Deer stones culture
Deer stones (Mongolian: Буган чулуун хөшөө, Chinese: 鹿石; pinyin: lùshí), sometimes called the Deer stone-khirigsuur complex (DSKC) in reference to neighbouring khirigsuur tombs, are ancient megaliths carved with symbols found mainly in Mongolia and, to a lesser extent, in the adjacent areas in Siberia. 1300 of 1500 the deer stones found so far are located in Mongolia. The name comes from their carved depictions of flying deer. The "Deer stones culture" relates to the lives and technologies of the late Bronze Age peoples associated with the deer stones complexes, as informed by archaeological finds, genetics and the content of deer stones art.
-1000 Mezhovskaya culture Slab- graves ASSYRIA Mumun Painted Grey Ware Subeshi Upper Xiajiadian Siwa culture Shanma ZHOU DYNASTY San- xingdui Ulaan- zuukh 21st Dynasty of Egypt ◁ ▷ General location of the Deer stones, and contemporary Asian polities c. 1000 BCE. : Type I, : Type II, : Type III, and scattered individual finds. The three types can be found together in the area of western Mongolia. | |
| Geographical range | South Siberia, Western Mongolia |
|---|---|
| Period | Bronze Age, Early Iron Age |
| Dates | 1400 — 700 BCE |
| Preceded by | Afanasievo Chemurchek culture Munkhkhairkhan culture Sagsai culture |
| Followed by | West: Arzhan, Chandman, Pazyryk culture East: Slab-grave culture |
The deer stones are part of a pastoral tradition of stone burial mounds and monumental constructions that appeared in Mongolia and neighbouring regions during the Bronze Age (ca. 3000–700 BCE). Various cultures occupied the area during this period and contributed to monumental stone constructions, starting with the Afanasievo culture, and continuing with the Okunev, Chemurchek, Munkhkhairkhan or Ulaanzuukh traditions. The deer stones themselves belong to one of the latest traditions of monumental stones, from circa 1400 to 700 BCE (Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age), but precede the Slab grave culture. The deer stones also immediately precede, and are often connected to, the early stages of the Saka culture (particularly the Arzhan, Chandman and Pazyryk cultures) in the area from the Altai to Western Mongolia. Deer stone art is earlier than the earliest Scythian sites such as Arzhan by 300 to 500 years, and is considered as pre- or possibly proto-Scythian.
The Deer stones culture seems to have been influenced by the contemporary Karasuk culture to the northwest, with which it shares characteristics, particularly in the area of weapon metallurgy.