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The article is about the chain mail from grave 11 of Mezmay-1 necropolis dated to the late first century BC — early first century AD. It belonged to a noble woman and contained rich grave goods. The article also introduces for discussion other chain mails from this necropolis and considers genesis and chronology of chain mails. The one from grave 11 is not similar to a short body armour without sleeves, typical for La-Tene, Hellenistic and Roman Republican traditions. It could be one of the earliest long chain mails. Body armours of this kind were used in Parthia and Sassanid Iran. It is not clear yet, whether the long chain mails appear in the North-Western Caucasus under the eastern influences or independently.
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The object of the study was the ancient lead seal found on the territory of Taurica — or rather, in the Chersonesos. Its one side had an indication on the position of beneficiary and ligature of Nero’s name; the other had monogram of the first Archon of Chersonesos. These texts were made by different masters. It is noticeable that the monogram of the magistrate was executed in clear, carefully carved letters. At the same time, the abbreviation of Nero, and the indication of the position of the beneficiary are drawn very carelessly, clumsily, and set horizontally. We come to the conclusion that the seal was stamped by a modified bullotiry of the first Archon of Chersonesos. We conclude that the studied is a valuable historical source. The very fact of its existence assures us that under Nero or rather, in 63—68 BC, Chersonesos was ruled by a representative of the emperor and a locally elected Archon. We believe that this policy, as well as the Bosporus, were subordinated to the Empire. Note that the same phenomenon can also be traced by numismatic artifacts.
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Northern Caspian area, Western Kazakhstan, Sarmatians, Roman Time, Patera, stray find, importAmong the antiquities of the Roman period found in closed complexes, as well as found randomly in Western Kazakhstan, special attention is paid to the findings of imported bronze ware. A handle of a bronze Patera of “Millingen” type, with a tip shaped as ram’s head, was accidentally found in Atyrau region of Kazakhstan in the beginning of 2000. It was the first find of this type ever found on the territory east of the Volga River. The present scientific paper presents the detailed description of the find, identifies possible centers of its production, justifies its dating within 1st—2nd centuries AD and considers possible ways of the penetration of Roman imports in western Kazakhstan steppe.
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The cemetery of Opushki is located in the central area of Crimean foothills. In 2004, a fragment of an unusual handmade vessel was discovered in a dump made by the grave diggers. In the bottom and three areas of lower walls there were perforations filled with inserted pieces of colourless glass. Ceramic vessels with glass insertions are well known in the lands populated by the Germans. Their especial concentration is in the basins of the Elba and the Oder. According to the distribution and the number of finds, Germanic origin of the tradition dating to the Roman period of making glass insertions into the bottoms and walls of ceramic vessels is doubtless. There is one Germanic grave discovered in the cemetery of Opushki. It comprises a cist, which contained almost a half of a hand-made vessel, filled with calcinated bones of a 4-to 5-year-old child. Vessels with glass insertions were not discovered in the Crimea before. It is generally accepted that hand-made vessels were not an article of trade and, obviously, they were not attractive as trophies of war. Therefore, we have to suppose that the vessel with glass insertions was made by a bearer of Germanic tradition who appeared in the Crimea. The grave with cremation in a cist also testifies that Germans buried in the cemetery of Opushki.
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Accumulations of glass cullet from the Komarov settlement (Western Ukraine), where the only one glassworking workshop beyond the Roman limes was studied, were analyzed using archaeological methods. These assemblages comprising up to 500 fragments of glass vessels were concentrated in dwelling houses of local Barbarian population or near them. They contain not only numerous blown vessels and thick-walled beakers with facet cut decoration, but also items untypical for the local material culture, including the ones dated earlier than the settlement of Late Roman Time (fragments of cast vessels of the 1st century AD, window panes, a stirring rod). These accumulations seem to represent glass cullet intended for secondary production at Komarov. They could have been partly collected locally and partly imported to the site. Location of clusters of cullet implies that they were collected by local population, whereas the workshop should have been operated by provincial Roman craftsmen. According to the obtained data, the workshop existed at the site in the mid-4th century — early Hun period, which has been confirmed also by chemical composition of raw glass.
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The article studies chronology of funerary sites in the Subcarpatian region, which date back to the Early Roman time (end of 1st century BC/early 1st century AD — last third of the 2nd/beginning of the 3rd centuries). Considering the modern developments of the typology of the items and their matching, the dating of the burials has been conducted; the existence periods of the stated burial grounds has been reviewed and specified; the correlation of chronology with geographical and ethnic indexes has been carried out. The earliest burials in the region (Kolokolin, Luchka, Rozhnevyye Polya, Chizhikov) date back to the first half of the 1st century AD. Some burials from burial grounds Bolotnya (42, 49, 70, 71) and Grinev (3) are also dated by the first half of the 1st century AD. Most of the dated complexes refer to the phases B1—B2a of the Early Roman period. If we talk about the existence period of the stated burial grounds, Bolotnya dates back to the first half/second third of the 1st century AD, Zvenigorod — 1st century — first half of the 2nd century AD, Grinev — 1st — 2nd centuries AD. Later, from the second third of the 1st century, the burial ground in Verkhnyaya Lipitsa functioned. Some of the latest complexes, which date back to the second half of the 2nd century AD, are also recorded here. The cemetery in Zaval’ye dates back to the 2nd century AD (probably the second half of the 2nd century AD), the Nepolokovtsy — the 2nd — 3rd centuries AD generally.
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The article is dedicated to the 2014 field season results of Crimean piedmont archaeological expedition, during which three new ground necropolises of the 3rd — 4th centuries AD in Submountain Crimea in the Zuya, Burulcha, Karasu interfluve were investigated. Investigations had a character of rescue works, all inspected objects in past 10 years were systematically plundered. A total of ten ground T-form vaults and one ground grave were investigated completely. As a result, the geographical line of funerary sites like Neusatz-Druzhnoe was continued and completed in the east direction, new types of funerary structures were discovered and their chronological position determined in general system of antiquities on Crimean peninsula.
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The article is devoted to the activities of archaeologists and archaeological institutions of Petrograd in the difficult years of revolution and civil war. It is analysis of their response to two revolutions of 1917 and the attempts to use the change of power for the development of archaeology in Russia in 1917 to 1922. The Revolution and the demolition of the old state apparatus has played a catalytic role in the development process of the organizational structure of archaeology, helping to eliminate the old and the emergence of new and more advanced organizational structures. At the same time, the methods and circumstances of this “break” caused enormous damage to the human potential of the Russian archaeology and the whole system of scientific relations.
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The burial near the village of Marfovka in the Eastern Crimea, discovered in December 1925, is widely known in the national science as the famous “Marfovka hoarde”. Information about this discovery can be found in a review study by Yu. Yu. Marti, prepared for the centenary of the Kerch Archaeological Museum. Some gold items from this burial were also published. The gold diadem, pendants and earrings from the Marfovka burial were studied and included in the periodization of the polychrome decorations of the Hunnic time by I. P. Zasetskaya in her articles. Some grave goods from the Marfovka burial were analysed in several articles by A. K. Ambrose. However, despite the relative degree of knowledge of this burial offered by I. P. Zasetskaya, the whole complex of archival materials has not been fully published. In the archives, referenced by almost all researchers, together with a detailed report on the excavations by Yu. Yu. Marti there are also pictures and plans that have never been published before. In the archives of photo documents of the Institute for the History of Material Culture there are photos of the gold objects only a few of which are found in the research literature that is dedicated to Marfovka hoard. Publication of these documents together with the analysis of archaeological materials from the burials will allow us to reinterpret this burial complex.
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In 550—500 BC, an original series of akinakai with realistic ornithomorphic pommel appears on the territory of European Scythia and this group is not related to the Early Scythian production centers. Apparently, the appearance of these ornithomorphic and zoomorphic pommels fits into the framework of the common Eurasian tradition. During this short period of time the daggers with the pommels in the form of opposed heads of birds of prey appear on the entire territory of the Scythian world. We can highlight several areas where these daggers were most popular: the Volga-Ural region, Zhetysu, Western Siberia and Northern China. Most likely, the role of the original area (where the image canons and morphology of the griffin dagger were formed) could be assigned to Central Asia consisting of Altai, Tuva and Minusinsk Hollow. The abundance and diversity of species of griffin daggers could confirm this idea. There are very original items among them which are very specific only for Altai-Sayan region: daggers with griffin pommels and hilts decorated with sitting predators.
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The paper deals with clarification of the most complete list of magistrates present on the widespread in the Western and Northern Black Sea Region englific stamps imprinted on amphorae, traditionally attributed to Heraclea Pontica. As a result, from the list, numbering 92 names, four magistrates were removed and the reading of the names of two officials was corrected. In addition, eight previously unknown eponyms were added. It is possible that with the appearance of new materials the list of magistrates will be extended with few more officials, whose names are only presumed at the moment. Thus, now we know about a hundred Heracleian magistrates. In connection with the extension of the list there is a need to correct the relative and absolute chronology of ceramic stamps of Heraclea Pontica.
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We introduce for the scientific discussion two Achaemenid shekels found near the Scythian Neapolis in Taurica. These coins have attracted our attention not only because of their extreme rarity in the Northern Black Sea coast. It was much more important to determine the possible time and the circumstances of their arrival in the region. It is established that the coins were released in different time periods. The first one was minted at the end of the 5th — the first half of the 4th cc. BC. It shows the countermark — the sign of satrap Autophradates (391—330 BC.). The second was issued in 521—338 BC. Both coins were drilled to test the alloy standard. Given the circumstances of detection and testing, we conclude that the Achaemenid shekels came to Taurica simultaneously. We assume that they were brought to the Scythians, in the service of the last Achaemenid ruler. Their discovery near the Scythian Neapolis suggests that the settlement on its territory already existed in the 4th century BC.
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The objects of Achaemenid import are a rarity in the territory of Semirechye. One such item was found in Ala Tau burial ground (4th century BC) in 2015. Fragments of a decorative leg of a throne have been found in an elite burial in kurgan no.3. It is the only find of such kind in the territory of Semirechye. A comparison with the steppe Eurasian and Near and Middle East analogies has allowed to establish the place of origin and chronology of the find. The find marks the relationship between the Achaemenid elite and Saka tribes which directly interacted with north-eastern satrapies. Most likely, the Saka tribes got this throne as a military trophy or a gift. The mutiny in Bactria which has followed after Xerxes I’s death quite possibly could intensify the relations between the Achaemenid and Saka elites. The throne could be a gift of Vishtaspa, the governor of Bactria, to Saka leaders. Traces of repair noticed on the leg suggest that the throne was in use for a long time. Perhaps it passed from generation to generation during the century that separate the Bactrian mutiny from the moment of burial.
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The 4th century BC antler artefact has been recently reported from “The Sluiceway” (russ. “Vodovod”) group of barrows, a part of the cemetery of Glinoe near Slobodzeia on the left bank of the Dniester River. Here, the entire form of the hardly fragmented item from grave no.12 of barrow no.2 is reconstructed which contains ornamental border and a scene above it with a deer chased, assailed, or bitten by a gryphon. Further, observations and conclusions upon the object’s raw material structure and surface modifications are set forth. The comb’s convex side represents some cortical substance of a slab taken from the red deer antler beam, and its concave side consists almost overall of the cancellous substance. No traces were found over comb teeth and handle surfaces that could have been produced from long-term use.
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The paper treats fragments of glass vessels from Nikonion that were found in the course of its excavations (1958—1994) but remained unpublished. There are 16 specimens. Every type detected in Nikonion finds its correspondence in Olbia. It can be a result of common trade operations with Eastern Mediterranean region or a local inter-city exchange of glass vessels. The author differentiates “narrow and wide” chronological intervals like it was proposed by M. B. Shchukin. This approach helped to date more precisely both vessels and complexes where the latter were retrieved. Glass vessels started to be imported in Nikonion in the early 5th century BC. Mostly, they entered the city in the second half of the 5th — early 4th century BC, during the apex of the city’s development. Then, after the interruption of the city’s life in the middle of the 3rd century BC, it was re-settled sporadically since the second half of the 2nd century BC — 1st century AD. The single find of characteristic glass fragment dates to this period. The disappearance of Nikonion as a city resulted in transfer of glass vessels import to the neighboring city of Tyras, where the major input of vessels is defined in the 3rd—2nd centuries BC, exactly when they lack in Nikonion. The tradition to use aromatic oils and keep them in glass containers is typically Greek. Glass vessels are present in Nikonion in the 5th—4th centuries BC marking the Greek ethnicity of the population of the city during this period.
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The article discusses the most important results of the archaeological research of the Ionian Greek colonies in the 11th—6th cent. BC, which took place in the end of the 20th century and in the first decade of the 21th century: the opening of a regular plan of archaic Miletus existed long before Hippodamus, excavations on the eastern slope of the ridge of Mycale, that allowed to suppose a new localization of the Panionion sanctuary; the excavations in the Old Smyrna, shedding light on the history of this city after its capture by the Lydian king Alyattes. The author also gives attention to the problems of integration of the latest archaeological data and narrative traditions in the historical reconstructions of domestic and foreign scholars.
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The main part of multilayer sites of Western Transbaikalia represents remains of short-term hunting sites with numerous artifacts. The specifics of analytical basis determined the application of contextual analysis method. It allows us to reconstruct the systems of life-support of the earliest collectives and to define the cycles of economic activities in the minimal time range. New analytic results of cultural horizon A (Ust’-Menza-14 settlement, aka Lagernaya) have been recently offered for archaeological discussion (materials 2014—2015). Lithic collection includes 76.5 % of tools. Functional analysis uncovered traces of wear from different materials: wood, meat/hide processing, bone. Petrographical analysis indicated presence of local and imported lithic raw materials, use of natural lean-clay in ceramic production with no unnatural temper. Pottery is hand-made. Ornament is not preserved. The ware was burned under 600 degrees. Contextual analysis of the artefacts found in the cultural horizon suggested that the studied horizon was what remained from a short-term camp with a singletime habitation. Three zones of household specialization with the reconstruction of economic activity have been indicated: 1) organization of a short-term site; 2) providing of a heating and cooking process — fireplace–wood–meat processing; 3) activities aimed at processing of raw hides. Preliminarily, the age of the cultural horizon ranges from 4.5—3.8 ths yrs BP and belongs to Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.
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The present paper investigates the circular ditches with a funerary function recently unearthed on the line of the Nădlac‒Arad motorway, Nădlac‒Pecica sector, sites 3 M North and 4 M (Arad County). Until recently, no similar burials encircled by ditches, indicating North-Pontic funerary traditions, have been discovered in the Banat region. This accounts for a certain state of research as well as some particularities in the research methods employed, rather than for any local funerary characteristics. This type of burials was archaeologically identified in the territory of present-day Hungary starting with the 1950’s. Currently, it is generally acknowledged that nearly all Sarmatian cemeteries from thelate-2nd century AD until the end of the Sarmatian period included this type of burials. In Western Romania, the first burials encircled by ditches north of the Mureș were published as late as 2013. The recent discoveries of the sites in Nădlac3 M and 4 M are thus very important for the study of Sarmatian funerary archaeology in Romania.
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The Late Roman complex of fortifications at Ibida (today’s Slava Rusă, Tulcea County) has provided in the last 15 years of systematic archaeological excavations a variety of "small-find" artefacts. Among the clothing accessories, brooches play an important role and the crossbow fibulas or Zwiebelknopffibeln are, by far, the best represented in the Late Roman period. This study analyses 16 pieces included in this last category, with three types and several variants and which chronological cover the entire 4th century AD. Frequently, the identification of such artefacts, especially in closed complexes, such as the tombs, can be extremely useful in the rendering of many ancient daily-life aspects. On the basis of the analysis of these objects several interesting conclusions can be drawn regarding the military presence in the central region of the Scythia province, the everyday life in a city at the boundary of the Empire, the possible the social stratification that could be flipped through such clothing accessories, the techniques of manufacturing such accessories, as well as their circulation over very large distances within the Lower Danube area and beyond.
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