Основные итоги пятилетнего исследования предметов античной коропластики Нижнего Дона с помощью методов дактилоскопии и трасологии
The main results of a five-year dactyloscopy and trace evidence study of ancient terracottas objects found in the lower Don

Author(s): N.I. Suworowa, Anna G. Yazovskih, S.W. Sergo, N.V. Lazarev
Subject(s): Archaeology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Elizavetovskoe settlement; coroplastic art; terracotta; masters–coroplasts; fingerprints; dactyloscopy; trace evidence
Summary/Abstract: The article analyzes the results of implementation of a new scientific method in examining ancient terracottas. For the first time this method was used by authors of the present article for examining terracottas of Tanais and it proved successful. The subjects for examination at the next stage of the study were finds from the Elizavetovskoe settlement, stored in the Educational Museum of Archeology in the Institute of History and International Relations of the Southern Federal University, and also in Azov History, Archeology and Paleontology Museum-Reserve. The subject of this study are ancient clay figurines from the Elizavetovskoe settlement, stored in the Rostov Regional Museum of Local Lore, as well as terracottas from the Novocherkassk Museum of the History of Don Cossacks and the Taganrog State Literary and Historical Architectural Museum-Reserve. A total of 70 terracotta items were examined. Among them are fragments of protomes, male and female figurines, animal figures dating from 4th–3rd century BC. Many of them were softened by kneading in forms. In the process of kneading artisans pressed clay tightly into forms, thus leaving distinct fingerprints on the inside of items. The fingerprints reveal information about age and gender of ancient artisans as well as peculiarities of the terracotta crafting.

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