Wooden Scabbard with Metal Plates оf Bayanovo Burial Ground of the Lomovatka Culture Archaeological Culture: results of chemical and technological study

Abstract

The Bayanovo burial ground dating from the IX – first half of the X centuries is one of the most interesting medieval sites of Perm Cis-Urals . At the moment it is the most studied burial site of Lomovatovo archaeological culture (527 burials have been studied). The article deals with the results of the study of wooden scabbards with metal plates found during the excavation of the monument. Based on the collection, visual analysis of sources and their study with the help of different natural scientific methods, a detailed view of the design of items, the features of their manufacture and decoration techniques are given. The authors found out that birch was the main material for making the base of the scabbard. Birch, leather and textiles were also used. Thin sheets of pure copper or sheets of an alloy with a high silver content were used to make the metal plates of the scabbard. The decoration of the items was carried out with the help of various jewelry techniques. Often the artifacts were decorated with stamped wire with a grainy effect, triangles made of grains, incrustation or squeezed ornithomorphic and anthropomorphic images. Gilding applied with the help of amalgamation was also used.

Keywords

• archaeology
• middle ages
• perm cis-urals
• scabbard
• grain-filigree decor
• embossing
• gilding
• x-ray fluorescence analysis
• scanning electron microscopy
• thermal analysis
• wood