Open Access“SIBERIAN SCYTHIA” IN THE WORKS OF WESTERN SCHOLARS. PART 1. 1913–1980S
Author(s) -
Archil S. Balakhvantsev
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
zapiski instituta istorii materialʹnoj kulʹtury ran
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2310-6557
DOI - 10.31600/2310-6557-2020-23-172-182
Subject(s) - german , china , history , chronology , style (visual arts) , balance (ability) , ancient history , ethnology , archaeology , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation
This article gives a general idea of the most significant scientific contacts and discussions between Western and Russian (Soviet) archaeologists about the era of early nomads: the origin of the “animal style”, the balance and interaction between the Scythian cultures of Siberia, Greater Black Sea area, Mongolia and Northern China, the chronology and ways of spreading of these cultures. Whereas Soviet scholars could at least read the works of their English-speaking and German-speaking colleagues, for most Western researchers the language barrier remained an insurmountable obstacle. Most authors of generalizing and popular works on “Scythias” had to use the publications of those few scientists who somehow knew the Russian language. This work is an attempt to fill to some extent this gap in the history of the study of archaeological cultures of Southern Siberia and Altai.