Pre-Scythian Burials of Horsemen in the Volga-Don Steppes

Burials of horsemen of the Pre-Scythian period, with the horse harness are rarely found in the steppe zone between the Don and the Volga rivers. The article discusses 12 archaeological complexes including horse harness and other finds, which illustrate the gradual change in the design of bits and cheek-pieces throughout the Pre-Scythian period, from the late 9th to the first half of the 7th century BC. Attention is drawn to the issue of choosing a priority source for the chronology of archaeological assemblages: either a funerary rite or funerary inventory.