MAIASP. 2024. No. 16

Mikhail Treister (Bonn, Germany), Irina Rukavishnikova (Moscow, Russia), Denis Beylin (Moscow, Russia)

Bronze finger rings with the images on the bezels from “Batyrskiy 1”Necropolis in the region of Novorossiysk

DOI: 10.53737/2713-2021.2024.41.20.009

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Pages: 234—288

This paper focuses on the publication of bronze finger-rings found during the excavations of the “Batyrsky 1” burial ground in the vicinity of Novorossiysk in 2023. The burials were made in stone cists according to the inhumation rite. Next to the graves were funeral feasts. Judging by the shape and design of the burial structures and the rite, the burial ground belonged to the local “Sindian” population living inland approximately 20 km from the coastal Greek settlements. Amphoras from Heraclea Pontica, Sinope, Knidos and Thasos and black-glazed pottery found both in the funeral feasts and in the burial structures allow dating the necropolis within the second half of the 4^th — third quarter of the 3^rd century BCE.

A distinctive feature of the burial ground, uncharacteristic of other necropoleis of the local population of the Cimmerian Bosporus (with the exception of some other burial grounds in the same microregion), revealed in all complexes with weapons, are numerous bronze finger rings with engraved and dotted images on the bezels. Various Greek mythological characters are represented, as well as animals and birds, and architectural monuments. A total of 26 bronze finger rings were found, originating from 11 burials. The article presents a classification of the finger rings by their shape and analyzes the images on the bezels. The appendices present a catalogue of finds and the results of their metal analysis.

It is worth noting that certain types of finger rings correlate with certain burials. Some of them found in one burial represent very rare or unique images. Perhaps all this reflects certain chronological patterns, or the fact that finger rings of certain forms could have been acquired by the population that left the burial ground in batches. Certain subjects were given special preference. All this allows us to assume that the owners preferred to choose finger rings that could have been purchased by them in jewellery shops in nearby cities of the Bosporan Kingdom, for example, in Gorgippia.

Key words: North Pontic area, Bosporan Kingdom, “Batyrskiy 1” necropolis in the region of Novorossiysk, bronze finger rings with the images on the bezels, typology, shapes, motifs, dating of the burial complexes.

Received July 11, 2024

Accepted for publication July 20, 2024

About the authors:

Treister Mikhail (Bonn, Germany). Dr. phil. habil. (RUS), Independent researcher.

E-mail: mikhailtreister@yahoo.de

Rukavishnikova Irina (Moscow, Russia). PhD in History, Senior Researcher, Institute of Archeology RAS.

E-mail: rukavishnikovairina@yandex.ru

Beylin Denis (Moscow, Russia). Institute of Archeology RAS.

E-mail: denis_beylin1979@mail.ru