Papers by Oleksii (Олексій) Komar (Комар)
Hadak útján. A népvándorláskor kutatóinak XXIX. konferenciája. Budapest, 2019. november 15–16. 29th. 2. Budapest: MŐK Kiadványok, ol. 1-28, 2023
A kötet a támogatásával valósult meg A kötet megjelenését a Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Info... more A kötet a támogatásával valósult meg A kötet megjelenését a Nemzeti Kutatási, Fejlesztési és Információs Hivatal "Tudományos Mecenatúra Pályázat" MEC_K_21 alprogramja támogatta (MEC_K_141246). A kötet az Árpád-ház Program támogatásával készült (IV.1. Keleti örökség-Keleti kapcsolatok. Írott források és kiadványok IV.2. Az Árpád-ház elődeinek keleti kapcsolatrendszere) A kutatás és a kötet az Innovációs és Technológiai Minisztérium támogatásával a Tématerületi Kiválósági Program: Magyarország és a Kelet kapcsolatának régészeti kutatása (Keleti Örökségünk PPKE Interdiszciplináris Történeti és Régészeti Kutatócsoport [TKP2020-NKA-11]) projekt keretében valósult meg.
Opus Mixtum 10, с. 49-74., 2022
The paper examines finds from the field observations of J. Khoinovski at the Kryvtsov estate in K... more The paper examines finds from the field observations of J. Khoinovski at the Kryvtsov estate in Kyiv, information about which has been used in archaeological researches for over a century without critical verification. Special attention is paid to the “sarcophagus made of pyrophyllite slabs” that had been interpreted as a princely burial accompanied by a ceremonial saber. The technological and stylistic features of the saber, its relationships with the so-called “Charlemagne’s saber” and a
synchronous array of weapons of Rus, Turkic-speaking nomads and ancient Hungarians are discussed and reconsidered.
The historical context in which such products could appear in ancient Kyiv is revealed.
Key words: Old Rus’, sarcophagus, pyrophyllite, ceremonial saber, “Sabre of Charlemagne”, ancient Hungarians, torevtics.
Opus Mixtum 9, с.75-84., 2021
The article analyzes the archaeological finds from the 8th – early 9th centuries Slavic settlemen... more The article analyzes the archaeological finds from the 8th – early 9th centuries Slavic settlements of Kyiv. Based on the building construction features and types of the handmade pottery from the 8th – early 9th centuries contexts of the Starokyivska hill the author states that they belong to the Volyntseve culture, while all currently known dwellings of the late 9th – early 10th century contain pottery of the Luka-Raiky (Raikovetska) and Romny culture. The fi nds of wheel-made vessels of the
Volyntseve type from Zamkova Hill are distinguished for the first time. The stratigraphic level of their occurrence preceded the horizon of the early pottery of the Luka-Raiky culture.
Key words: Kyiv, Volyntseve culture, Luka-Raiky culture, Romny culture, early Slavs, Khazar Khaganate.
Старожитності Лівобережного Подніпров’я – 2020: збірник наукових праць. До 130-річчя з дня народження О. К. Тахтая (1890 – 1963). Полтава; Харків: ТОВ «Майдан». С. 273-285., 2020
Десятий ювілейний випуск цього збірника присвячується 130-річчю з дня народження відомого українс... more Десятий ювілейний випуск цього збірника присвячується 130-річчю з дня народження відомого українського археолога, науковця музеїв Полтави, Дніпропетровська, Херсона, Севас то поля та Донецька, хранителя колекцій і руїн легендарного Херсонесу в роки Другої світової війни, уродженця Полтавщини Олександра Кузьмича Тахтая (1890-1963). Вміщено статті та публікації археологів і музейників, підготовлені до ювілею вченого, очільника відділу археології Полтавського державного музею у 20-ті рр. ХХ ст. Видання об'єднало дослідження з історії археології, археології бронзового і раннього залізного віків, середньовіччя, публікації му зей них колекцій й окремих артефактів, документальних матеріалів, переважно присвячених життєвому шляху, науковій діяльності, безпосередньо виявленим ученим знахідкам. Для археологів, істориків, пам'яткоохоронців, співробітників музеїв, краєзнавців, усіх, хто цікавиться найдавнішим минулим Дніпровського Лівобережжя України, життєвим шляхом і творчою діяльністю О. К. Тахтая і його колег у ХХ ст.. УДК 903 (477.53)(092) Тахтай О. К.
I. Moldáv–Magyar régészeti kerekasztal konferencia kelet-Európa kora középkoráról. Chișinău, 2015. június 10–11. (Первый молдо-венгерский археологический круглый стол, посвященный вопросам раннего средневековья Восточной Европы, Кишинёв, 10–11 июня 2015 г.), Budapest: Martin Opitz Kiadó, 2020
Bowl from Korobchyno
The article analyzes a silver bowl from a Subbotsi-type burial near the vill... more Bowl from Korobchyno
The article analyzes a silver bowl from a Subbotsi-type burial near the village Korobchyno at the Lower Dnieper region, attributed in the first publications as the product of the East Sogdian centers of toreutics. The traces of soldering on the vessel demonstrates that it previously had a handle with a thumb pad, typical for mugs and metal cups of Sogdian, Turkic and Chinese production. But a number of mistakes and negligence made by the artisan in the process of the vessel production,
and the decoration and original shape of the cup, which does not find exact analogies among the sample of metal cups and mugs of the 8th - 9th centuries, do not allow the Korobchino cup to be considered as made in the stationary workshops of Sogd. The floral decoration of the vessel is close to the design of dishes from Sludka and Kytmanov, which belong to the “school A” of Sogdian toreutics according to B.A.Marshak, which undoubtedly influenced seriously the toreutics of the Saltov culturalture. The execution of the cup buds from Korobchyno is closest of all to Saltov's decoration of the belt and harness. These features allow us to conclude that the vessel was made in the Saltov craft environment in the 830s-840s, during the period of allied relations of the ancient Magyars with the Khazarian Khaganate.
Археологія і давня історія України 1 (38), 2021
Casting molds for making small ornaments of lead or tin alloys were found in different parts of t... more Casting molds for making small ornaments of lead or tin alloys were found in different parts of the East Europe in the areas of various archaeological cultures.
This simple technology and simple shapes of products were in use by many peoples since 3rd till 10th century and perhaps even earlier. Lead castings and stone molds for their manufacture attracted the attention of researchers of Early Slavic archaeology since discovery of the Velyki Budky hoard (1981) and Bernashivka workshop (1990).
The obvious problem was the chronological and geographic lacuna between the Slavic Bernashivka type ornaments (6th—7th centuries) and ornaments of the Kamno-Rõuge type (8th—10th centuries) from the Eastern Baltic region. Several versions explaining the similarity of finds from the northern and southern areas have been proposed: common substrate, population migrations, imitation of some fashion etc. In recent years two molds for some ornaments of the Kamno-Rõuge type have been discovered at the Romny culture hillforts (Sverdlovske 1, Vorkhol II), which demonstrated the lasting of the tradition in the south until the
10th century.
A problem of the upper limit for existence of the Bernashivka type ornaments can be clarified using the mold find from Khodosivka settlement. The mold was discovered by expedition of E. O. Petrovska in
1976 during a survey along the left edge of the Gley ravine (Kozakiv ravine) near the Khodosivka hillfort. It was found in remaining part of a pit dwelling in context with fragments of hand-made and wheel-made
pots of the Volyntsevo culture. The object dates back to the second half of the 8th century — early 9th century. Negatives of ornaments are carved on both sides of the mold. A diamond-shaped patch carved on the main side. On the reverse side the negatives of round plaques are carved and probably loops for attaching the same plaques. There is also circular decoration presents, probably, of a circular pendant. The closest
analogies to such decorations were found in the Bernashivka workshop, and also at the molds from the Lower Danube region.
Products from the Khodosivka mold look quite archaic and simple in comparing to gold and silver jewelry from hoards of the Volyntsevo
culture. Such production was undoubtedly the part of nonprofessional home craft.
Keywords: Eastern Slavs, Middle Dnieper region, Early Middle Ages, Volyntsevo culture, mold, home craft.
«На одно крыло — серебряная, На другое — золотая...» Сборник статей памяти Светланы Рябцевой. Библиотека «Stratum». - Кишинэу: Stratum Plus. , 2020
The Dniester-Danube group of the Subbotsy type graves is noticeably geographically isolated from ... more The Dniester-Danube group of the Subbotsy type graves is noticeably geographically isolated from the main area of the early Magyar burials in the Northern Black Sea region. This makes it suitable in terms of studying the local characteristics of the material culture of the population.
The very rare finds of belt sets and harness ornaments is one of such conspicuous features. Despite the limited number of the toreutics objects from the Dniester-Danube group graves, they demonstrate heterogeneity, a mixture of two opposite cultural impulses. The first one is “Volga-Ural” impulse, it is represented by belt fittings from Slobodzeya grave 18, Buciumeni find and Răducăneni hoard. They repeat or imitate the types of belt sets from the outlet region of the early Magyar migration to the west. The second impulse — “Danubian” — is represented by a buckle from Slobodzeya grave 18, decorated by floral ornaments vessels No. 13, 14 and 20, 21 from the Nagyszentmiklós hoard, and by a strap-end from Buciumeni which imitates the decor of a strap-end from Mikulčice.
The appearance of the “Danubian” group of objects was the result of the interaction of the early Magyars with the local population, most likely, from the Bulgarian state, where several items of the “Nagyszentmiklós” style were also discovered. Written accounts confirm that such union did take place in 837, when the Magyars acted together with the Bulgarians against Byzantium
Opus Mixtum 8, 2020
The paper analyses the data of written and archeological sources about the location of the St. Va... more The paper analyses the data of written and archeological sources about the location of the St. Vasiliy (Basil) church built by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich. The concusion based on the analysis of archaeological data, doubts a possibility of the location of the temple of the late 10th – early 11th centuries on the place of the later Three Saints Church, and rejects a version about identification the so-called «Western building» in the southwestern part of the Old Kyiv hillfort as the early St. Vasiliy Church. The author draws attention to the foundations made of red quartzite stone discovered by K. Lokhvytskiy near Andriyivska Hill in 1832 as a possible monumental building of the of Vladimir Sviatoslavych time.
Archaeologia Bulgarica ХХII, 3 , 2018
Археологическо и археомагнитно датиране и археомагнитно датиране на ранносредновековния Канцирка ... more Археологическо и археомагнитно датиране и археомагнитно датиране на ранносредновековния Канцирка тип керамика
Ранносредновековният алански керамичен производствен цен-
тър в долината Канцирка на река Днепър е първото свидетелство
за възобновяване на масово занаятчийско производство на стоки
в северночерноморските степи в следримско време. Керамиката,
създадена в Канцирка, има несъмнено алански, севернокавказки
корени. Учените търсят причините за миграцията на население
към Поднепровието, изследват продължителността на неговите
селища. Хронологията им е основен въпрос. Скоро след откри-
ването ѝ керамиката от типа Канцирка е датирана във втората
половина на VІІ – VІІІ век по паралели от номадски комплекси с
монети. След 1973 година са добавени три археомагнитни дати-
ровки „VІ-VІІ век“ на грънчарски пещи в селището Любимивка
в долината Канцирка. Те се различават от археологическите.
Това води до две тълкувания на керамичния център в Канцирка.
Според първото той възниква в резултат на преселване на се-
вернокавказко население в рамките на Хазарския хаганат (след
665 година), преди формиране на Салтовската култура на Дон в
средата на VІІІ век. Втората теза се основава на археомагнитно-
то датиране и свързва центъра с прабългарския племенен съюз
от VІ-VІІ век с последващо пренасяне на грънчарската тради-
Archaeological and Archaeomagnetic Dating of Early ... 69
ция на Долния Дунав след 681 година. Съвременният анализ на
археологически комплекси на номади и славяни на Днепър, съ-
държащи съдове от тип Канцирка, не подкрепя датиране на по-
явата на този грънчарски център в VІ век. Terminus post quem за
възникването му дават византийски монети от археологическия
комплекс Келегей, отсечени в 644-645 година. Горната дата на
съществуване на центъра в Канцирка се определя по сходство в
техниката на производство на кани в долината Таранив (Мачухи)
и в Салтовската култура на Дон. Археологически керамиката тип
Канцирка може да се отнесе към периода 645-740 година.
Засега липсват доказателства за пренос на грънчарски тра-
диции от Канцирка на Долния Дунав чрез прабългарите, водени
от Аспарух. В три прабългарски некропола – Бдинци, Балчик и
Кюлевча – са намерени съдове, напомнящи по украса и форма
на кани от Канцирка. Въпросните погребения датират от края
на VІІ – средата на VІІІ век. Хронологически те съответстват на
номадски комплекси от Поднепровието, съдържащи оригинална
керамика от тип Канцирка.
През 1982 година са публикувани нови археомагнитни
датировки на пещи от Канцирка. Две (# 13 и 17) са отнесени
към VІІ век, а една (# 12) – към VІІІ век. Съвременна проверка
на старите археомагнитни датировки дава напълно приемливи
резултати, съвпадащи с археологическите: пещ 13 – 634-723
година; пещ 17 – 691-770 година; пещ 12 – 704-769 година. Тези
датировки ще бъдат уточнени с развитието на археомагнитния
метод като анализиращи уреди и база данни.
АРХЕОЛОГІЯ І ДАВНЯ ІСТОРІЯ УКРАЇНИ, 2019
The introduction of radiocarbon dating method in
USSR and Ukrainian archeology was much slower
co... more The introduction of radiocarbon dating method in
USSR and Ukrainian archeology was much slower
compared to world practice. Natural scientific methods
of dating in archeology have found quick application
for the study of prehistoric sites — from the Paleolithic
to the late Bronze Age. Much more time passed before
the method began to be used for dating of sites of the
1st and 2nd millennium AD.
The initiative of serial sampling from the medieval
archaeological complexes of Ukraine for radiocarbon
analysis initially came not from archaeologists. This
led at the first stage to a confrontation between traditional
archaeological methods of analysis and the new
«revolutionary» approaches of the natural sciences.
In 1968 mathematician A. S. Buhai collected
63 samples of charcoal from different parts of the
«Zmievi Valy» («Snake Ramparts») and hillforts of the
Kyiv region. At least 34 results were obtained from
3 different laboratories. All results attributed the time
of existence of fortifications not to the Middle Ages, but
to the 2nd century BC — 7th century AD, what caused
the emergence of the sensational concept of the Early
Slavic state in the Middle Dnieper region long before
the formation of the Old Rus’ state.
Institute of Archaeology (Academy of Sciences of the
Ukrainian SSR) has developed a big project for complex
researches of these fortifications led by M. P. Kuchera.
During 1974—1985, many fortifications of «Zmievi
Valy» in different regions were studied archaeologically.
The facts of overlapping of settlements of the 3th—
7th centuries AD by ramparts as well as the presence
of Old Rus’ artifacts of the 10th—13th centuries in the
body of wooden and earth structures of ramparts were
recorded. Stratigraphic and archaeological data confidently
dated the ramparts to the Middle Ages, while 28
radiocarbon dates for samples, carefully selected from
wooden constructions of fortifications, showed a chaotic
spread of dates from the 24th century BC until the
14th century AD. The verdict of M. P. Kuchera on the
possibility of using the radiocarbon dating method for
the archeology of Middle Ages was naturally negative.
Geologist L. V. Firsov faced a similar problems after
collecting in 1970 of 57 samples from archaeological
complexes of Chersonesos and 33 samples from other
sites of Crimea. Believing in the high accuracy of the
radiocarbon dating method, he tried to explain the
wide scatter of radiocarbon dates from the same medieval
objects by their existence for half a millennium,
what was rejected by archaeologists.
The Institute Archeology and the Radiocarbon Laboratory
of the Institute of Geochemistry and Mineral
Physics af the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian
SSR managed joint project to get answers to the topical
questions of Ukrainian archaeologists concerning the
possibilities of the radiocarbon dating method in archeology.
Two institutes approved a joint plan theme for
1973—1978 «Determination of the age of archeological
sites by the natural scientific methods», for which a Coordination
Council was established, led by D. Ya. Telegin
and E. V. Sobotovich. According to the first report
of the group, 237 samples were collected from various
archaeological sites, for which 148 datings were successfully
obtained (62.4 %).
Cooperation continued further, but radiocarbon
dates for archaeological cultures of the historical period
from Ukraine had a little accuracy again on this
stage of the radiocarbon method development (1974—
1987). Thus, out of 31 examined medieval samples
only 5 matched to archeological datings. 12 samples
from sites of 6th — 10th centuries gave 7 dates, only 4
of them were in agreement with archaeological dating.
For 12 samples from sites of Zarubyntsi and Chernyakhiv
cultures 5 dates were received, and only one was
in agreement with archaeological dating. The problem
of the difference in these cases cannot be solved with
the help of modern calibration of radiocarbon dates.
After the complete fiasco of the initial stage of the
radiocarbon dating of the medieval archaeological objects
from Ukraine (1970—1973), a small step forward
was made in 1974—1987. But this did not convince
archaeologists in the rationality of using the method
of radiocarbon dating for cultures with a wide choice
of dating markers. The situation remained stable until
the present stage of development of the accelerator
mass spectrometry dating which makes again actual
the renewal of the program of radiocarbon dating for
the Early Slavic cultures of the 1st millennium AD.
Keywords: radiocarbon method, chronology, calibration
of dates, archeology of the Early Slavs, Zmievi
Valy («Snake Ramparts»).
Lebenswelten zwischen Archäologie und Geschichte. Festschrift für Falko Daim zu seinem 65. Geburtstag. (Monographien des RGZM, Band 150). – Mainz: Verlag des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, 2018
A Gold Buckle from Bohdan Khanenko’s Collection. Notes on the History of the Mala Pereshchepina C... more A Gold Buckle from Bohdan Khanenko’s Collection. Notes on the History of the Mala Pereshchepina Complex
A gold buckle from the collection of the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine (No. АЗС 2259) is a forgery, roughly copying an authentic buckle from the Mala Pereshchepina »treasure« after its first publication by I. A. Zaretskiy (1912). This fake was manufactured in order to be sold to B. I. Khanenko in 1914 before he resold the second part of his collection from the Mala Pereshchepina complex to the Imperial Archaeological Commission. The contemporaneous collection of the Pereshchepina complex in the possession of the State Hermitage Museum also contains at least two non-authentic objects from different purchases and number of artefacts with uncertain provenance (e. g. Martynivka type strap-ends, finger rings with Greek monograms). The gold rush around the Pereshchepina treasure in 1912-1914 allowed dealers in antiquities to use several methods to obtain more profit from the resale of finds. These include the addition of non-conspicuous objects and the multiplication of authentic artefacts. The value of objects from the Pereshchepina complex as an archaeological source varies, depending on the time and circumstances of their addition to the
State Hermitage Museum collection. The most authentic group of artefacts belongs to the complex listed in the police report (1912), papers of I. A. Zaretskiy and M. O. Makarenko (1912), and the first inventory of the State Hermitage Museum (1913). Groups of later purchases from the antiquities market contained additions and forgeries that can only be detected by modern methods of analysis.
Od Bachórza do Światowida ze Zbrucza. Tworzenie się słowiańskiej Europy w ujęciu źródłoznawczym. Księga jubileuszowa Profesora Michała Parczewskiego B. Chudzińska, M. Wojenka, M. Wołoszyn (red.) Kraków–Rzeszów 2016, s. 137–149, 2016
Stylistic interpretations of the decoration and shape of the Dnieper
plate fibulae usually follow... more Stylistic interpretations of the decoration and shape of the Dnieper
plate fibulae usually follow the hypothesis of Aleksander Spitcyn and Boris Rybakov regarding the anthropomorphism of Slavic fibulae.
Hammered plate brooches have been considered as the latest representation in a very simplified and schematized form of the anthropomorphic
style, despite the fact that they do not render any obvious traces of this style, except for the general contours of the cast anthropoor
zoomorphic fibulae. Three silver plate brooches of the two richest hoards of the 2nd group from Zalissia and Harivka were initially
decorated with filigree and soldered imitation of inlaid stones; other brooches only imitate this style in punching technique. Most likely,
a new style of Slavic tribal nobility golden jewellery was inspired by a prestigious fashion of filigree jewellery of the Christian
neighbours — Late Merovingian Europe and Byzantium.
Chronica. Annual of the Institute of History, University of Szeged. – Szeged, 2007-2008. – Vol. 7-8. – P. 125-133., 2008
Взаимодействие народов Евразии в эпоху великого переселения народов. – Ижевск: Удмуртский ГУ, 2006. – C.107-111, 2006
Opus mixtum, 2018
The paper analyzes the problem of production furnaces dating, studied in 1914, 1936 and 1974 on t... more The paper analyzes the problem of production furnaces dating, studied in 1914, 1936 and 1974 on the former Desyatynna churchyard. On the basis of a complex of stratigraphic, architectural, archaeological, and archaeomagnetic data, it is supported that it’s construction in the middle of the 11th – early 12th century was made for the overhaul of the Desyatynna Church.
Keywords: Old Rus’, Desytynna Church, production furnaces, chronology, archeomagnetism.
In 1972, two ovens from dwellings of the Volyntseve culture were studied with archaeomagnetic met... more In 1972, two ovens from dwellings of the Volyntseve culture were studied with archaeomagnetic method by G. F. Zagnii. Proposed archaeomagnetic dating for the oven from Khodosivka dwelling 2 («6th century AD») was different from the archaeological date for two centuries, thence both archaeomagnetic dates seemed unreliable and they were never used in archaeological research as a chronological marker for the Volyntseve culture.
The task of this study was to determine whether it is possible to verify old archaeomagnetic data with the help of modern analysis tools and to compare it with recent archaeological datings of the same complexes.
Finds from Hodosivka dwellings 1 and 2 include iron buckle, belt ornament, earring, glass beads of the Saltiv cultural circle and wheel-made pottery of the Saltiv technology, that allows using detailed chronological scale of the Saltiv culture and limiting the chronological
framework for dwellings 1 to 790—835 AD and for the stratigraphically earlier dwellings 2 to 740—790 AD.
Analysis of archaeomagnetic data was made with Matlab tool for archaeomagnetic dating software and three global models: ARCH3K.1, SHA.DIF.14K and CALS3K.3. Two versions of the archaeomagnetic data
were examined. First version of data (1977) presented only declination and inclination values, calculated with larger number of measured samples accepted; later version (1986) reflects data with fewer samples
accepted after the procedure for excluding extreme values and also field intensity values. Comparison showed that the later version of the data is much better consistent with archaeological dates and must be used as
basic.
The results of 95 % probability archaeomagnetic dating of the dwelling № 1 in all three used models ARCH3K.1, SHA.DIF.14K and CALS3K.3 are in good agreement with archaeological date: respectively 752—845; 758—855; 678—858 AD. Agreement is less precise in archaeomagnetic dating of the dwelling № 2: respectively 677—784; 702—802; 622—745, 770—814 AD, where only the second part of the time range corresponds
to the archaeological dating. However, both new results are acceptable, which means the presence of a chronological error in the local archaeomagnetic curve of G. F. Zagnii and O. M. Rusakov, created for
the territory of Ukraine and Moldova. This conclusion means that all Early Mediaeval chronological schemes in archaeology based on this archaeomagnetic curve needs verification of archaeomagnetic data using modern databases and global models.
Keywords: chronology, archaeomagnetism, Volyntseve culture, settlement, Early Mediaeval Slavic archaeology.
Oleksii Komar, Between Rus’ and Khazaria: Dnieper Left Bank region of the 9th century in the ligh... more Oleksii Komar, Between Rus’ and Khazaria: Dnieper Left Bank region of the 9th century in the light of recent archaeology.
Written sources contain only little information about historical events at the Dnieper region in the 9th century when Rus’ firstly appeared at the political scene. The resource of these sources has been exhausted long ago. New data can be obtained only by analyzing of archaeological sources which tend to increase. In the context of relationship problems between Early Rus’ and Khazaria the basic interest concentrates on some groups of „archaeological events”. The most important ones – disastrous end of the Volyntsevo archaeological culture at the beginning of the 9th century and abrupt changes of areas of Arab dirkhams distribution in East Europe circa 812–816 A. D. Changes in cultural development of Slavonic tribes at the Dnieper Left Bank region in the 9th
century mark rapid decrease of the Khazarian influence that can be correlated with some political and economical events in the formation of Early Rus’ state.
The paper examines materials of the early medieval nomadic burial from Yablunya (grave 11, barrow... more The paper examines materials of the early medieval nomadic burial from Yablunya (grave 11, barrow 11) in the Berezan
river basin (North-West Black Sea region). The grave was discovered in 1974 by the Ingul expedition led by O. G. Shaposhnikova
and published later by R. S. Orlov with contradictory chronological, cultural and ethnic attribution.
The fact that some fragments of scabbard and hilt made of organic materials have been preserved makes it an
exceptional case. Thus, it is possible to reconstruct the outlook of weapons of ordinary nomads, to study the technology of
birch bark lining, stylistic details of ornament and its links with the decoration of synchronous weapons from internments of
nomadic nobility. Peculiarities of this funerary rite, as a whole, and analogies to the grave goods allow us to reconsider its
attribution as an early Pecheneg site of the last quarter of the 9th century and qualify grave 11 of barrow 11 near Yablunya
as Sivashovka type grave dated by the 2nd half of the 7th — early 8th centuries.
The article reviews the history of the discovery, interpretation and scientific presentation of t... more The article reviews the history of the discovery, interpretation and scientific presentation of the first Old Rus’ian silver ingots
of the Kyiv type in the context of archaeological research of the Desyatynna Church in 1823–1828 and the relations of
their main participants – E. Bolkhovitinov (metropolitan Eugeniy), M. Berlinsky, K. Lokhvitsky, N. Yefimov and O. Annenkov.
Key words: Old Rus’, silver payment ingots, Kyiv, Desyatynna Church, history of archaeological research.
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Papers by Oleksii (Олексій) Komar (Комар)
synchronous array of weapons of Rus, Turkic-speaking nomads and ancient Hungarians are discussed and reconsidered.
The historical context in which such products could appear in ancient Kyiv is revealed.
Key words: Old Rus’, sarcophagus, pyrophyllite, ceremonial saber, “Sabre of Charlemagne”, ancient Hungarians, torevtics.
Volyntseve type from Zamkova Hill are distinguished for the first time. The stratigraphic level of their occurrence preceded the horizon of the early pottery of the Luka-Raiky culture.
Key words: Kyiv, Volyntseve culture, Luka-Raiky culture, Romny culture, early Slavs, Khazar Khaganate.
The article analyzes a silver bowl from a Subbotsi-type burial near the village Korobchyno at the Lower Dnieper region, attributed in the first publications as the product of the East Sogdian centers of toreutics. The traces of soldering on the vessel demonstrates that it previously had a handle with a thumb pad, typical for mugs and metal cups of Sogdian, Turkic and Chinese production. But a number of mistakes and negligence made by the artisan in the process of the vessel production,
and the decoration and original shape of the cup, which does not find exact analogies among the sample of metal cups and mugs of the 8th - 9th centuries, do not allow the Korobchino cup to be considered as made in the stationary workshops of Sogd. The floral decoration of the vessel is close to the design of dishes from Sludka and Kytmanov, which belong to the “school A” of Sogdian toreutics according to B.A.Marshak, which undoubtedly influenced seriously the toreutics of the Saltov culturalture. The execution of the cup buds from Korobchyno is closest of all to Saltov's decoration of the belt and harness. These features allow us to conclude that the vessel was made in the Saltov craft environment in the 830s-840s, during the period of allied relations of the ancient Magyars with the Khazarian Khaganate.
This simple technology and simple shapes of products were in use by many peoples since 3rd till 10th century and perhaps even earlier. Lead castings and stone molds for their manufacture attracted the attention of researchers of Early Slavic archaeology since discovery of the Velyki Budky hoard (1981) and Bernashivka workshop (1990).
The obvious problem was the chronological and geographic lacuna between the Slavic Bernashivka type ornaments (6th—7th centuries) and ornaments of the Kamno-Rõuge type (8th—10th centuries) from the Eastern Baltic region. Several versions explaining the similarity of finds from the northern and southern areas have been proposed: common substrate, population migrations, imitation of some fashion etc. In recent years two molds for some ornaments of the Kamno-Rõuge type have been discovered at the Romny culture hillforts (Sverdlovske 1, Vorkhol II), which demonstrated the lasting of the tradition in the south until the
10th century.
A problem of the upper limit for existence of the Bernashivka type ornaments can be clarified using the mold find from Khodosivka settlement. The mold was discovered by expedition of E. O. Petrovska in
1976 during a survey along the left edge of the Gley ravine (Kozakiv ravine) near the Khodosivka hillfort. It was found in remaining part of a pit dwelling in context with fragments of hand-made and wheel-made
pots of the Volyntsevo culture. The object dates back to the second half of the 8th century — early 9th century. Negatives of ornaments are carved on both sides of the mold. A diamond-shaped patch carved on the main side. On the reverse side the negatives of round plaques are carved and probably loops for attaching the same plaques. There is also circular decoration presents, probably, of a circular pendant. The closest
analogies to such decorations were found in the Bernashivka workshop, and also at the molds from the Lower Danube region.
Products from the Khodosivka mold look quite archaic and simple in comparing to gold and silver jewelry from hoards of the Volyntsevo
culture. Such production was undoubtedly the part of nonprofessional home craft.
Keywords: Eastern Slavs, Middle Dnieper region, Early Middle Ages, Volyntsevo culture, mold, home craft.
The very rare finds of belt sets and harness ornaments is one of such conspicuous features. Despite the limited number of the toreutics objects from the Dniester-Danube group graves, they demonstrate heterogeneity, a mixture of two opposite cultural impulses. The first one is “Volga-Ural” impulse, it is represented by belt fittings from Slobodzeya grave 18, Buciumeni find and Răducăneni hoard. They repeat or imitate the types of belt sets from the outlet region of the early Magyar migration to the west. The second impulse — “Danubian” — is represented by a buckle from Slobodzeya grave 18, decorated by floral ornaments vessels No. 13, 14 and 20, 21 from the Nagyszentmiklós hoard, and by a strap-end from Buciumeni which imitates the decor of a strap-end from Mikulčice.
The appearance of the “Danubian” group of objects was the result of the interaction of the early Magyars with the local population, most likely, from the Bulgarian state, where several items of the “Nagyszentmiklós” style were also discovered. Written accounts confirm that such union did take place in 837, when the Magyars acted together with the Bulgarians against Byzantium
Ранносредновековният алански керамичен производствен цен-
тър в долината Канцирка на река Днепър е първото свидетелство
за възобновяване на масово занаятчийско производство на стоки
в северночерноморските степи в следримско време. Керамиката,
създадена в Канцирка, има несъмнено алански, севернокавказки
корени. Учените търсят причините за миграцията на население
към Поднепровието, изследват продължителността на неговите
селища. Хронологията им е основен въпрос. Скоро след откри-
ването ѝ керамиката от типа Канцирка е датирана във втората
половина на VІІ – VІІІ век по паралели от номадски комплекси с
монети. След 1973 година са добавени три археомагнитни дати-
ровки „VІ-VІІ век“ на грънчарски пещи в селището Любимивка
в долината Канцирка. Те се различават от археологическите.
Това води до две тълкувания на керамичния център в Канцирка.
Според първото той възниква в резултат на преселване на се-
вернокавказко население в рамките на Хазарския хаганат (след
665 година), преди формиране на Салтовската култура на Дон в
средата на VІІІ век. Втората теза се основава на археомагнитно-
то датиране и свързва центъра с прабългарския племенен съюз
от VІ-VІІ век с последващо пренасяне на грънчарската тради-
Archaeological and Archaeomagnetic Dating of Early ... 69
ция на Долния Дунав след 681 година. Съвременният анализ на
археологически комплекси на номади и славяни на Днепър, съ-
държащи съдове от тип Канцирка, не подкрепя датиране на по-
явата на този грънчарски център в VІ век. Terminus post quem за
възникването му дават византийски монети от археологическия
комплекс Келегей, отсечени в 644-645 година. Горната дата на
съществуване на центъра в Канцирка се определя по сходство в
техниката на производство на кани в долината Таранив (Мачухи)
и в Салтовската култура на Дон. Археологически керамиката тип
Канцирка може да се отнесе към периода 645-740 година.
Засега липсват доказателства за пренос на грънчарски тра-
диции от Канцирка на Долния Дунав чрез прабългарите, водени
от Аспарух. В три прабългарски некропола – Бдинци, Балчик и
Кюлевча – са намерени съдове, напомнящи по украса и форма
на кани от Канцирка. Въпросните погребения датират от края
на VІІ – средата на VІІІ век. Хронологически те съответстват на
номадски комплекси от Поднепровието, съдържащи оригинална
керамика от тип Канцирка.
През 1982 година са публикувани нови археомагнитни
датировки на пещи от Канцирка. Две (# 13 и 17) са отнесени
към VІІ век, а една (# 12) – към VІІІ век. Съвременна проверка
на старите археомагнитни датировки дава напълно приемливи
резултати, съвпадащи с археологическите: пещ 13 – 634-723
година; пещ 17 – 691-770 година; пещ 12 – 704-769 година. Тези
датировки ще бъдат уточнени с развитието на археомагнитния
метод като анализиращи уреди и база данни.
USSR and Ukrainian archeology was much slower
compared to world practice. Natural scientific methods
of dating in archeology have found quick application
for the study of prehistoric sites — from the Paleolithic
to the late Bronze Age. Much more time passed before
the method began to be used for dating of sites of the
1st and 2nd millennium AD.
The initiative of serial sampling from the medieval
archaeological complexes of Ukraine for radiocarbon
analysis initially came not from archaeologists. This
led at the first stage to a confrontation between traditional
archaeological methods of analysis and the new
«revolutionary» approaches of the natural sciences.
In 1968 mathematician A. S. Buhai collected
63 samples of charcoal from different parts of the
«Zmievi Valy» («Snake Ramparts») and hillforts of the
Kyiv region. At least 34 results were obtained from
3 different laboratories. All results attributed the time
of existence of fortifications not to the Middle Ages, but
to the 2nd century BC — 7th century AD, what caused
the emergence of the sensational concept of the Early
Slavic state in the Middle Dnieper region long before
the formation of the Old Rus’ state.
Institute of Archaeology (Academy of Sciences of the
Ukrainian SSR) has developed a big project for complex
researches of these fortifications led by M. P. Kuchera.
During 1974—1985, many fortifications of «Zmievi
Valy» in different regions were studied archaeologically.
The facts of overlapping of settlements of the 3th—
7th centuries AD by ramparts as well as the presence
of Old Rus’ artifacts of the 10th—13th centuries in the
body of wooden and earth structures of ramparts were
recorded. Stratigraphic and archaeological data confidently
dated the ramparts to the Middle Ages, while 28
radiocarbon dates for samples, carefully selected from
wooden constructions of fortifications, showed a chaotic
spread of dates from the 24th century BC until the
14th century AD. The verdict of M. P. Kuchera on the
possibility of using the radiocarbon dating method for
the archeology of Middle Ages was naturally negative.
Geologist L. V. Firsov faced a similar problems after
collecting in 1970 of 57 samples from archaeological
complexes of Chersonesos and 33 samples from other
sites of Crimea. Believing in the high accuracy of the
radiocarbon dating method, he tried to explain the
wide scatter of radiocarbon dates from the same medieval
objects by their existence for half a millennium,
what was rejected by archaeologists.
The Institute Archeology and the Radiocarbon Laboratory
of the Institute of Geochemistry and Mineral
Physics af the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian
SSR managed joint project to get answers to the topical
questions of Ukrainian archaeologists concerning the
possibilities of the radiocarbon dating method in archeology.
Two institutes approved a joint plan theme for
1973—1978 «Determination of the age of archeological
sites by the natural scientific methods», for which a Coordination
Council was established, led by D. Ya. Telegin
and E. V. Sobotovich. According to the first report
of the group, 237 samples were collected from various
archaeological sites, for which 148 datings were successfully
obtained (62.4 %).
Cooperation continued further, but radiocarbon
dates for archaeological cultures of the historical period
from Ukraine had a little accuracy again on this
stage of the radiocarbon method development (1974—
1987). Thus, out of 31 examined medieval samples
only 5 matched to archeological datings. 12 samples
from sites of 6th — 10th centuries gave 7 dates, only 4
of them were in agreement with archaeological dating.
For 12 samples from sites of Zarubyntsi and Chernyakhiv
cultures 5 dates were received, and only one was
in agreement with archaeological dating. The problem
of the difference in these cases cannot be solved with
the help of modern calibration of radiocarbon dates.
After the complete fiasco of the initial stage of the
radiocarbon dating of the medieval archaeological objects
from Ukraine (1970—1973), a small step forward
was made in 1974—1987. But this did not convince
archaeologists in the rationality of using the method
of radiocarbon dating for cultures with a wide choice
of dating markers. The situation remained stable until
the present stage of development of the accelerator
mass spectrometry dating which makes again actual
the renewal of the program of radiocarbon dating for
the Early Slavic cultures of the 1st millennium AD.
Keywords: radiocarbon method, chronology, calibration
of dates, archeology of the Early Slavs, Zmievi
Valy («Snake Ramparts»).
A gold buckle from the collection of the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine (No. АЗС 2259) is a forgery, roughly copying an authentic buckle from the Mala Pereshchepina »treasure« after its first publication by I. A. Zaretskiy (1912). This fake was manufactured in order to be sold to B. I. Khanenko in 1914 before he resold the second part of his collection from the Mala Pereshchepina complex to the Imperial Archaeological Commission. The contemporaneous collection of the Pereshchepina complex in the possession of the State Hermitage Museum also contains at least two non-authentic objects from different purchases and number of artefacts with uncertain provenance (e. g. Martynivka type strap-ends, finger rings with Greek monograms). The gold rush around the Pereshchepina treasure in 1912-1914 allowed dealers in antiquities to use several methods to obtain more profit from the resale of finds. These include the addition of non-conspicuous objects and the multiplication of authentic artefacts. The value of objects from the Pereshchepina complex as an archaeological source varies, depending on the time and circumstances of their addition to the
State Hermitage Museum collection. The most authentic group of artefacts belongs to the complex listed in the police report (1912), papers of I. A. Zaretskiy and M. O. Makarenko (1912), and the first inventory of the State Hermitage Museum (1913). Groups of later purchases from the antiquities market contained additions and forgeries that can only be detected by modern methods of analysis.
plate fibulae usually follow the hypothesis of Aleksander Spitcyn and Boris Rybakov regarding the anthropomorphism of Slavic fibulae.
Hammered plate brooches have been considered as the latest representation in a very simplified and schematized form of the anthropomorphic
style, despite the fact that they do not render any obvious traces of this style, except for the general contours of the cast anthropoor
zoomorphic fibulae. Three silver plate brooches of the two richest hoards of the 2nd group from Zalissia and Harivka were initially
decorated with filigree and soldered imitation of inlaid stones; other brooches only imitate this style in punching technique. Most likely,
a new style of Slavic tribal nobility golden jewellery was inspired by a prestigious fashion of filigree jewellery of the Christian
neighbours — Late Merovingian Europe and Byzantium.
Keywords: Old Rus’, Desytynna Church, production furnaces, chronology, archeomagnetism.
The task of this study was to determine whether it is possible to verify old archaeomagnetic data with the help of modern analysis tools and to compare it with recent archaeological datings of the same complexes.
Finds from Hodosivka dwellings 1 and 2 include iron buckle, belt ornament, earring, glass beads of the Saltiv cultural circle and wheel-made pottery of the Saltiv technology, that allows using detailed chronological scale of the Saltiv culture and limiting the chronological
framework for dwellings 1 to 790—835 AD and for the stratigraphically earlier dwellings 2 to 740—790 AD.
Analysis of archaeomagnetic data was made with Matlab tool for archaeomagnetic dating software and three global models: ARCH3K.1, SHA.DIF.14K and CALS3K.3. Two versions of the archaeomagnetic data
were examined. First version of data (1977) presented only declination and inclination values, calculated with larger number of measured samples accepted; later version (1986) reflects data with fewer samples
accepted after the procedure for excluding extreme values and also field intensity values. Comparison showed that the later version of the data is much better consistent with archaeological dates and must be used as
basic.
The results of 95 % probability archaeomagnetic dating of the dwelling № 1 in all three used models ARCH3K.1, SHA.DIF.14K and CALS3K.3 are in good agreement with archaeological date: respectively 752—845; 758—855; 678—858 AD. Agreement is less precise in archaeomagnetic dating of the dwelling № 2: respectively 677—784; 702—802; 622—745, 770—814 AD, where only the second part of the time range corresponds
to the archaeological dating. However, both new results are acceptable, which means the presence of a chronological error in the local archaeomagnetic curve of G. F. Zagnii and O. M. Rusakov, created for
the territory of Ukraine and Moldova. This conclusion means that all Early Mediaeval chronological schemes in archaeology based on this archaeomagnetic curve needs verification of archaeomagnetic data using modern databases and global models.
Keywords: chronology, archaeomagnetism, Volyntseve culture, settlement, Early Mediaeval Slavic archaeology.
Written sources contain only little information about historical events at the Dnieper region in the 9th century when Rus’ firstly appeared at the political scene. The resource of these sources has been exhausted long ago. New data can be obtained only by analyzing of archaeological sources which tend to increase. In the context of relationship problems between Early Rus’ and Khazaria the basic interest concentrates on some groups of „archaeological events”. The most important ones – disastrous end of the Volyntsevo archaeological culture at the beginning of the 9th century and abrupt changes of areas of Arab dirkhams distribution in East Europe circa 812–816 A. D. Changes in cultural development of Slavonic tribes at the Dnieper Left Bank region in the 9th
century mark rapid decrease of the Khazarian influence that can be correlated with some political and economical events in the formation of Early Rus’ state.
river basin (North-West Black Sea region). The grave was discovered in 1974 by the Ingul expedition led by O. G. Shaposhnikova
and published later by R. S. Orlov with contradictory chronological, cultural and ethnic attribution.
The fact that some fragments of scabbard and hilt made of organic materials have been preserved makes it an
exceptional case. Thus, it is possible to reconstruct the outlook of weapons of ordinary nomads, to study the technology of
birch bark lining, stylistic details of ornament and its links with the decoration of synchronous weapons from internments of
nomadic nobility. Peculiarities of this funerary rite, as a whole, and analogies to the grave goods allow us to reconsider its
attribution as an early Pecheneg site of the last quarter of the 9th century and qualify grave 11 of barrow 11 near Yablunya
as Sivashovka type grave dated by the 2nd half of the 7th — early 8th centuries.
of the Kyiv type in the context of archaeological research of the Desyatynna Church in 1823–1828 and the relations of
their main participants – E. Bolkhovitinov (metropolitan Eugeniy), M. Berlinsky, K. Lokhvitsky, N. Yefimov and O. Annenkov.
Key words: Old Rus’, silver payment ingots, Kyiv, Desyatynna Church, history of archaeological research.
synchronous array of weapons of Rus, Turkic-speaking nomads and ancient Hungarians are discussed and reconsidered.
The historical context in which such products could appear in ancient Kyiv is revealed.
Key words: Old Rus’, sarcophagus, pyrophyllite, ceremonial saber, “Sabre of Charlemagne”, ancient Hungarians, torevtics.
Volyntseve type from Zamkova Hill are distinguished for the first time. The stratigraphic level of their occurrence preceded the horizon of the early pottery of the Luka-Raiky culture.
Key words: Kyiv, Volyntseve culture, Luka-Raiky culture, Romny culture, early Slavs, Khazar Khaganate.
The article analyzes a silver bowl from a Subbotsi-type burial near the village Korobchyno at the Lower Dnieper region, attributed in the first publications as the product of the East Sogdian centers of toreutics. The traces of soldering on the vessel demonstrates that it previously had a handle with a thumb pad, typical for mugs and metal cups of Sogdian, Turkic and Chinese production. But a number of mistakes and negligence made by the artisan in the process of the vessel production,
and the decoration and original shape of the cup, which does not find exact analogies among the sample of metal cups and mugs of the 8th - 9th centuries, do not allow the Korobchino cup to be considered as made in the stationary workshops of Sogd. The floral decoration of the vessel is close to the design of dishes from Sludka and Kytmanov, which belong to the “school A” of Sogdian toreutics according to B.A.Marshak, which undoubtedly influenced seriously the toreutics of the Saltov culturalture. The execution of the cup buds from Korobchyno is closest of all to Saltov's decoration of the belt and harness. These features allow us to conclude that the vessel was made in the Saltov craft environment in the 830s-840s, during the period of allied relations of the ancient Magyars with the Khazarian Khaganate.
This simple technology and simple shapes of products were in use by many peoples since 3rd till 10th century and perhaps even earlier. Lead castings and stone molds for their manufacture attracted the attention of researchers of Early Slavic archaeology since discovery of the Velyki Budky hoard (1981) and Bernashivka workshop (1990).
The obvious problem was the chronological and geographic lacuna between the Slavic Bernashivka type ornaments (6th—7th centuries) and ornaments of the Kamno-Rõuge type (8th—10th centuries) from the Eastern Baltic region. Several versions explaining the similarity of finds from the northern and southern areas have been proposed: common substrate, population migrations, imitation of some fashion etc. In recent years two molds for some ornaments of the Kamno-Rõuge type have been discovered at the Romny culture hillforts (Sverdlovske 1, Vorkhol II), which demonstrated the lasting of the tradition in the south until the
10th century.
A problem of the upper limit for existence of the Bernashivka type ornaments can be clarified using the mold find from Khodosivka settlement. The mold was discovered by expedition of E. O. Petrovska in
1976 during a survey along the left edge of the Gley ravine (Kozakiv ravine) near the Khodosivka hillfort. It was found in remaining part of a pit dwelling in context with fragments of hand-made and wheel-made
pots of the Volyntsevo culture. The object dates back to the second half of the 8th century — early 9th century. Negatives of ornaments are carved on both sides of the mold. A diamond-shaped patch carved on the main side. On the reverse side the negatives of round plaques are carved and probably loops for attaching the same plaques. There is also circular decoration presents, probably, of a circular pendant. The closest
analogies to such decorations were found in the Bernashivka workshop, and also at the molds from the Lower Danube region.
Products from the Khodosivka mold look quite archaic and simple in comparing to gold and silver jewelry from hoards of the Volyntsevo
culture. Such production was undoubtedly the part of nonprofessional home craft.
Keywords: Eastern Slavs, Middle Dnieper region, Early Middle Ages, Volyntsevo culture, mold, home craft.
The very rare finds of belt sets and harness ornaments is one of such conspicuous features. Despite the limited number of the toreutics objects from the Dniester-Danube group graves, they demonstrate heterogeneity, a mixture of two opposite cultural impulses. The first one is “Volga-Ural” impulse, it is represented by belt fittings from Slobodzeya grave 18, Buciumeni find and Răducăneni hoard. They repeat or imitate the types of belt sets from the outlet region of the early Magyar migration to the west. The second impulse — “Danubian” — is represented by a buckle from Slobodzeya grave 18, decorated by floral ornaments vessels No. 13, 14 and 20, 21 from the Nagyszentmiklós hoard, and by a strap-end from Buciumeni which imitates the decor of a strap-end from Mikulčice.
The appearance of the “Danubian” group of objects was the result of the interaction of the early Magyars with the local population, most likely, from the Bulgarian state, where several items of the “Nagyszentmiklós” style were also discovered. Written accounts confirm that such union did take place in 837, when the Magyars acted together with the Bulgarians against Byzantium
Ранносредновековният алански керамичен производствен цен-
тър в долината Канцирка на река Днепър е първото свидетелство
за възобновяване на масово занаятчийско производство на стоки
в северночерноморските степи в следримско време. Керамиката,
създадена в Канцирка, има несъмнено алански, севернокавказки
корени. Учените търсят причините за миграцията на население
към Поднепровието, изследват продължителността на неговите
селища. Хронологията им е основен въпрос. Скоро след откри-
ването ѝ керамиката от типа Канцирка е датирана във втората
половина на VІІ – VІІІ век по паралели от номадски комплекси с
монети. След 1973 година са добавени три археомагнитни дати-
ровки „VІ-VІІ век“ на грънчарски пещи в селището Любимивка
в долината Канцирка. Те се различават от археологическите.
Това води до две тълкувания на керамичния център в Канцирка.
Според първото той възниква в резултат на преселване на се-
вернокавказко население в рамките на Хазарския хаганат (след
665 година), преди формиране на Салтовската култура на Дон в
средата на VІІІ век. Втората теза се основава на археомагнитно-
то датиране и свързва центъра с прабългарския племенен съюз
от VІ-VІІ век с последващо пренасяне на грънчарската тради-
Archaeological and Archaeomagnetic Dating of Early ... 69
ция на Долния Дунав след 681 година. Съвременният анализ на
археологически комплекси на номади и славяни на Днепър, съ-
държащи съдове от тип Канцирка, не подкрепя датиране на по-
явата на този грънчарски център в VІ век. Terminus post quem за
възникването му дават византийски монети от археологическия
комплекс Келегей, отсечени в 644-645 година. Горната дата на
съществуване на центъра в Канцирка се определя по сходство в
техниката на производство на кани в долината Таранив (Мачухи)
и в Салтовската култура на Дон. Археологически керамиката тип
Канцирка може да се отнесе към периода 645-740 година.
Засега липсват доказателства за пренос на грънчарски тра-
диции от Канцирка на Долния Дунав чрез прабългарите, водени
от Аспарух. В три прабългарски некропола – Бдинци, Балчик и
Кюлевча – са намерени съдове, напомнящи по украса и форма
на кани от Канцирка. Въпросните погребения датират от края
на VІІ – средата на VІІІ век. Хронологически те съответстват на
номадски комплекси от Поднепровието, съдържащи оригинална
керамика от тип Канцирка.
През 1982 година са публикувани нови археомагнитни
датировки на пещи от Канцирка. Две (# 13 и 17) са отнесени
към VІІ век, а една (# 12) – към VІІІ век. Съвременна проверка
на старите археомагнитни датировки дава напълно приемливи
резултати, съвпадащи с археологическите: пещ 13 – 634-723
година; пещ 17 – 691-770 година; пещ 12 – 704-769 година. Тези
датировки ще бъдат уточнени с развитието на археомагнитния
метод като анализиращи уреди и база данни.
USSR and Ukrainian archeology was much slower
compared to world practice. Natural scientific methods
of dating in archeology have found quick application
for the study of prehistoric sites — from the Paleolithic
to the late Bronze Age. Much more time passed before
the method began to be used for dating of sites of the
1st and 2nd millennium AD.
The initiative of serial sampling from the medieval
archaeological complexes of Ukraine for radiocarbon
analysis initially came not from archaeologists. This
led at the first stage to a confrontation between traditional
archaeological methods of analysis and the new
«revolutionary» approaches of the natural sciences.
In 1968 mathematician A. S. Buhai collected
63 samples of charcoal from different parts of the
«Zmievi Valy» («Snake Ramparts») and hillforts of the
Kyiv region. At least 34 results were obtained from
3 different laboratories. All results attributed the time
of existence of fortifications not to the Middle Ages, but
to the 2nd century BC — 7th century AD, what caused
the emergence of the sensational concept of the Early
Slavic state in the Middle Dnieper region long before
the formation of the Old Rus’ state.
Institute of Archaeology (Academy of Sciences of the
Ukrainian SSR) has developed a big project for complex
researches of these fortifications led by M. P. Kuchera.
During 1974—1985, many fortifications of «Zmievi
Valy» in different regions were studied archaeologically.
The facts of overlapping of settlements of the 3th—
7th centuries AD by ramparts as well as the presence
of Old Rus’ artifacts of the 10th—13th centuries in the
body of wooden and earth structures of ramparts were
recorded. Stratigraphic and archaeological data confidently
dated the ramparts to the Middle Ages, while 28
radiocarbon dates for samples, carefully selected from
wooden constructions of fortifications, showed a chaotic
spread of dates from the 24th century BC until the
14th century AD. The verdict of M. P. Kuchera on the
possibility of using the radiocarbon dating method for
the archeology of Middle Ages was naturally negative.
Geologist L. V. Firsov faced a similar problems after
collecting in 1970 of 57 samples from archaeological
complexes of Chersonesos and 33 samples from other
sites of Crimea. Believing in the high accuracy of the
radiocarbon dating method, he tried to explain the
wide scatter of radiocarbon dates from the same medieval
objects by their existence for half a millennium,
what was rejected by archaeologists.
The Institute Archeology and the Radiocarbon Laboratory
of the Institute of Geochemistry and Mineral
Physics af the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian
SSR managed joint project to get answers to the topical
questions of Ukrainian archaeologists concerning the
possibilities of the radiocarbon dating method in archeology.
Two institutes approved a joint plan theme for
1973—1978 «Determination of the age of archeological
sites by the natural scientific methods», for which a Coordination
Council was established, led by D. Ya. Telegin
and E. V. Sobotovich. According to the first report
of the group, 237 samples were collected from various
archaeological sites, for which 148 datings were successfully
obtained (62.4 %).
Cooperation continued further, but radiocarbon
dates for archaeological cultures of the historical period
from Ukraine had a little accuracy again on this
stage of the radiocarbon method development (1974—
1987). Thus, out of 31 examined medieval samples
only 5 matched to archeological datings. 12 samples
from sites of 6th — 10th centuries gave 7 dates, only 4
of them were in agreement with archaeological dating.
For 12 samples from sites of Zarubyntsi and Chernyakhiv
cultures 5 dates were received, and only one was
in agreement with archaeological dating. The problem
of the difference in these cases cannot be solved with
the help of modern calibration of radiocarbon dates.
After the complete fiasco of the initial stage of the
radiocarbon dating of the medieval archaeological objects
from Ukraine (1970—1973), a small step forward
was made in 1974—1987. But this did not convince
archaeologists in the rationality of using the method
of radiocarbon dating for cultures with a wide choice
of dating markers. The situation remained stable until
the present stage of development of the accelerator
mass spectrometry dating which makes again actual
the renewal of the program of radiocarbon dating for
the Early Slavic cultures of the 1st millennium AD.
Keywords: radiocarbon method, chronology, calibration
of dates, archeology of the Early Slavs, Zmievi
Valy («Snake Ramparts»).
A gold buckle from the collection of the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine (No. АЗС 2259) is a forgery, roughly copying an authentic buckle from the Mala Pereshchepina »treasure« after its first publication by I. A. Zaretskiy (1912). This fake was manufactured in order to be sold to B. I. Khanenko in 1914 before he resold the second part of his collection from the Mala Pereshchepina complex to the Imperial Archaeological Commission. The contemporaneous collection of the Pereshchepina complex in the possession of the State Hermitage Museum also contains at least two non-authentic objects from different purchases and number of artefacts with uncertain provenance (e. g. Martynivka type strap-ends, finger rings with Greek monograms). The gold rush around the Pereshchepina treasure in 1912-1914 allowed dealers in antiquities to use several methods to obtain more profit from the resale of finds. These include the addition of non-conspicuous objects and the multiplication of authentic artefacts. The value of objects from the Pereshchepina complex as an archaeological source varies, depending on the time and circumstances of their addition to the
State Hermitage Museum collection. The most authentic group of artefacts belongs to the complex listed in the police report (1912), papers of I. A. Zaretskiy and M. O. Makarenko (1912), and the first inventory of the State Hermitage Museum (1913). Groups of later purchases from the antiquities market contained additions and forgeries that can only be detected by modern methods of analysis.
plate fibulae usually follow the hypothesis of Aleksander Spitcyn and Boris Rybakov regarding the anthropomorphism of Slavic fibulae.
Hammered plate brooches have been considered as the latest representation in a very simplified and schematized form of the anthropomorphic
style, despite the fact that they do not render any obvious traces of this style, except for the general contours of the cast anthropoor
zoomorphic fibulae. Three silver plate brooches of the two richest hoards of the 2nd group from Zalissia and Harivka were initially
decorated with filigree and soldered imitation of inlaid stones; other brooches only imitate this style in punching technique. Most likely,
a new style of Slavic tribal nobility golden jewellery was inspired by a prestigious fashion of filigree jewellery of the Christian
neighbours — Late Merovingian Europe and Byzantium.
Keywords: Old Rus’, Desytynna Church, production furnaces, chronology, archeomagnetism.
The task of this study was to determine whether it is possible to verify old archaeomagnetic data with the help of modern analysis tools and to compare it with recent archaeological datings of the same complexes.
Finds from Hodosivka dwellings 1 and 2 include iron buckle, belt ornament, earring, glass beads of the Saltiv cultural circle and wheel-made pottery of the Saltiv technology, that allows using detailed chronological scale of the Saltiv culture and limiting the chronological
framework for dwellings 1 to 790—835 AD and for the stratigraphically earlier dwellings 2 to 740—790 AD.
Analysis of archaeomagnetic data was made with Matlab tool for archaeomagnetic dating software and three global models: ARCH3K.1, SHA.DIF.14K and CALS3K.3. Two versions of the archaeomagnetic data
were examined. First version of data (1977) presented only declination and inclination values, calculated with larger number of measured samples accepted; later version (1986) reflects data with fewer samples
accepted after the procedure for excluding extreme values and also field intensity values. Comparison showed that the later version of the data is much better consistent with archaeological dates and must be used as
basic.
The results of 95 % probability archaeomagnetic dating of the dwelling № 1 in all three used models ARCH3K.1, SHA.DIF.14K and CALS3K.3 are in good agreement with archaeological date: respectively 752—845; 758—855; 678—858 AD. Agreement is less precise in archaeomagnetic dating of the dwelling № 2: respectively 677—784; 702—802; 622—745, 770—814 AD, where only the second part of the time range corresponds
to the archaeological dating. However, both new results are acceptable, which means the presence of a chronological error in the local archaeomagnetic curve of G. F. Zagnii and O. M. Rusakov, created for
the territory of Ukraine and Moldova. This conclusion means that all Early Mediaeval chronological schemes in archaeology based on this archaeomagnetic curve needs verification of archaeomagnetic data using modern databases and global models.
Keywords: chronology, archaeomagnetism, Volyntseve culture, settlement, Early Mediaeval Slavic archaeology.
Written sources contain only little information about historical events at the Dnieper region in the 9th century when Rus’ firstly appeared at the political scene. The resource of these sources has been exhausted long ago. New data can be obtained only by analyzing of archaeological sources which tend to increase. In the context of relationship problems between Early Rus’ and Khazaria the basic interest concentrates on some groups of „archaeological events”. The most important ones – disastrous end of the Volyntsevo archaeological culture at the beginning of the 9th century and abrupt changes of areas of Arab dirkhams distribution in East Europe circa 812–816 A. D. Changes in cultural development of Slavonic tribes at the Dnieper Left Bank region in the 9th
century mark rapid decrease of the Khazarian influence that can be correlated with some political and economical events in the formation of Early Rus’ state.
river basin (North-West Black Sea region). The grave was discovered in 1974 by the Ingul expedition led by O. G. Shaposhnikova
and published later by R. S. Orlov with contradictory chronological, cultural and ethnic attribution.
The fact that some fragments of scabbard and hilt made of organic materials have been preserved makes it an
exceptional case. Thus, it is possible to reconstruct the outlook of weapons of ordinary nomads, to study the technology of
birch bark lining, stylistic details of ornament and its links with the decoration of synchronous weapons from internments of
nomadic nobility. Peculiarities of this funerary rite, as a whole, and analogies to the grave goods allow us to reconsider its
attribution as an early Pecheneg site of the last quarter of the 9th century and qualify grave 11 of barrow 11 near Yablunya
as Sivashovka type grave dated by the 2nd half of the 7th — early 8th centuries.
of the Kyiv type in the context of archaeological research of the Desyatynna Church in 1823–1828 and the relations of
their main participants – E. Bolkhovitinov (metropolitan Eugeniy), M. Berlinsky, K. Lokhvitsky, N. Yefimov and O. Annenkov.
Key words: Old Rus’, silver payment ingots, Kyiv, Desyatynna Church, history of archaeological research.
Определение времени и путей миграции древних венгров из Приуралья в Северное Причерноморье (Этелькёз) через призму генезиса памятников типа Субботцев, позволяет выделить следующие этапы:
I этап – группа кочевого или полукочевого угорского населения, родственного населению караякуповской культуры Юго-Западного Приуралья, проживала изначально восточнее региона Челябинского Зауралья с возможностью контактов на юге одновременно с огузскими и печенежскими племенами Южного Урала и кимаками Верхнего Прииртышья; не ранее начала IX в. она начала миграцию на запад;
II этап – после кратковременного перехода через Южный Урал (скорее всего, бассейном р. Урал) группа мигрантов переселилась на Левобережное Поволжье к северу от основного домена хазар, заняв полосу кочевания от р. Еруслан на юге до р. Камы на севере, вплотную к границам Волжской Булгарии, где познакомилась с гончарной посудой булгар, но не с традициями её производства;
III этап – на этом этапе произошло дробление переселенцев, часть из которых осталась в Прикамье, где оставила памятники типа Большетиганского могильника, тогда как вторая группа не позже 30-х гг. IX в. мигрировала вдоль границы лесостепи и степи на запад, заняв северную подзону степей Северного Причерноморья;
IV этап – относительно короткий промежуток времени (до последней трети IX в.) причерноморская группа пребывала под культурным влиянием салтовской КИО в части престижных предметов и вооружения при ограниченном поступлении салтовской гончарной посуды и крымской тарной; обратное влияние субботцевского населения на жителей Хазарского каганата выразилось в ограниченном распространении новых «восточных» художественных стилей групп 3, 4, 6;
V этап – в последней трети IX в. происходит разрыв контактов северопричерноморской группы с салтовской КИО; распространение новой волны восточных влияний стилистической группы 5; а также установление кон¬тактов со славянами, которое способствовало поступлению гончарных славянских сосудов к носителям типа Субботцев на Правобережье Днепра; тогда как на Днепровском Левобережье наблюдалось субботцевское влияние на северян в области украшений, продолжавшееся до самого эпизода подчинения северян Киеву в 884 г.;
VI этап – не позже 90-х гг. IX – начала Х в. памятники типа Субботцев исчезают из Северного Причерноморья, но происходит перенесение части элементов субботцевского культурного комплекса в Карпатскую котловину, где они продолжают дальнейшее развитие.
Происхождение основных элементов культурного комплекса носителей памятников типа Субботцев, а также особенности их культурных контактов с окружающими народами, практически идеально совпадают с письменными свидетельствами об этапах переселения мадьяр, включая их исход из Зауралья, временное пребывание в Прикамье и Поволжье, контакты с хазарами и славянами. Хронология субботцевских комплексов, происходящих с территории современной Украины, также точно соответствует периоду пребывания мадьяр в Северном Причерноморье (ок. 836‒895 гг.).
Эти факты позволяют уверенно выделить в качестве археологической культуры древних мадьяр Этелькёза памятники субботцевского типа, связав дальнейшие перспективы исследования проблемы именно с изучением материалов данного культурного круга.
Komar O. A korai magyarság vándorlásának történeti és régészeti emlékei.
A tudományos áttekintéseket általában következtetésekkel szokás zárni, de jelen esetben nemcsak a már ismert eredmények összefoglalása volt a cél, hanem a 21. századi történettudomány előtt megnyíló azon lehetőségek felvázolása, amelyek a szubbotci lelettípus prizmáján keresztül a magyarság elődeinek az Urál térségéből a Fekete-tenger északi előterébe (Etelközbe) való vándorlásának időrendi és földrajzi kereteinek meghatározásához nyújthatnak támpontot. A kutatás jelenlegi állása szerint ennek a vándorlásnak az egyes szakaszai a következőkben foglalhatók össze:
I. szakasz: A nomád vagy félnomád ugor népesség egy csoportja ‒ amely rokonságban állt az Urál vidékén élő karajakupovói kultúra népességével ‒ eredetileg az Urálontúl cseljabinszki régiójától keletebbre lakott. Valószínűleg egyidejűleg kapcsolatban álltak a tőlük délre, a Dél-Urál térségé¬ben élő besenyő és oguz törzsekkel, valamint az Irtis felső folyásánál élő kimekekkel (106. kép). Ez az ugor népesség a 9. század elején kezdett el nyugati irányban vándorolni.
II. szakasz: Rövid idő alatt átjutottak a Dél-Urálon (valószínűleg az Urál folyó völgyén keresztül), majd a vándorlók egy része átköltözött a Volga vidékére, annak is a bal partjára. Itt a központi kazár területektől északra elfoglalták a Jeruszlan folyótól délre eső, nomadizálásra alkalmas tterületet, amelyet északon a Káma folyó határol (106. kép II). Területük kiterjedt Volgai Bolgária határáig, ahol megismerkedtek a korongolt volgai bolgár kerámiával, bár annak készítési technikáját nem sajátították el.
III. szakasz: Ebben a fázisban a vándorlók egysége felbomlott. Egyik részük a Káma mentén maradt, ahol a Bolsije Tyigani-típusú lelőhelyeket hagyta hátra maga után. A másik csoport pedig még a 830-as évek előtt az erdős sztyepp és a sztyepp határa mentén nyugat felé vándorolt, és a Fekete-tenger északi előterében a sztyepp északi alzónájában telepedett meg.
IV. szakasz: Ez egy viszonylag rövid időszak (a 9. század utolsó harmadáig), amelyben a Fekete-tenger északi előterében élő csoport a szaltovói térség kulturális hatása alá került, ez a presztízstárgyakon és a fegyvereken figyelhető meg. Kisebb mértékben, de hozzájutottak szaltovói korongolt kerámiához és krími tárolóedé¬nyekhez is. Ugyanakkor a szubbotci leletkör is, korlátozott mértékben ugyan, de hatással volt a Kazár Kaganátus népességének műveltségére, ami egy új ’keleti’ stílusú díszítőművészet (3., 4., 6. csoport) szűkebb körű elterjedésében nyil¬vánult meg.
V. szakasz: A 9. század utolsó harmadában megszakadt a Fekete-tenger északi előterében élő korai magyar népesség kapcsolata a szaltovói kultúrkörrel. Egy új, szintén keleti eredetű művészeti stílus (5. csoport) elterjedése mutatható ki. A szlávokkal is kapcsolatba kerültek, aminek köszönhetően szláv fazekastermékek kerültek a szubbotci népességhez, a Dnyeper jobb partvidékére. Ugyanakkor a Dnyeper bal partján az ötvösség terén szubbotci hatás figyelhető meg a szeverjánoknál, egészen addig, amíg azok 884-ben Kijev fennhatósága alá nem kerültek.
VI. szakasz: A 890-es évek és a 10. század eleje között a szubbotci lelettípus emlékei eltűntek a Fekete-tenger északi előteréből, de szubbotci kulturális jegyek tűntek fel a Kárpát-medencében, ahol azok továbbfejlődése figyelhető meg.
A szubbotci népesség anyagi kultúráját alkotó főbb elemek eredete, valamint a szomszédos népek¬kel való sajátos kapcsolatai gyakorlatilag tökélete¬sen megfelel a korai magyarság vándorlásáról szóló írott források adatainak. Beleértve ebbe az Urál ke¬leti oldaláról történt elindulásukat, ideiglenes tar¬tózkodásukat a Káma és a Volga mentén, valamint a kazárokkal és a szlávokkal való kapcsolataikat. A mai Ukrajna területéről származó szubbotci lelő¬helyek kronológiája pontosan egyezik a magyarok Fekete-tenger északi előterében való tartózkodásá¬nak időszakával (836–895 körül).
Ezek az adatok megbízható alapot nyújtanak, hogy az etelközi magyarok által hátrahagyott régé¬szeti emlékeket a szubbotci lelettípussal kapcsoljuk össze. Továbbá arra is, hogy a magyar etnogenezis további kutatásának perspektíváját e kulturális kör tanulmányozásában lássuk. Ugyanakkor egy prob¬léma megoldásával egy egész sor újat kaptunk, amely abból fakad, hogy az írásbeli forrásokban megőrzött információkhoz képest ’túlságosan sok’ régészeti adat áll rendelkezésünkre.
The book is devoted to the study of the Old Rus'sian border region to the east of Sula river, referred by the author of the "Slovo o Polky Igoreve" as "lands unknown". For the first time fully published the archaeological complex of Romenska and Old Rus'sian cultures (10th - 13th centuries A.D.) in Psel river basin in vicinity of Kamennoe village (Sumy region, Ukraine).
Zbruch idol: a monument of the Romantic era?
Resume
In August 1848, on the border of possessions of villages Liczkowce [Lychkivtsi] and Horodnica [Gorodnytsia] (now Ukraine) in Zbruch river was discovered a stone sculpture, attributed by M. Potocki as ancient Slavic “idol of the Svantevit”. For the next one and half century Zbruch idol was destined to become the “face” of Slavic paganism, the most bright and recognizable artifact of the Slavic history of pre-Christian period. It is ironic, but the archeology today is still not managed to create for the Zbruch find no credible number of similarities, not conclusively link it to the par-ticular archaeological site.
Examination did not confirm directly the antiquity of sculpture, but R. Kozłowski suggested a number of mandatory conditions under which the pattern of calcite deposits observed on the sur¬face of the sculpture does not contradict the version of the antiquity of sculpture:
– the statue was not long under the influence of natural moisture, ie it was buried in the ground in a dry place;
– this place is located in a zone of active coastal erosion;
– sculpture simultaneously collapsed into a deep part of the river in the nineteenth century.
Summarizing our knowledge about the find, it should be stated that:
1) the statue has neither accurate nor reliable dated archaeological analogies among sculptures of stone and wood;
2) technological and compositional complexity of sculpture execution by several orders greater than the potential pagan stone sculpture of the I millennium A.D. from the East Slavic area;
3) there are no archaeological monuments of the IX–X centuries in the neighborhood of the place of find that would correspond to a unique level of sculpture performance, although examination of the material indicates its local production;
4) there are no other four face images and multilevel artistic compositions of the IX–X centuries in the East Slavic area;
5) a combination of several deities in one idol contradicts the whole body of written sources of Slavic paganism, and the complete anthropomorphic characters - the data on the East Slavic idols;
6) petrographic examination did not confirm the existence of any credible evidence of prolonged exposure to the natural environment on the surface of the statue;
7) the statue stayed in the river not longer than a few decades (22–25 years), though the mechanism of its “natural” (without human help) falling into the deep part of the Zbruch river is not clear.
Explanation of each of these points in the context of attribution of the statue as a pagan idol of the IX–X centuries A.D. requires the formulation of series of complex high-risk hypotheses with so many assumptions, which violates the principle of “Occam’s razor”.
Doubts about the authenticity of Zbruch idol appeared already in the middle of the XIX cen¬tury. G. Leńczyk and W. Szymański specially had considered the arguments of skeptics and came to the conclusion that in the 1st half of XIX century there was not history buffs around Liczkowce village who can implement such a fake, while to create it without an existing graphic model would require knowledge of medieval sources. This thesis can not be supported.
The Zbruch statue was found on the border of Liczkowce estate, that in the 1st half of the XIX century belonged to the family of the Polish Romantic poet Tymon Zaborowski. His main teacher and tutor at the Krzemieniec Lyceum was a famous scholar Aloysius Osiński – author of the three-volume “Mythological Dictionary”. In 1818 T. Zaborowski was the editor of the literary part of the journal “Ćwiczenia naukowe” (“Scientific Exercises”) in Warsaw. Excerpts of his historic poem “Bolesław the Brave or conquest of Kiev”, as well as the pioneering work of Z. Dołęga-Chodakowski “About Slavic world before the Christianity” were first published in this journal. In late 1818 T. Za-borowski returned to Liczkowce, where he lived and worked until his death in 1828. During this period, the poet has created new big poetry on historical themes: the continuation of “Bolesławiada”, “Bojan” (1822) , “Bohdan Chmielnicki” (1823), “Secret, or Borys and Milwiana” (1824–1825), “The Song of Harald” (1825), “Podolian ballads of the time of Ottoman rule in the land” (1823–1828). Particularly noteworthy play “Umwit” (1823) about times of the Slavs pagan period, the protagonist of which is the Umvit – “the high priest of Perun, Lel, Lada, Dziedzilja and Pogoda”.
T. Zaborowski obtained good education, he studied historical sources, collected historical folk songs and even archaeological artifacts, maintained contacts with well-known experts in pre-Christian beliefs of the Slavs. Poet definitely had intellectual, technical and material ability to or¬der certain “pagan” sculpture in 1823, while he was writing play “Umwit”, as the materialization of its own appeal to contemporary writers: “Let’s search for the objects to revive our imagination in our distant antiquity”.
Both skeptics and defenders of the authenticity of the Zbruch sculpture, constructing their ar¬guments solely on the version of deliberate scientific falsification of the idol for the sake of per¬sonal glorification or from the “patriotic” motives, completely missed the sight of the possibility of a simple misunderstanding. After the terrible cholera epidemic of 1830–1832, which claimed the lives of many hundreds of residents of Liczkowce and Horodnica, until 1848 could become relevant problem of the lack of witnesses. Not many of them might see and remember sculpture, that stand only a short time in the woods away from the village, in a picturesque corner over the Zbruch river bank where T. Zaborowski liked to spend time.
Zbruch statue remains unique and contains no documented evidence of antiquity, that in the context of the bright biography of T. Zaborowski gives serious grounds for the version of the possi¬bility of its production at the beginning of the XIX century. It does not allow more to use the sculp¬ture as a valuable source of scientific reconstructions of the pagan beliefs of the ancient Slavs and stress the importance of the new complex all-inclusive scientific expertise of the Zbruch statue.