Some notes on the tamga-signs of Sarmatians and their neighbors

The prototypes of Sarmatian mirrors-pendants with tamgas known in the 2nd - 1st centuries BCE around Balkhash Lake, Kazakhstan. There are also late Tagar subjects in art and also tamgas of future rulers of more western territories. In the Tagar Great Salbyk Barrow tamgas of late time, similar to Sarmatian ones, were depicted in narrow stripes along the edges. In the late period of use of Bayte III temple the signs of the Lower Don and the “Barbarian” Crimea predominate among the Sarmatian regional tamgas in the 1st - early 2nd cc. CE when trade was most intense. The rituals over the stele with tamgas in Minguriuk are interesting. On the horse harness and belts of the Roman officers of the 2nd quarter - middle 2nd c. CE the tamgas belong to the Middle Sarmatian culture and represent the strongest groups (Aorsia in the west of Ukraine and Alania on the Lower Don). These signs on spectacular trophies become the part of “Sarmatian fashion” for cavalry, along with the military equipment of nomads. The single important finds with tamgas associated with Olbia and Panticapaeum are analyzed also.