Identifying the Criteria for Determining Status Burials by Results of Integrated Analysis
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Identifying the Criteria for Determining Status Burials by Results of Integrated Analysis Irina A. Saprykina1 and Olga V. Zelentsova1 1 Institute of Archaeology Russian Academy of Sciences, 19, Dm.Ulyanova str., Moscow, Russia, 117036. e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Chemical-technology investigation was carried out for 95 belt sets from the burials of 8th−11th centuries. In its course three groups of burials were separated on the basis of archaeology-statistical features; the Group 3 was identified as status one. All the groups contain belt sets made from the cooper-based alloys which include silver (6.98−92.87%) and amalgam. The major scheme of the belt sets (Groups 1, 2, 3) production is casting in moulds with print of used plaques; there are belt sets in Groups 1 and 2 which were made in different way (lost wax casting, casting in moulds with print of special matrix, forging). Chemical and technology parameters of the belt sets from the elite burials of the Group 3 are similar to the parameters of the belt sets discovered in the common burials of the Groups 1 and 2. There are a number of burials in the Group 1 the belt sets of which according to their chemical-technology characteristics could be attributing to the “award”. INTRODUCTION Chemical and technology investigation of the belt sets items is a part of investigation dedicated to the reconstruction of ancient society structure. In particular this investigation is aimed at separation of true criteria for the identification of status burials entering into the composition of the burial grounds and its historical interpretation. In historiography the belt sets, particularly its series and metal type [1-4], are considered as one of the indicators of high social status of the buried. This investigation is based on materials from the Krjukovsko-Kuznovsky burial ground situated in Central Russia (river Tsna − the basin of river Volga). In 1930-th this monument was investigated by one of the first Soviet archaeologists, antiquarian and founder of Morshansk museum (Tambov region) P.P. Ivanov, who excavated 586 burials dating to the 8th−11th cc. [5]. In the course of investigations it was established that burial ground had belonged to Mordva − one of the povolzhsko-finnish tribes inhabited Povolzh`e from the first centuries AD. In the basin of river Tsna 15 burial grounds left by Mordva-tribe and dated to the 8th−11th cc. are known, of which the Krjukovsko-Kuznovsky is one of the most completely investigated. It is a common cemetery with burials made both by cremation (14%) and inhumation (86%). Another key element of the burial ceremony is characteristic grave goods presented by the tools, weapon, everyday objects and also by the huge amount of metal ornaments especially belt sets intended for the suit’s decoration. The Krjukovsko-Kuznovsky burial ground is known by the bad safety of anthological dates that is why in the course of investigation we had to deal with the results of archaeological analysis of the grave goods and statistic data. Distribution of the bur
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