Ritual as Symbolic Complex and Social Practice: Interpreting the Cenotaphs of Sapalli Culture

Vladimir I. IONESOV / Natalia G. LEVINA

(Samara Branch of Moscow State University of Service, Russia)

The cenotaphs as symbolic complex are of great importance as for comprehension of the spiritual culture of the Proto-Bactrian (Sapalli) civilization.Cenotaph’s ritual in Sapalli-culture cenotaphs is seen in the use of anthropomorphic clay figurines, models of altars, sacrifice areas, methods of grave construction, burials of animals, and urn burials. The most distinc tive of these features are the cenotaphs and the votive bronze replicas of tools and weapons.As for the ritual arrangement of cenotaphs, certain ideological function was clearly seen there – it was symbolic complex that contained maximum number of animal bones, traces of inflammations, modeled ritual vessels, clay figurines and flattened pebbles. Cenotaphs as special way of imitations of social grief actively absorbed other symbolic ritual forms of religious rites.
Interpreting the cenotaphs historically we are bound to distinguish between the two essential functions of theirs – the social and the cult one. Moreover, we tried to prove that cenotaphs in the mortuary practice of Djarkutan were the basis for forming the official interment doctrine as well as of social disguise of class forming processes. As a rule, the role of cenotaphs was significantly increasing in terms of destabilized social and political situation and growing ethnic and cultural interrelations (migrations, social crises, armed clashes etc.). Thus, social and political differentiation of life in this world resulted in differentiation of the mortuary rite.
We have some reasons to suppose that mass spreading of cenotaphs was sure to be connected with development of the predecessor cult that, in its turn, resulted from patriarchal relations of ownership.The above mentioned processes were reflections of establishing of the patriarchal power of the head of the family and master of a house that resulted from growing social differences.
We have some reasons to suppose that mass spreading of cenotaphs was sure to be connected with development of the predecessor cult that, in its turn, resulted from patriarchal relations of ownership. The above mentioned processes were reflections of establishing of the patriarchal power of the head of the family and master of a house that resulted from growing social differences.