Cult places of the Scythian era on the Muravsky road near the Uda river («random» finds near the village of Bessonovka, Belgorod region)

Aim. To introduce into scientific circulation a series of unique antiquities of the Scythian era, found accidentally in the area where in ancient times nomadic routes passed in the meridional and latitudinal directions. To examine these finds in the context of geographical, historical and cultural topography.

Methodology. The article describes in detail the locations and conditions of the finds of three Scyth ian blades, one spearhead and two bronze cast cauldrons from the 6th–4th centuries BC. A compara tive, stylistic and technological analysis of the published objects is carried out and their historical and cultural attribution is given.

Results. Against the background of the analysis of the historical topography of the region, the link ing of the finds to the ancient routes of nomad movement allows the authors to argue that the finds in question are not accidental. They are associated with places where ritual actions of a religious and memorial nature were carried out and were left by the Scythians not by chance at the heights in forested areas, which, most likely, were considered by them as cult places where ritual actions were performed during campaigns. As a result of these actions, sacredly significant things were left by the nomads outside traditional archaeological complexes (settlements, burials), which were ac cidentally found by modern residents of the village of Bessonovka and the farmsteads of Ugrim in the Belgorod region.

Research implications. Since such finds of Scythian weapons, horse equipment, ritual objects and vessels are widespread throughout the entire contact zone of the steppes and forests of Eurasia, the authors suggest paying more attention to the so-called “random” finds, which are most likely associated with ritual actions of the Scythians in specially selected sacred places. This allows us to more adequately use archaeological materials to reconstruct the cultural and spiritual life of not only nomads, but also representatives of the sedentary population of Eurasia during the Scythian era.

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