Goldsmithing in Hierarchical and Heterarchical Iron Age Steppe Societies

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• Saltanat Amir (University of Cambridge)
• Friday 24 January 2025, 13:15-14:00
• Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Qin-Qin Lü.

Abstract:

Goldsmithing was practised on the East Eurasian steppes from at least the 3rd millennium BCE . However, the significance of gold increased substantially with the emergence of the Saka societies at the end of the 8th century BCE , in the territories of East Kazakhstan and western Siberia. The Saka were among the earliest Eurasian nomadic populations to practise the famous “Animal Style” in gold. In this presentation, I will outline some of the results from my PhD research, which focuses on Saka goldsmithing.

The presentation will cover several key stages in the development of Saka goldsmithing and Saka society.

8th to 6th centuries BCE – The emergence of a hierarchical society, including the development of Saka elite fashion, which incorporated, among other items, gold plaques and microbeads. The technological and traditional evolution of these objects, the elite’s control over gold sources, and the presence of specialised goldsmiths will be discussed.

Post-6th century BCE – A shift towards heterarchical societies, marked by a partial collapse of control over local goldsmiths and gold sources. These profound societal changes led to the adaptation of local goldsmithing practices and transformations in the organisation of production. This section will examine the mechanisms of adaptation and the resulting changes in technology and the range of manufactured gold objects.

The probable causes of this collapse will also be briefly addressed. The influence of Saka elite fashion, which spread across the Eurasian steppe and came to dominate local nomadic elites’ taste, will be explored.

Finally, I will highlight a few distinguishing features of Iron Age Saka goldsmithing traditions, including the use of hollow cone granulation, tin-containing joining method, and tin-gold intermetallic compounds (tin-gold IMCs).

Please join us in-person in the McDonald Institute seminar room or join online.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZDc2MDk1ZGQtNmNkZC00M2U2LTliYjMtN2EyZWE0MDI5ZTAz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2249a50445-bdfa-4b79-ade3-547b4f3986e9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%227c42dde3-f200-49ed-9a81-5aa7e67f945e%22%7d

This talk is part of the Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series
• Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site

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