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The author discusses controversial issues of minting technology and organization of cast bronze emissions in Byzantine Cherson. A study of molds and coins produced with their help, it was found that the monetary emission in Cherson employed Chinese mass casting technology — the so-called «money tree». This technology was not known to the Roman Empire and its neighboring countries. It could be borrowed as a result of indirect contacts between Eurasian peoples involved in trade exchanges along the Silk Road. This technology allowed to organize large-scale emissions. Transition to this new technology indicates to the high demand for the means of payment in the early medieval Taurica, which, in turn, assures us in its high rate of further sustained development.
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The authors publish a coin die for imitative coinage and two other tools, found in 2015 in Kharkiv Oblast of Ukraine and offer a review of previously published dies unearthed in the Golden Horde territories. It is concluded that all known similar coin dies were made of bronze, their height ranging from 12 to 31 mm. The die from Kharkiv Oblast has on its working surface an imitation of Arabic inscription in three lines and differs by its technical characteristics from all previously known ones: it is made of iron, its height is 38 mm. Presumably, it was used as the lower stamp to mint coinage. The second iron die, found together with the above mentioned near Novaya Vodolaga, is unique and finds no analogies. The authors assume that this die was used to place countermarks on coins. The third tool of the complex was also made of iron and possibly belonged to a jeweler.
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The crisis of the thirteenth century was neither a consequence of the transformation of the economic order and the consequences of defeat, with dire consequences for survivors of this debacle and the crisis of “dynamic stagnation”, which became apparent long before the battle on the Kalka and led to the defeat of. Research of archaeological monuments, there are to different implementations at the regional levels of comprehension of the distant past, but not at the level of generalizations, and the predominance of a particular factor in the complex processes reflected in the archaeological sources, it is hardly possible to prove unambiguously.
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The author studies postmortem, perimortem and antemortem changes on human skeletal remains uncovered in a pit near the Desiatynna Church (Church of the Tithes) in Kiev. Some stray bones were attributed to 8 (13) adult and 6 children of different age groups. Anthropological and pathological conditions marked most of these individuals as regular town dwellers or defenders, including at least 1 (2) professional warrior(s). The antemortem traumas revealed in majority of these individuals confirm their violent death. Preservation of bones (integrity of skeletons, their color and surface), presence of some mechanical damages (destruction and animal teeth marks) as well as traces of soot and fire tell that these individuals died and were found in different environments before being buried. Most likely, they were found in open spaces (street) and closed premises (destroyed buildings and cellars). Various available marks on the bones suggest the timing of their burial — at least 5—7 months to 11 months after their death. The findings allow reconsidering some historical accounts and shedding light on the events following immediately after the destruction of Kiev in winter 1240.
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This article analyzes the materials of 13th—14th centuries discovered in the recent decades during archaeological investigations on the territory of Chernigov. According to the chronicles, in 1239 Chernigov was captured and burned by the Mongols. However, material evidences that can be confidently attributed to the destruction of the city as a result of the Mongol assault are not revealed yet. Apparently, its degradation had taken place gradually, in military conflicts and armed attacks that did not cease after 1239. Discovered during excavations traces of fires and massacres can be associated with one of these events.
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The Mongol conquest was one of the key moments in the medieval history of the Northern Black Sea Region. Some new Oriental (Solkhat/Krym) and West-European cities (Caffa) appear in the South-Eastern Crimea, next to the existing old Byzantine centers here (Sugdeia/Sudak). Mass production of glazed pottery started in Solkhat, Sudak and Caffa in the third quarter of 13th century, to become a fully developed industry in the second quarter of 14th century. The author attempts to establish whether emergence and development of the glazed pottery production can be indicative of the urban development level.
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Glass items found on medieval (12th—13th c.) Belarusian sites, namely Mstislavl, Mogilyov and ancient Shklov (predominantly bracelets) is typical for the Early Russian tradition of glass manufacturing. This is evident from glass composition and typology of goods. Among them, the main adornments were bracelets made from lead glass or potash lead glass. A small part of artifacts consists of other types of imported bracelets manufactured from glass based on the ash of halophytes and predominantly blue colored. Presence of artifacts with other composition is also revealed.The Tatar-Mongol Invasion led to a decrease in production activity. A new stage of glassmaking was resumed later, as the society demanded new range of goods. This new stage was accompanied by a great number of imported goods made of halophyte ash in the East Mediterranean region. On the other hand, the technology of making of lead glass was not abandoned because of the ancient tradition widespread all over the Old Rus’.
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During excavations of Western Rus’ towns, a number of bone onlays related to the Golden Horde circle were found. They all have a similar form of narrow elongated plates, general nature and methods of ornamentation, with the use of geometrical, floral and zoomorphic motifs. Most of them have close analogies among bone onlays on quivers of the 13th — 14th centuries found in the Volga region. The three plates found in Volkovysk and Lukoml are undoubtedly related to them in form, technique and ornamental motifs but nevertheless they stand apart. The ornament on them is arranged horizontally rather than in vertically set horizontal bands like on the Golden Horde onlays on quivers. Perhaps, these onlays decorated something else and were local variations on the nomadic theme. Along with the bone onlays, other groups of goods related by their origin or genesis with the material culture of Golden Horde (ceramics, metal plates on bags and earrings in the form of a question mark) were found in the territory of Belarus. Perhaps some of the finds are associated with the Tatars who settled in the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the invitation of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, who appreciated them as great warriors. All these finds as a whole indicate a significant impact of the Golden Horde on the artistic handicraft of Western Rus’ due to the presence of people from the Golden Horde and their craft traditions.
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Written, figurative and substantial sources are compared to elucidate the processes of acceptance and rejection of cultural achievements in the period of the Golden Horde domination over Rus’. Rejection due to the reaction to the cruelties of the conquest, humiliation and destruction of Russian culture by the Mongols, as well as to the difference of traditions in the sphere of religion, art and lifestyles. Difference between Russian and Mongolian costumes prevented the natural process of mutual influence. Pieces of imperial costume granted by the Mongols had only superficial and temporary result. Costume would not change much due to usage of similar details from another one, if they were independent from the overall construction.The Russian and Mongolian culture in the second half of the 13th—15th centuries experienced opposite processes. The Golden Horde intensively enriched by the achievements of many peoples and countries. The nature of this acceptance, however, was largely unproductive, it did not lead to true synthesis and therefore was not lasting. After an involuntary pause In Rus’, the craft and applied art revived based on own pre-Mongol samples and self-dependent realization of new artistic trends famous upon more common samples of decorative art from different countries.
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The Mongol invasion was not the finale of the Old Rus’ bracelets with hinges that appeared in the 12th century. Some variants of that type have been found in the complexes and layers of the 13th — 14th centuries. After the Mongol Invasion, the silver bracelets with engraved décor and niello were produced mainly in the south-western regions of the Old Rus’. Hoarding of complexes with such decorations stopped only at the end of the 14th century. Also, garments with wire ornaments and molded imitations of bracelets with hinges are known in the 14th century.
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The author discusses information about newly built churches and fortresses in Russia, as well as repair works in the existing structures in the second half of the thirteenth – first third of the fourteenth centuries. He suggests that the Mongol invasion was, perhaps, a major but not the only factor that caused uneven development of the early Russian architecture in the studied period. It was a hard time in the Old Rus’, and building new churches and fortresses was difficult due to the scarcity of available funds, high taxes imposed by the Horde, ongoing feuds between knyazes and lack of qualified masters. Nevertheless, the time was marked by development of architecture and, even more, it laid the foundation for further evolution of the early Russian architecture.
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The authors introduce for discussion all preserved fragments of an armour from burial 2 of the “Roshava Dragana” in Bulgaria, which yielded remains of a chain mail, fragments of scale armour and badly preserved plate set. This armament was supplemented by a silvered Roman face-mask helmet. Apart from this helmet, armament was non-Roman, but seems to be of either Sarmatian or Parthian origin. The most intriguing in burial 2 of “Roshava Dragana” barrow was the presence of Sarmatian tamgas on the golden pommel and on the bronze belt’s buckle and images of two-headed dogs on the plates of the armour. “Roshava Dragana” is one of the largest barrows in Bulgaria and there could be buried a very influential nobleman. In our opinion, in late 1st century AD the most important man in the neighborhood was Titus Flavius Dinis, the son of Skeles of the tribe of Quirinus. He was Archiereus of koinon trakon — the general assembly of the Thracians. It is possible that villa Chatalka and barrow “Roshava Dragana” were connected with Dinis family. Is not found no evidence was found to prove participation of Dinis in campaigns against the Sarmatians and Dacians. But some parts of defensive armament from “Roshava Dragana” can be attributed as a trophy. Based on the analysis of the remaining elements of the armour, we can assume that many of its items find parallels on the Sarmatian territory and in armament of the neighbors. Apparently, this armour could be manufactured in Panticapaeum, since there is only one analogy of a two-headed dog image, like the one on the armour.
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Due to the fact that the coins of provincial and autonomous coinage in Rome, minted in the Balkans and Asia Minor cities, had limited circulation area, their findings on the territory of Barbaricum are an important source for the study of military activity of barbarians at that time and in that area. If earlier their finds in East Barbaricum (mostly — on the territory of Chernyakhov culture) were rare, the process of registration of new finds significantly changed our view on the number and geography of places of coinage. Statistical analysis of the finds allowed some interesting observations. In particular, the Dnieper river distinguishes finds of such coins into two groups with different geographical and inflow conditions. If the coins found on the right bank of the Dnieper indicate participation of barbarians in campaigns in Balkan provinces and north-western and western cities of Asia Minor, the coins found on the left bank of the Dnieper indicate that their owners participated in the campaigns from the territory of Bosporan kingdom to northern and central provinces of Asia Minor.
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The name and works of the Germanist F. A. Braun are widely known. He is one of the leading specialists in the topic of German-Slavic contacts. Less he is known for his work as an archaeologist. In the early 1890s, under the instruction of the Archaeological Commission, he conducted excavations in the Crimean Mountains and the Baltic region to search for archaeological traces of the Goths. In 1896 he became a staff member of the Archaeological Commission and carried out exploration of Scythian barrows and medieval runic inscriptions in the Northern Black Sea region. Although he moved to Germany and became a professor at the University of Leipzig in 1920, Braun continued to keep an eye on the excavations inthe Crimea. Discovered by the author of this article, Braun’s letters to S. F. Platonov in late 1920s show the role he played in organizing a common project of the Soviet-German expedition to study archaeological sites of the Crimean Goths.
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This article focuses on the social and ethno-cultural interpretation of nomadic sacrificially-memorial complexes/“odd complexes” (items of horse harness, weapon, military equipment and metal vessels, found in the barrow mounds, natural hills and not associated with 3rd—1st centuries BC burials in the steppes of Eastern Europe). These sites may have belonged to the late Scythians and/or Sarmatians. I adhere to Sarmatian version, considering temporal and spatial distribution of “odd complexes”. The earliest discovery of tamga from the Glinoe cemetery tells us about eastern cultural influence in the European steppes. Tamga on the silver bowl from the “odd complex” Bulahovka demonstrates the eastern influence too.My hypothesis is that the “odd complexes” belonged to youth (male) associations. This hypothesis can explain the key features of this phenomenon — the connection with the war and the presence on uninhabited areas. These associations of young people, while out of the tribe, receive the necessary skills and training, do raids and hunting. “Odd complexes” are traces of ritual acts, memorial and votive sites left by the youth (male) associations.
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The author presents a survey of socio-cultural processes in the beginning of the Eneolithic in Poland in the second half of 5th millennium BC and their consequences in the 4th millennium. There are shown origins of main Eneolithic traits on the territory in question against the background of general process of eneolithization in Europe. The chronology of this phenomenon is specified and cultural entities engaged in processes of Eneolithisation of Polish territories are described. The most important cultures involved in this process are Lublin-Volhynia, Brześć Kujawski and Jordanów. Subsistence, settlement patterns, funerary rites, copper metallurgy, flint manufacture and other elements of material culture are characterized. In the end, an attempt was taken to reconstruct different models of cultural changes, which resulted in the emergence of various models of Eneolithisation of Polish territories.
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