Typology of sapalli culture figurines
Keywords:
archaeology, Sapalli culture, Bronze Age, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines, Central Asia, Ancient Near East, clay, terracotta, marlAbstract
The Sapalli culture emerged in the territory of southern Uzbekistan during the Late Bronze Age (2200–1300 BC) and occupies an important place in the Bronze Age cultural processes of Central Asia. Elements of material culture associated with this culture – residential architecture, economic traditions, metalwork and especially terracotta figurines – constitute essential sources for studying the religious, spiritual and artistic beliefs of this society. Most figurines found at Sapalli culture sites were made of raw clay, a smaller number are of terracotta and only a single figurine was produced from stone. The figurines were handmade and sun-dried. Terracotta and stone figurines of the Sapalli culture originate from the sites of Sapallitepe, Djarkutan and Buston VI. Morphologically, they are classified into anthropomorphic (seated, standing and bust-shaped forms) and zoomorphic (whole-animal figures and animal heads). All clay figurines are rendered in a schematic, simplified manner, whereas the single stone zoomorphic figurine is distinguished by its clearly defined, realistic form. This article deals with 57 anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines of the Sapalli culture, their morphological typology, iconography and semantics.
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