Garegin Tumanyan - Protecting the Head of the Deceased by Apotropaic Means (Gleanings from Preհistoric Period) (in Eng.)
16 Pages | 212-228 | DOI: 10.54503/0135-0536-2026.1-212 | Revceived on: 2025-12-18 | Reviewed on: 2025-12-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2026-03-20
Published in: 2026 N 1(231) / Archaeology and Ethnography
Since the Paleolithic, all the rituals comprising funerary rite were aimed at a single purpose – overcoming the death. The head of deceased was viewed as a valid replacement of the whole being. It was perceived as a container, where the vital energy was concentrated. Therefore, the head needed protection, which was provided by placing near the head ritual items made of flint, obsidian or metal, modelling the head in plaster, placing the head in a clay vessel or on a stone, etc.
Keywordssepulchre the head of the deceased human ritual items funerary rite apotropaic metallic items.