The Andronovo age women's costume, based on finds from Maytan, Central Kazakhstan

This article describes burials of women at a Middle Bronze Age cemetery of Maytan-the only completely excavated Andronovo burial ground in the steppes of central Kazakhstan. On the basis of the location of ornaments in burials, an attempt is made to reconstruct details of costume with regard to age groups. The composition and arrangement of the individual elements of the costume indicate several decoration areas such as head; neck and chest; hands and feet. Exceptional areas are accessories (bags and boxes), belt, and lap of dress. Most ornaments mark the age category of women. There are two age groups: girls and adult women. Though many graves have been looted, a tentative reconstruction of the costume with regard to these groups is possible. Such a reconstruction is relevant to cultural tradition, ideas of beauty, and social status.