The stone finial-disc from the late mesolithic layer at Beregovaya II in the Middle Transurals region

The excavations at the Beregovaya II site in the Gorbunovo peat-bog in the Transurals yielded a perforated end-piece disc made from talc chlorite rock. The face side of the disc features a protruding nose made by rough grinding, whereas the brows, the moustache and the beard of the human-like mask are rendered by engraving. There is a shaft-hole in the center where there should be the mouth. Totally four large perforated discs referred by researchers to the Bronze Age and interpreted as calendar discs that are known in the Transurals region. The distinguishing features of this finial-disc suggest that, most likely, it was a part of a ceremonial weapon such as a macehead. The find of this artifact in the clear stratigraphic context of the Late Mesolithic occupation layer at Beregovaya II and similarity between some parts of the anthropomorphic human-like mask on the disk and the face of the Big Shigir idol is an evidence that such discs were used in the Middle Transurals much earlier.