assess the significance of weapon placement in funerary practices.
Given that anthropomorphic stelae are generally interpreted as representations of living individuals, and that a correlation has been identified between the positioning of weapons on stelae and in graves, it can be inferred that weapons were usually placed where they were worn or used in life. Particular attention is paid to depictions of weapons in “atypical” positions on the stelae, especially in a horizontal position at chest level, where practical use seems unlikely. These cases are primarily associated with valuable weapons, such as bows.
Interestingly, similar placements are found in burials, where bows are sometimes positioned horizontally above the head. While the design of stelae does not permit depictions above the head, this spatial symbolism could be fully realised in the ritual context of burial. Such cases may reflect a practice in which the bow, as a rare and valuable weapon, was offered to the gods as a votive gift from the deceased warrior.