About the new classification of deer stones

The researchers have reached a consensus that the deer stones left by the owners of khirigsuur and deer stone culture during the Bronze Age on the territory of Mongolia were erected in dedication for human in terms of purpose. However, no consensus has been reached to date among researchers in terms of dating and classification. In this article, I propose a new postulation to classify the deer stones into two categories, including the deer stones dedicated for men and the deer stones dedicated to women. Previous researchers have often classified deer stone statues based on differences in appearance, but in this article when writing about the deer stone statue clearly shows to me the gender differences of the person to whom it is dedicated. Some researchers believe that the depictions on the stone statues of deer stones are not based on gender differences, but on facial expressions, necklaces, belts, images, weapons, deer, moose, ungulates and wild animal predators. However, some scientists do not equate to the statues of deer stones statues stone women and consider them subhuman statues image. Although some researchers have classified deer stones the same type of classification as previous researchers, some forms were considered subclasses within the main classification. This is because the subclass considers other additional images depicted on the deer statues as a special class. Deer stones are one of the most interesting and still largely mysterious types of archaeological sites that have become a kind of symbol of the ancient culture of Mongolia and Central Asia. Deer stones are located on the territory of Mongolia and a large region of Altai Mountain and Khangai Mountain, also Mountain Sayan-Altai, Tuva and Transbaikalia. These archaeological cultures Deer stones with khirigsuur have a number of characteristic natural features, which largely determined the paths of the historical development of its population and that special role in world history.

Deer stone, khirigsuur, bronze weapon, classification, purpose of utilization, man, woman, rank, worship rite, sacrifice, funeral sacrificial rite

1. Allard F., Erdenebaatar D. (2005) Khirigsuurs, ritual and mobility in the Bronze Age Mongolia: ANTIQUTY. Vol. 79. P. 70-83. (In Engl.)

2. Bayar D. (1955) About some deer statues newly discovered in Mongol Altai. Arkheologiin sudlal = Archaeological Research. Ulan-Bator. Vol. XV. Fasc. 15. (In Mong.)

3. Bayarsaikhan Zh. (2017) Deer statue in northern Mongolia. Ulan-Bator: Interpress. 323 p. (In Mong.)

4. Volkov V.V. (1981) Deer stones of Mongolia. Ulan-Bator. 254 p. (In Russ.)

5. Kovalev A.A. (1986) About the "culture of deer stones". Istoriya i kul'tura Vostochnoi i Yugo-Vostochnoi Azii = History and culture of East and Southeast Asia. Moscow. Pt. 1. P. 51-56. (In Russ.)

6. Kovalev A.A. (2001) About the origin of the deer stone culture. Evraziya skvoz' veka = Eurasia through the ages. St. Petersburg. P. 160-166. (In Russ.)

7. Kubarev V.D. (1979) Ancient sculptures of Altai (deer stones). Novosibirsk. 120 p. (In Russ.)

8. Kyzlasov L.R. (1978) To the study of deer stones and menhirs. KSIA = Brief Reports of the Institute of Archeology. No. 154. P. 25-30. (In Russ.)

9. Mannai-Ool M.Kh. (1968) Deer stones of Tuva. Uchenye zapiski Tuv = Scientific Notes of Tuva. Kyzyl: NIIYaLI. Iss. XIII. P. 138-149. (In Russ.)

10. Novgorodova E.A. (1989) Ancient Mongolia (Some problems of chronology and ethnocultural history). Moscow: GRVL. 384 p. (In Russ.)

11. Okladnikov A.P. (1954) Deer stone from the Ivolga river. Sovetskaya arkheologiya = Soviet Archaeology. No. XIX. P. 207-220. (In Russ.)

12. Savinov D.G. (1994) Deer stones in the culture of the nomads of Eurasia St. Petersburg: Saint-Petersburg State University. 208 p. (In Russ.)

13. Tivanenko A.V. (1995) Deer stones of Transbaikalia. Kul'tury i pamyatniki bronzovogo i rannego zheleznogo vekov Zabaikal'ya i Mongolii = Cultures and sites of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages of Transbaikalia and Mongolia. Ulan-Ude. P. 102-111. (In Russ.)

14. Khudyakov Yu.S. (1987) Khereksurs and deer stones. Arkheologiya, etnografiya i antropologiya Mongolii = Archeology, Ethnography and Anthropology of Mongolia. Novosibirsk. P. 136-162. (In Russ.)

15. Tseveendorzh D. (1979) Some deer stone statues found in Mongolia. Arkheologiin sudlal = Archaeological research. Ulaanbaatar. Vol. VII. Fasc. 13. P. 36-75. (In Mong.)

16. Chlenova N.L. (1962) Deer stones of Mongolia and Siberia. Mongol'skii arkheologicheskii sbornik = Mongolian Archaeological Collection. Moscow: Academy of Sciences of the USSR. P. 27-35. (In Russ.)

17. Chlenova N.L. (1984) Deer stones as a historical source (on the example of the deer stones of the North Caucasus. Novosibirsk: Nauka. 100 p. (In Russ.)

18. Erdenebaatar D. (2002) Mongolian square tombs and khirigsuur culture. Ulaanbaatar: Soembo printing. 275 p. (In Mong.)

19. Erdenebaatar D., Kovalev A.A. (2003) Connecting a stone statue of a deer and a deer. Ugsaatan sudlal [Ethnology]. Vol. XV. Fasc. 16. (In Mong.)

20. Erdenebaatar D. (2007) Funeral and Sacrifice Ritual of the Horse in the Bronze Age of Mongolia. Etnografiya i arkheologiya Severnoi Evrazii: Teoriya, metodologiya i praktika issledovaniya = Ethnography and Archeology of Northern Eurasia: Theory, Methodology and Practice of Research. Irkutsk. P. 201-208. (In Russ.)

21. Kovalev A.A., Erdenebaatar D. and Rukavishnikova I.V. (2016) A ritual complex with deer stones at Uushigiin Uvur, Mongolia: composition and construction stages (Based on the 2013 Excavations). Arkheologiya, etnografiya i antropologiya Evrazii = Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. Vol. 44. No. 1. P. 82-92. (In Russ.)

22. Takahama Shu. (2010) Research of Ulaan uushig I (Uushigiin ovor) in Mongolia and newly acquired 14C data. Drevnie kul'tury Mongolii i Baikal'skoi Sibiri: mat-ly Mezhdunar. nauch. konf. (Ulan-Ude, 20-24 sent. 2010 g.) = Ancient Cultures of Mongolia and Baikalian Siberia. Proceedings of the International Conference, Ulan-Ude, September, 20-24, 2010. Ulan-Ude: Buryat State University. P. 126-131.