Eine Schrift der Reiternomaden im 1. Jt. v. Chr.? Bemerkungen zu den sogenannten skythischen Pfeilspitzen mit Markierungen zwischen Ostalpen, Ural und Anatolien

Abstract

a script of the equestrian nomads in the 1 st millennium Bc? remarks on the so-called Scythian arrowheads with markings between Eastern alps, urals and anatolia numerous studies are devoted to the distribution, chronology and historical interpretation of the so-called scythian arrowheads, which are known in the vast area between Central europe, eurasia and the near east. Less well known and researched so far is the occurrence of incised and cast signs that occur on the wings and sometimes the sockets of the two-and threewinged bronze arrowheads. While such signs on finds from the northern Pontic region and anatolia have been known for some time, their occurrence on arrowheads from eastern Central europe, more precisely on arrowheads from the fortified Hallstatt-settlement smolenice-molpír, belongs to the more recent discoveries. While initially only a very small number of pieces with incised signs have been discovered and made public, we can now say that their number and their variety are much larger. the finds from smolenice-molpír are now among the largest ensembles of arrowheads with incised signs, which are known to date. With a view to comparable finds, the question arises of the interpretation of these signs-is it possibly a sign system that was widespread in the mounted nomadic cultural circle and is to be addressed as writing? eInLeItung Im Jahr 2002 wurden im rahmen der materialaufnahme für eine magisterarbeit an der Freien universität Berlin im museum von trnava (slowakei) an einigen der sogenannten skythischen Pfeilspitzen aus der befestigten Höhensiedlung von smolenice-molpír in der südwestslowakei kleine eingeritzte Zeichen

Violent Raiding, Systematic Slaving, and Sweeping Depopulation? Re-Evaluating the Scythian Impact on Central Europe through the Lens of the Witaszkowo/Vettersfelde Hoard

“…127-34;Kossack 1987;Jaszewska and Kałagate 2011). Anja Hellmuth (Hellmuth 2006b(Hellmuth , 2010 has shown that the quiver assemblages of the attackers, while having a clear Carpathian component, also included arrows from the north Pontic steppes. Interestingly, an iron blade of what is likely to be a Scythian akinakeswas recovered from a cremation grave in the stronghold's cemetery (Bukowski 1977, p. 134), indicating that there may have been times of more peaceful interaction between the stronghold's elite and steppe horsemen before the final onslaught (Bukowski 1977, p. 136, no.…”

“…In the Carpathian Basin, the best-studied example of a fortification destroyed by Scythian raiding is a stronghold on a spur of the lesser Carpathian Mountains called Smolenice-Molpír in Western Slovakia (Stegmann-Rajtár 2005;Hellmuth 2006aHellmuth , 2006bMüller 2012). It was once thought to have been destroyed before the turn of the sixth century BCE (Parzinger and Stegmann-Rajtár 1988) and to have been the first Eastern Hallstatt stronghold to fall to a Scythian raid.…”

“…Evidence for this impressive 12 hectar large hillfort's destruction includes ca 400 trilobate arrows shot into easily accessible parts of the ramparts and gates and remains of human skeletons in burnt dwellings in its interior. Remarkably, this arrow assemblage includes points native to both the Carpathian and Pontic steppes as well as an Anatolian/Persian example (Hellmuth 2006b;Hellmuth Kramberger 2018;Herzhoff 2022). Finds of scales chopped off lamellar armor worn by the Scythian elite ( Čambal 2007) are a testimony to both the ferocity of the battle and the participation of pinnacle warriors in the heterogenous group of steppian archers sacking this protourban community.…”