Abstract
Materials from the Early Iron Age cemeteries of the Southern Tagisken (VII—V centuries BC) and Uygarak (VI—VI centuries BC), studied by the Khorezm archaeological and ethnographic expedition under the direction of S. P. Tolstov in the early 1960s, are a source for the analysis. Materials of the sixteen mounds of South Tagisken and twenty-two of Uygarak are analyzed in the article. More than half of the mounds of South Tagisken and Uygarak have a diameter of up to 20 m. The head of the deceased is predominantly oriented to the west. Dromos was recorded only in two South Tagisken mounds and not recorded in Uygarak. Burials at the level of the ancient horizon in South Tagisken were recorded once, while in Uygarak they were recorded four times. A very small number of sacrificial animal parts in the graves of South Tagisken and Uygarak draws attention. An analysis of the South Tagisken and Uygarak subject complex shows that the women graves had products made of metal, bone, and stone. Among such products are: elements of horse equipment, knives, mirrors, altars, jewelry, mirrors, distaff. Weapons are rarely found in women burials of South Tagisken and Uygarak. Probably the functions of the woman were only restricted to housekeeping in the culture of the population that left the South Tagisken and Uygarak cemeteries. Women also served as servants of the cults, which is reflected in the presence of traces of red paint found on pestles, altars, pistils, as well as on tools and devices made of bone.