A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 44. (Nyíregyháza, 2002)

Régészet - Igor Gavritukhin: On the study of double-plate fibulas of the first subgroup

On the study of double-plate fibulas of the first subgroup Chersonessos (fig. 9: 18, map 5: 8 + 6) belongs only to the traditions of the North Pontic region, though the analogies to the non-sharp edge of its foot are concentrated in the DniesterDanube zone (fig. 2: 5 etc., map 3). The above-mentioned single-spring variants show that along with the main tendency to lengthen the foot and move its maximal extension area closer to the "shortening" bow, the North Pontic region is characterised by rather steady forms, which we may name "lateral branches" in the evolution of the North Pontic styles; and their typological "backwardness" does not necessarily indicate their early origin. Excepting the mentioned block of Luchistoe variants, characterised by a rather long bow, we shall point to the group of large double-spring fibulas, which have kept a maximal extension area of the foot situated closer to the edge (fig. 9: 5, 6, 8, cf. fig. 8: 11, map 5: 5). This last group has stylistic analogies, but of small sizes (fig. 8: 36, 9: 13, 14 etc.). These observations make interpretation of some other Southern Russian fibulas, which are close to the Dniester-Danubian ones in shape (fig. 9: 12, 5: 20, 24, 2: 19 etc.), very ambiguous, in the case of "hybrid" specimens, very complicated indeed. Unfortunately, the assemblages of a large part of the finds from the North Pontic region are not well known. There, where we have an information about cultural context of the above mentioned Kerch double-plate fibulas, it is possible to speak about their correlation with the period of rich burials in Panticapaeum, dating to the Hun Age, but we have no information about the assemblages of separate graves which could allow us to date them more precisely (AMBROZ 1992., ZASETSKAIA 1993.). Crimean single-spring fibulas with lengthened foot are dated to the Hun Age by the set of objects from some assemblages (fig. 8: 1-12, 22-26) and by general attribution of sites, where such fibulas are found (see above about burial grounds of the Luchistoe-Skalistoe circle). The dating proposed by J. Werner for the fibula from the Diergardt Collection (fig. 8:16) of "about 400 or later", is confirmed not only by the analogies noted by him (WERNER 1961. N 90), but also by the affinity of its general style and the elements of engraving to the objects of horizon D2 (fig. 10: 10-11, 17). Also dated to the Hun Age are the fibulas from the upper layer of the site of the mutually synchronous ancient settlement and cemetery of Tanais. This was one of the main bases of the Huns and/or their allies; the assemblages that can be dated precisely, allow their synchronisation with Central European period D2 (the horizon of Untersiebenbrunn) (BEZUGLOV 1993., BEZUGLOV 2001.). Caucasian analogies of the fibulas from the North Pontic region (more precisely from Kerch) can be dated to the same period (fig. 12: 46-51). Finally, a fibula of the regional tradition in Vojvoda (fig. 10: 20) comes from a layer with pottery and coins of the 5

th c. The youngest among these coins is dated to the "last years of reign of the Emperor Leo I (457^174)" (HARALAMBIEVA 1990. 80) (or to "477 A.D.", if a typing error in another article refers to attribution, instead of the date) (HARALAMBIEVA 1991. 33). Fibulas of the Zhurovka-Kurniki variant, as demonstrated by their typological definitions, are dated to a time that does not precede one of the above Kerch fibulas, which does not contradict either the composition of the assemblages or the date of the upper chronological border of these sites (GAVRITUKHIN 1999., MAGOMEDOV 1999.; GAVRITUKHIN 2001). Finds from Ranzhevoe and Lazo (fig. 10: 30-31, 9: 1) are in accordance with the traditions characteristic of the Dniester-Danube zone: the massive cored bows and the ornamental border on the foot, the border "cymation" (map 5: 6 also indicates the continuation of traditions of Odobescu variations and demonstrates the provincial Roman influences directly), the round section of the 127