Wooden vessel from woman burial 1 of Ak-Alakha-3 burial mound

The article presents new analytical data on a unique wooden vessel - a mug from the burial of a woman in burial mound 1 at Ak-Alakha burial ground 3. The vessel was made of burl of a coniferous tree - either spruce, or larch, or pine. Processing of hard burlwood with hand tools is difficult, but the difficulties are redeemed by the unique and diverse wood texture pattern and durability. Chemical analysis of the substance in the vessel caverns has shown residues of animal fats. It is assumed that the vessel was used for stirring dairy products with the help of the whisk that was found inside the vessel. The Pazyryk people herded horses and small cattle. Therefore, the vessel was most likely used for stirring sheep milk (cream). It is known that the biological and nutritional value of sheep milk is higher than that of cow’s milk and regarded a therapeutic agent. The carved handle shows two three-dimensional figures of snow leopards in the so-called heraldic pose. The unusual position of the front paws of the animals lifted up to the muzzle is typical for Felidae. All cats hold their paws in this way when licking. The image of leopards licking their paws on a mug used as containers of fatty milk product is symbolic and witty. This product reflects the personality of its owner. In the Pazyryk culture, mugs and ladles made of burl and Siberian pine were the typical personal utensils of each Pazyrykian. These items often bear traces of repairing with the help of horn or metal plates that testifies to their long use and careful attitude. Wooden vessels had both utilitarian purpose and sacral meaning. Utensils were considered sacred during ritual actions.