ДО ПРОБЛЕМИ МЕТАЛОВИРОБНИЦТВА КУЛЬТУРИ БАБИНЕ

Abstract

At present time among scientists, there is no uniform point of view on а problem of manufacture of bronze at tribes of Babino culture. Some authors connect the metallurgy and metalworking of Babino culture with ore sources and traditions of the Caucasus. Other researchers consider, that their manufacture of metal was guided Ьу copper ores of Bakhmut hollow. Condition of sources yet does not allow carrying out complex research of this problem. Therefore we were limited to the analysis only one however most investigated and а representative source- materials of burial grounds. Among more than 2000 burials of Babino cultural circle only aЬout 70 burials contained bronze products. However, into the structure of stock of these burial places entered about 1 ОО subjects from metal or with metal details. Mapping burials with metal shows, that the most part (85 %) of them is concentrated in the region between the Azov Sea, Dnepr and Severski Donets rivers. In the specified region are known rare burials of Babino culture in which there were tools of metallurgical manufacture. It is remarkable, that almost in the centre of а congestion of Babino monuments containing metal products, there are deposits of copper Bakhmut and Kalmius-Torets hollows. Such a situation, most likely, is not casual. It proves to Ье true that a similar picture, with some features, is observed in the catacomb and timber-grave cultures of the researched region. For example, in the zone of Bakhmut hollow and in adjacent areas of the Donetsk range so-called burials of metallurgists of catacomb culture are concentrated. Also here high densities of metal products in burials of catacomb culture are marked. The last feature is characteristic also for local timber-grave culture to which authentically possesses Bakhmut copper mines. The above-stated facts allow predicting the opening of direct certificates of operation of Bakhmut copper mines Ьу the population of catacomb and Babino cultures. It is remarkable, that the area of distribution of bronze subjects in burial grounds is in an area of eastern (Dnepr-Don) cultural group Babino. It is necessary to emphasize also, hundred greatest amount of metal is concentrated in monuments of the (early) chronological horizon of Babino culture. It is evidently visible on maps (fig. 1 and 2): the area of concentration of metal almost coincides with teпitory that was occupied with Babino culture during the formation and an early stage. Probably, such concuпence is not casual. In fact, such known cultural centres as the Caucasus, Carpathians-Danube and Southam Ural, confirm, that the development of the manufacture of metal (metallurgy and metalworking) is the important factor of the genesis of cultures.