The role of the bear in the life cycle of the carriers of the bronze age cultures (based on Western Siberian archaeological evidence)

This article identifies the categories offinds associated with bear (Ursus arctos L.) in archaeological collections from Western Siberian sites and establishes the role of this animal for the peoples living in this region in the Early-Developed Metal Age and in the transitional period. Two aspects are analyzed: everyday hunting aspect, and sacred aspect revealing magical, sacrificial, and possibly zoolatric cults associated with bears. The presence of osteological bear remains in the evidence from the settlements indicates that bears were hunted in ancient times, but to much lesser degree than other animals. This could have been caused by ideological reasons, which is confirmed by the presence of bear bones in osteological collections of Siberian ritual (sacrificial) complexes, also revealing the above correlation in the share of bones with bear bones fewer in number than bones of other sacrificial animals. The image of the bear appears in small sculpture and artifacts of the Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, and Middle Ages, revealing a special attitude towards this animal. The development and transformation of bear image have been observed in the art of the indigenous population of Siberia from antiquity to the ethnographic present, indicating stability of irrational views on this animal and its important role in the worldview of traditional societies.