Belt Set Details from Archaeological Sites of the VIII–X Centuries from Oka and Don Watershed

Abstract

The majority of the presented finds come from the ancient settlements of the region, with solitary items found in burials. Some of them have already been introduced into scientific discourse, while some are published for the first time. The finds are divided into three chronological groups: the first group - VIII century; the second one – IX – the 1st half of the X century and the third – the 2nd half of the X – the beginning of the XI century. This periodization reflects the modern understanding of the chronology of sites of the VIII – X centuries in Oka–Don watershed. The artifacts of the first group have analogies in the Balkans and Northern Caucasus. The findings of the second group are associated with the antiquities of the Saltovo-Mayaki culture and sites of the Upper Volga basin and the Urals. The third group finds are of predominantly Old Rus and Northern European origin. The findings of the belt set demonstrate a change of vectors of cultural influence at different stages of Slavic settling in the region.

Keywords

• archaeology
• oka–don watershed
• viii – x centuries
• belt mounts
• buckles
• belt tips