The Amber, Metals and Masters: Origins of the Iron Age in North Pontic Region

The article is dedicated to the origins and establishment of the iron metallurgy in North Pontic region (primarily, the territories of modern Ukraine) – from the appearance of the earliest iron items to the beginnings of local crafting. Utilizing the archaeological data, this historical process is suggested in the following scheme: the initial iron artifacts were the imports from Asia Minor; later the iron and bimetallic incarnations of the bronze Middle Eastern weapons emerge; finally the production of the local iron forms began. The entire process was possible due to the migration of the Hitte descendants (among others) from the Asia Minor and Middle East, who would come into service of local chieftains and warlords, producing different kinds of weapons. Eventually these smiths would assimilate with the local populace, which in turn led to the emergence of the iron craftsmen native to the North Pontic region. In 9th century BC the nomads from the Central Asia (reffered to in previous authors’ studies as the proto-Scythians) arrive, becoming acquaintant with the iron and incorporating the items, made of it, into their weaponry complex. Later the iron was spread west due to the nomadic raids on the territories of Central-Eastern Europe. Eventually such items serve as the foundation for the weapons of the Scythian time, while bronze becomes secondary raw material. Overall, the origins of iron metallurgy in North Pontic region seem somewhat unequal: it took three centuries from the earliest appearance of iron items to the emergence of local ironcraft, while the establishment and spreading happened within one. Also this entire process could not have been possible without interactions of three groups of peoples – local ones, originating from the Asia Minor/Middle East, and comming from the Eurasian steppe.

Keywords: Iron, North Pontic region, Asia Minor, Hurians, Hittites.