Tiny figurines that were placed to ward off evil spirits or used as rattle toys were found in a 4,500-year-old baby grave in the Minusinsk basin in Russia.

The baby lived 4,500 years ago and was buried with 8 intricately carved figurines in a birch cradle. The boy also wore a headdress made of 11 copper sheets sewn together. (Image: Yury Esin)

The mezat was found on the northwestern shore of Lake Itkul in the Minusinsk basin. The child’s remains, found in a birch bark cradle, indicate that he was less than 1 year old when he died.

“Eight miniature figurines made of antlers were found on the baby’s chest, displaying human-like features and the head of a bird, a deer, a pig and a carnivore,” said study authors Andrey Polyakov from the Institute for the History of Material Culture in St Petersburg and Yury Esin from the Khakassian Institute of Language, History and Literature.

The intricately carved figurines were most likely made of deer antler and had traces of red paint on them. Polyakov and Esin say, “Some of the figurines have gaps inside them. When they touch each other, they can make loud sounds like modern rattles.” Researchers say the figurines will somehow be attached to the cradle. The figurines could have been toys.

Besides, these figurines could also be protecting the baby from evil forces. “In traditional cultures, many apotropaic (protective against evil) talismans are a necessary element of crib decoration,” say Polyakov and Esin. However, archaeologists still cannot rule out the possibility that the figurines “have nothing to do with the cradle.”

“The figurines may have spoken to the grave, unrelated to the cradle, just to ensure the child’s successful transition to the afterlife,” the researchers add.

This figurine, with a human-looking head and animal ears, was found in the tomb. The figurine may represent a god who protects the baby from evil forces. (Image: Andrey Polyakov)
Baby’s Headgear
The baby in the grave also had an interesting headdress on his head. The child’s face was turned towards the southwest. Eleven small copper plates were found in the skull. 10 of these plates consisted of oval copper plates with a width of less than 1.5 cm.

Each of the boards had two fastening holes. The plates were connected to each other by inserting thin leather ties into these holes. The cap could then be placed on the child’s head. Remains of leather bindings were also discovered inside the tomb. One of the plaques that rested atop the boy’s headdress was made of two metallic cones sewn together.

“These were most likely decorations on the child’s headdress or skullcap,” say Polyakov and Esin. Archaeologists report that an earring was also found on the left side of the child’s skull.

An elk deer head figure was also found next to the baby’s remains. (Image: Andrey Polyakov)
Okunev Culture
The baby was buried in a cairn, or tumulus, with several other people. The people buried in this tumulus belonged to a culture that modern archaeologists call the Okunev culture.

“Although writing had not yet spread to this region at this date, the Okunev people specialized in copper processing and bronze production. They were casting knives, daggers, spearheads, axes, fishing rods, and other tools and ornaments from this material. Apart from metal, these people also continued to use tools made of stone and bone,” Esin told LiveScience. he says. “The people buried in this kurgan were early shepherds.

“There are images of horses, carts, and domesticated animals, especially bulls, in Okunev rock art,” says Esin. Okunev people may have worshiped half-human, half-animal gods with human faces. Esin says, “In my opinion, the anthropomorphic (human-shaped) images in Okunev art may represent gods. “During this period, people in the Minusinsk basin had a very complex mythology and rituals,” he says.

“Evil-Thwarting ‘Rattles’ Found in Prehistoric Infant’s Grave”. Live Science contributor Owen Jarus, Live Science, 21 December 2015. 

Bottom Line: It needs to be explained to archaeologists and history researchers that a Kami who had no sons to pass on, left the bounties he used while living in his own grave and that of his in-laws. Readers should know very well that “dozens of cultures” have been named in Asia, including the “Okunev” culture, and related to the period of the findings unearthed in each excavation, and all of them have common characteristics.

It is clear that these cultures, with their lifestyle, bedezes, sculptures, tamgas and all the findings, do not signify anything other than Turkish culture and its connections today. Among the findings you see above, there is the head of an eagle, which we call the Scythian-Kun eagle, and the statue of a Kam, depicted as prosperous, wearing the skull and skin of a wolf or a similar creature on his head. – Kürşad BAYTOK

Source: http://arkeofili.com/?p=10030