Research of the geography and ways of formation of mythological and ritual symbolism of the iron at the population of the Northern Black Sea coast according to archaeological data

Abstract: Based on archaeological evidence about ancient nonferrous and ferrous metallurgy, from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, the author discusses perspectives in search of possible ways of forming of mythological and sacral aspects of iron symbolism in traditional culture of the Eastern Slavs. The focus is concentrated on the mechanisms of the transmission of metallurgical knowledge, and especially on a role of carriers of this knowledge in other ethnic environment, as well as on special methodological aspects of reconstruction of symbolic meaning of metal in archaeological finds. Also, an attempt has been made to define the area geographic area and ways of distribution of metallurgical knowledge and symbolic meaning of iron among the Eastern Slavs and their ancestor.