As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 20 June 2019

Mysterious prehistoric ‘birdman’ costume found in Siberian grave

AN ANCIENT burial site in Siberia contained an extraordinary ritual armour made of bird beaks.

By Michael Moran / Published 29th May 2019


Siberia: Ancient ‘birdman’ discovered by archaeologists in Russia

The site is thought to be the work of the Odinov culture, who thrived in the area up to about 4,000 years ago.

But the discoveries in the ancient necropolis do not match previous artefacts from these ancient people, say puzzled archeologists.

In one grave, researchers found a pair of bronze ‘spectacles’ which are thought to be around 5,000 years old. 

Their exact use is unknown, but like the birdman costume was probably related to religious or magical rituals conducted by a shaman.

“These are unique items”Lilia Kobeleva

That’s certainly the opinion of researcher Lilia Kobeleva, from the Novosibirsk Institute of Archeology and Ethnography. She says the beaks, numbering between 30 and 50, may have been an integral part of a ritual costume or an elaborate headdress or armour.

“The beaks were assembled at the back of the skull, along the neck, as if it was a collar that protected the owner when he lived here,” she says.

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