On the Problems and Principles of the Ananyino Age Bone Items Classification (the case of weapons, hunting outfit and horse harness)

The article is devoted to topical problems related to classification and typology of bone products of the Ananyino cultural and historical area. The analysis of weapons, hunting outfit and horse harness has made it possible to propose a new classification scheme based on formalized descriptions of items, taking into account eventual application of mathematical statistics methods. Given the diversity of the Ananyino bone items, the classification scheme includes nine stages. The items are categorized by their functionality (arrowheads, spears and harpoons, psalia, buckles, etc.) into sections: depending on material (bone, horn) and morphology (classes, groups, divisions, types with subtypes, and options with sub-options). This scheme allows taking into account individual characteristics of the items, on the one hand, and drawing interregional and intercultural comparisons, on the other.