Amber Beads from Slavic Early Medieval Sites: Analysis of the Source Base

Abstract

In the article amber beads from Slavic sites of the early Middle Ages are presented. A catalogue was compiled, which included information on 21 archaeological monuments and complexes. These locations are divided into three regions of concentration. Such finds come from the hoards of Martynivka and Pastyrske circles and the Pastyrske hill-fort, inhumated burials (Mokhnach, Balaklia) and the hill-forts of the Kolochyn culture. According to the number of finds, the monuments and complexes can be divided into six groups (fig. 2): 1 — the number of finds is unknown; 2 — with the number of finds from one to eight beads; 3 — complexes with the number of finds of about one and a half dozen copies of amber beads; 4 — with about 20 beads; 5 — a burial from Balaklia, where 30 beads were found; 6 — a burial from Mokhnach with 117 items. At least 285 amber beads come from Slavic monuments. However, the number of finds in some of the complexes is unknown. Only 132 items are defined typologically. As a result of morphological analysis, seven types were identified based on general outlines, which were divided into variants based on the section (fig. 3; Table 2). All of these types were found in the hoards of Martynivka and Pastyrske circles, on the sites and in complexes associated with these two chronological groups. Only the materials of Demydivka settlement indicate the beginning of the existence of type 1 within the second half of the 5th — beginning / first half of the 6th centuries. Amber beads are not typical for the materials of previous Proto-Slavic archaeological cultures. They are known only on a few monuments of the Kyiv culture (Table. 3; fig. 11). Finds of amber beads are unknown for the materials of the Volyntseve, Romny and Raiky cultures. Amber beads appear only in Kyivan Rus period. The analysis and comparison of beads from two complexes — Khyttsi hoard and the collection of Kolomak region were carried out. An analysis of scientific publications, the geological situation of the region and direct research of artefacts by laboratory methods allows us to draw the following conclusions: - amber from all the monuments may be of local origin or imported from the deposits of the Right-Bank of the Dnipro River; - processing of amber was carried out by local craftsmen. To do so, they used a grinding stone (sandstone) and a polishing material (clay), which was applied to a cloth or felt. Holes were drilled mechanically using a metal flattened at the end of the needle. The shape of the beads generally depended on the primary morphology of the found amber fragments and did not differ in complexity. The most time-consuming, in our opinion, is a round disk-shaped one, since for its manufacture it was necessary to obtain a flat, even surface on both sides.