The waterfowl image in the art of the Neo-Eneolithic population of the Urals

Abstract

The first generalizing work on waterfowl images in Neolithic art was presented by N.N. Gurina in 1972. Based on numerous findings the author defines their chronology and distribution area, characterizes the features of images and offers reconstruction of the overall picture of the world. At the same time Ural is the easternmost distribution area of waterfowl images marked by only a few finds. Nowadays the situation presented by N.N. Gurina has changed a lot. On the territory of Ural dozens of Neolithic and Eneolithic sculptural images of waterfowls made of stone, clay, bone, horn and wood were discovered. Even more known are the engraved images of birds on ceramic vessels. Practically all those vessels belong to the Eneolithic time. According to the Ural archeologists the image of the bird appeared in different symbolic meanings: the bird was considered to be the main character in the creation of the world; it could have been demiurge, ancestor and progenitor of the genus; the bird is associated with the development of craft cult; it could reflect the calendar symbols. The assumption of N.N. Gurina that the area of distribution of waterfowl images coincides with the area of residence of the population of the Finno-Ugric language group is confirmed.