O. V. KOVALEVAMinusinsk Regional Museum of Local Lore 60 Lenin St., Minusinsk, 662608, Russia E-mail:kovalevahmk@mail.ru Introduction Art as a phenomenon of human culture is outside the chronological framework. It outlives its creators for centuries and millennia. Artistic images, appearing at certain moments in history, become a vivid expression of the spiritual needs of the era. Having been imprinted in people's memory and corresponding to their worldview, they are reproduced and duplicated with minor variations. So style and canon are born-a kind of markers of culture. Within the whole epoch, gradual changes in images and technical means of their reproduction become noticeable, various artistic elements are complemented and excluded. At the same time, only the inner essence of art remains unchanged, expressed in a peculiar, unique style of the era. Only in the context of a paradigm shift are the ideals of the past purposefully rejected, the style is transformed, and new images are formed. It is this shift that defines the boundary that divides all aspects of culture into two time periods - before and after. Monuments that capture the features of this antagonism can serve as invaluable chronological indicators. Object characteristics In the Khakass-Minusinsk basin, there are many monuments with recycled slabs. Of particular importance is the study of burials with drawings on slabs that have become building materials. They were most often used in the construction of elite complexes in Scythian times to emphasize the grandeur of the structure being built. Often, sandstone slabs covered with images from earlier eras were used for the same purpose. One of the most interesting monuments is the Barsuchy Log mound, which was comprehensively studied in 2004-2005 by the joint Russian - German (German Archaeological Institute-Khakass State University)research group. an archaeological expedition*. Barsuchy Log mound is one of the largest excavated graves of the Scythian era ... Читать далее