抄録
The aim of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of the elongated horse frontlets found in the North Pontic Region. The results are as follows:
1. The elongated horse frontlets can be divided into three types: 1) Type A is made of bronze and has a rectangular shape slightly wider in the upper part which has overhangs on either side. It belongs to the fifth and fourth centuries B. C. 2) Type B, whose shape is similar to Type A, has a wooden core and richly adorned gold overlay. It belongs to the fourth century B. C. 3) Type C, whose material is the same as Type B, takes the form of a fish. It belongs to the late fifth-fourth century B. C.
2. While Type A is of functional form and simple appearance, Types B and C are luxurious and rich in adornment. At the first stage, during the fifth century B. C., only the functional and simple Type A existed. Later, from the late fifth century B. C., luxurious Types B and C appeared and coexisted with Type A.
3. Types B and C appeared at the same time as other luxurious horse accessories, including gold and silver bridle ornaments. Such goods are often found in the huge burial mounds usually referred to as royal tombs. The appearance of the royal tombs can be explained by the growth of a stratified society in that region. Therefore, this suggests that the appearance of the luxurious and richly adorned Types B and C is connected to social change among the Scythians.
4. To grasp the position of elongated horse frontlets among the Scythians, the author considered the number of examples excavated in the North Pontic Region. The fact that the number of elongated horse ft-ontlets is very few led the author to conclude that they were rare among the Scythians.
