American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 23, December, 2023 110 | P a g e TYPOLOGY OF STONE AGE JEWELRY OF CENTRAL ASIA Umarov Ulugʻbek Tarix fakulteti, Arxeologiya kafedrasi oʻqituvchisi Abstract The article is about the typology of jewelry found in stone, especially late Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic sites and settlements of Central Asia. It provides an analysis of the types of jewelry made of stone, organic materials, etc., from all phases of the Middle Asian Stone Age. Also, brief information about the making of jewelry and their cultural- ideological significance is given. This article focuses on the comparison of archaeological and ethnographic data on the main types of ornaments and their functions, which are considered an integral part of the spiritual and ideological life of the Central Asian Stone Age communities. It is emphasized that it is a primary source about the aesthetic and ideological and religious views of the types of jewelry of the Central Asian Stone Age communities. Keywords: Central Asia, Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, personal jewelry, type, stone, organic material, ideology, religious views, ethnography, customs. Introduction It is known from world archeology that mankind learned to make jewelry for the first time in history since the last Paleolithic period. In particular, it is known from the researches that in Eurasia, since the last Paleolithic, various regional ornaments, including amulets, rings and beads, have been made from natural mineral and biogenic materials. The work of making such objects first of all indicates an inextricable connection with the religious ideological views of the ancient people and the concepts of the first fine art. This situation is closely related to the beginning of a new qualitative stage in the development of human thinking. Until now, many settlements of the Late Stone Age have been identified and researched from the borders of Central Asia. In the excavations of these monuments, together with stone objects, other objects, especially jewelry, were found, which indicate the spiritual life of people of the Stone Age. It is known that the ancient people used various natural raw materials in their economic activities while mastering the environment. These were primarily stones, minerals, bones, animal horns and teeth, and wood. Later, they began to use exotic varieties of raw materials, in particular, crystals, eggshells, mollusk shells, and petrified bodies of ancient creatures. Seashell is considered to be the first raw material used by Stone Age people as jewelry. According to recent archaeological research, the use of shells as ornaments began 80-40 thousand years ago (Serikov 2017: 30). Also, from very ancient times, people began to make personal ornaments from animal teeth. The findings from the Late Paleolithic monuments of Siberia are proof of our above opinion (Pitulko, Nikolsky 2018: 408– 418). Jewelry made of various stones was also among the favorite things of the Late Paleolithic people American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 23, December, 2023 111 | P a g e (Fedorchenko 2018: 76-87). When it came to the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, the types and types of items related to jewelry expanded. We can clearly observe these processes especially in the settlements of this period in Central Asia. Discussion and Results Depending on the form and the purpose of use of the jewelry found in the places and settlements of Central Asia in all stages of the Stone Age, we can divide them into 7 types (Fig. 1): I. Bead (branches of beads). II. Tumor. III. Ring. IV. Bracelet. V. Jewelry and ornaments for clothing. VI. jewelry in the form of figurines. VII. consisting of labret jewelry. I. Bead (branches of beads). Among the Stone Age jewelry, beads are the most common. A necklace made of cowrie shell, found in the Samarkand area, is also considered a necklace necklace. Stone Age beads were made from soft and semi-precious rocks, animal and bird fluted bones and shells, in addition to shell. Caltaminor beads averaged from 1-1.5 cm to 2 cm in length. The largest bead found in Jebel Cave was 2.8 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The dimensions of the bead bundles identified from the Mesolithic site Obishir-5 are the same as those above. Most of all jewelry finds of Kaltaminor and Obishir culture are beads. Also, it has been found in the researches that the main part of jewelry of other Mesolithic and Neolithic eras of Central Asia corresponds to the beads. Depending on their appearance, the beads can be divided into several groups: Group 1 is a circle with a drilled middle. The beads of this group are made of shells and stones; Group 2 is fluted bead clusters made from bird, animal, and fluted shells; Group 3 beaded bunches with the upper part drilled; Group 4 is square, rhombic and amorphous beads. II. Tumor. A amulet is a talisman that protects against evil forces or defines a person's position in society. Depending on the shape, we can divide amulets into circular, rectangular and arc-shaped amulets. The amulet is much larger than a bunch of beads and is hung around the neck by itself. Above or in the middle of it, a hole is drilled for threading. Stone Age people made amulets from materials such as animal bones and teeth in addition to soft rocks. A circular ornament with an outer diameter of 2.4 cm, an inner diameter of 1.8 cm, and a thickness of 0.8 cm from the Mesolithic Machai cave was made from the fluted bone of an animal. Islamov 1977: 84. Fig. 28,7). It should be noted here that anthromorphic and zoomorphic jewelry can be amulets rather than beads. In addition, we can call some jewelry discovered from the Obishir-5 area amulets rather than beads. A hole is usually made in the center of the beads, and in the upper part of the amulet. From this point of view, we can consider some jewels found in Mesolithic and Neolithic spaces in the central part of Ferghana as amulets. As a result of analysis of jewelry made of talc found in Obishir-5 site, the petrophysical properties of its material, the morphology of grinding and deformation traces show that some of the jewelry in them may have been used for a long time to decorate clothes or as personal jewelry (Fedorchenko, Schneider, Kraitsaj, Romanenko, Abdykanova, Kolobova, Alisher Kyzy, Krivoshapkin 2018: 13). An excellent example of an amulet was also discovered from the Neolithic tomb of Tumek-Kichijik. A half-moon-shaped amulet-amulet made of a tusk of a boar (wild boar) is 12 cm long and has a hole on both ends (Vinogradov 1981: 113). The amulet identified from grave number 19 was located American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 23, December, 2023 112 | P a g e exactly on the neck of the corpse (Vinogradov 1981: 115). Making jewelry from a pig's tusk was considered one of the traditions typical for the Neolithic period. Jewelry-amulets, such as the Tumek- Kichijik finds, have been identified from many places in Eurasia (Skorobogatov 2020: 10-28). Amulets can be divided into the following groups: the first group includes oval-shaped amulets with a hole on top for threading. Such amulets are usually made of stones. Group 2 amulets have a sickle- like appearance and are made of boar's tusk. III. Ring. So far, very few items similar to rings in form and function have been found in the Stone Age sites and settlements of Central Asia. In some studies, there is information that a ring was also found from the monuments of the Late Paleolithic period. For example, a split ring was found in Khotik area located in Western Baikalort. However, the authors did not give its exact dimensions, but only gave information about its thickness (Volkov, Lbova 2009: 68). There is information that rings have been found in some Neolithic sites of Central Asia. A ring-like ornament made of seashell was found in a Neolithic grave of Kailu Cave (Korobkova 1996 : 120). It can also be an ornament attached to clothing, since it is located between the ribs and the pelvic bones of the corpse. A ring with a diameter of 3.5 cm made of cowrie shell was found from the Chag'allidepe monument, which is considered a monument of Joytun culture (Korobkova 1996: 96. Fig. 32, 11). Similarly, a ring made of animal bone also came from the Neolithic cultural layers of the Pessijiqdepe area (Korobkova 1996: 96. Fig. 32,30). However, it is slightly smaller in size and has a diameter of 2 centimeters. Based on this information, it can be said that rings started to be made in relatively large quantities only after the discovery of metal, that is, from the Eneolithic-Bronze period. IV. Bracelet. From the excavations of the monuments of the last Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic period of Central Asia, jewelry of the type and type of bracelet was found less. In particular, a circular ornament made of greenish-brown stone with a diameter of 10-13 cm was found from the Madyor-2 monument of Fergana. This is U. According to Islamov, it can be a bracelet according to its shape, size, and weight (Islamov, Timofeev 1986: 100). If we think about the analogue of zebu-decoration, jewelry mentioned above, we come across the facts that they have been found in Late Paleolithic monuments, for example, a Denisovan mammoth tooth, a petrified shell of an ostrich egg, and a mollusk shell bead, ring, and charms, along with serpentine, slate, and chlorite wrist rings. there is information about its preparation (Derevyanko, Shunkov, Volkov 2008: 17). A sample of a clay bracelet intended for young children was discovered from the Joytun settlement. V. Jewelry and ornaments for clothing. Jewelry of this type includes items such as jewelry or buttons that are attached to the top and headgear. There is a fact that such findings, that is, ornaments used for clothing and head, are often obtained during the survey of graves. It is known that tombs from the Neolithic period were found in Kailu cave, which was explored in the Eastern Caspian region. During their study, many small beads were found under the ribs and pelvis of the corpse (Korobkova 1996: 120). This situation allows us to describe that jewelry can be a decoration that gives beauty to clothes. American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 23, December, 2023 113 | P a g e A lot of small jewelry was recovered from Tumek-Kichijik cemetery of Neolithic age located in the lower reaches of Amudarya. The small beads found in grave number 26 were taken from under the pelvis. So, they may also have served as a decoration for clothing. In addition to beads, an amulet made of a pig's tooth was found in these graves, and it is of scientific importance (Vinogradov 1981: 113). Jewelry in the form of figurines is type VI of jewelry used in the lifestyles of Central Asian Stone Age communities. According to their shape and content, they are divided into anthromorphic and zoomorphic ornaments. Jewelry of this type is found mainly in the Neolithic of Turkmenistan (Masson: 1971: 203). Experts say that these tiny figurine-shaped ornaments were made from clay, baked and dried. VII. Labretka. Another type of jewelry used by Stone Age communities is the labret (from the Latin labrum, meaning lip), which is a zebu-ornament that is worn on the lips, nose, and ears rather than being hung on the human body by a string. Jewelry belonging to this type has been found in researches that have been used in marriage since the Mesolithic period on the borders of Eurasia, including Central Asia. The first jewelry of the Labretka type was found in the excavations of the monuments of the Obishir culture in Central Asia. In particular, the libretto found in the Obishir-V cave is similar to a button with a deeper center and is made of white-green flint. Its size is 28 × 28 × 14 mm. The surface of the button was polished (Fedorchenko, Schneider, Kraitsaj, Romanenko, Abdykanova, Kolobova, Alisher Kyzy, Krivoshapkin 2018: 8. Fig. 3, 26). A labret found in the Ohalik settlement of the Cazagan culture is also circular and has a polished top (Grechkina 1997: 21). Labretka jewelry was very different from other types of jewelry in its appearance and placement on the body. According to ethnographic observations, labrets were worn on the lower lip, nose, and ear. The main purpose of pinning or installing labretka on the body was "to be proud of the bravery of one's ancestors, that is, grandfathers and fathers, and to imitate them" (Va¬sil¬ev-skiy: 2002, 71-78). It is worth noting here that our ancestors may have worn labrets before going hunting or tribal military conflicts. Summary. Personal jewelry, which appeared almost simultaneously in different parts of the world, is one of the primary sources for studying the spiritual and ideological views of Stone Age communities. In particular, on the scale of Central Asia, samples of jewelry of the Late Paleolithic period were found in the excavations of the Samarkand area (Djuraqulova D.M.: 2018, 13-17). Practical art and primitive religious views began to be used in the life of communities of the Late Paleolithic period, which were closely related to them. We can divide the first personal jewelry of primitive people into such types as beads, amulets, rings and bracelets. Undoubtedly, they are important as examples of practical art of our ancient ancestors. By the Mesolithic period, the production of personal ornaments from stones and organic minerals accelerated (Umarov U:2021, 44-48). However, until now, little attention has been paid to jewelry in scientific works on the Stone Age of Uzbekistan. Only the Mesolithic-Neolithic monuments of Central Ferghana, in particular, the stone jewelry found in the Obishir-5 site, were studied separately (Umarov U:2022, 90-97). The results of the study of jewelry items found on the Ustyurt plateau are also controversial from time to time. American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 23, December, 2023 114 | P a g e Middle Stone Age communities used mainly rocks such as flint, slate, agalmatolite, argillite, talcite, and serpentinite, organic materials, especially mammal and bird bones, horns, teeth, and shells, to make ornaments and jewelry. By the Neolithic period, with the development of the production economy, the work of making ornaments and jewelry rose to a new level of quality and became a type of practical art, and they became important as a primary source for knowing the social, cultural, spiritual and ideological life of primitive people. 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