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

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

Igor Gavritukhin dating of which varies widely within the framework of the C3 and D periods (STRAUME 1987. 29-32). Among goblets that are morphologically very close to the Cherniakhov types, the following ones are found in the dated assemblages: Fejna, the burial in Scandinavia that, according to Straume, belongs to period Dl (from the end of the 4

th c. up to the middle of the 5

th c); Holand, grave II that can be dated both to C3 and Dl according to the Scandinavian scale; Kleszewo, grave 884, containing a fibula with inverted foot, a buckle and a rich necklace (their publication has remained unknown to me); Witkowo, the assemblage dated by a B-shaped grooved buckle, also placed by K. Godlowski in the horizon of the Hun Age (about the first half of 5

th c), although it is necessary to take into account that, according to Rau, the gravegoods of the two burials of this find are probably mixed; and Krefeld-Gellep, grave 3042, dated by R. Pirling to the middle of the 4

th c. (STRAUME 1987. N 12, 25, 31, GODLOWSKI 1989. Mapa 2; RAU 1972. N 20, 24, 98). Thus, the dated assemblages appear to confirm the estimation of Gorokhovski, but not that of Rau. As to the vessels of other types, stylistically close to one from Cherniakhov, I prefer to compare the latter to the Kozlówko series of type Högom, dated within the framework of the middle - second half of the 4

th c. (GAVRITUKHIN 2001.). These chronological frameworks also bear relevance to grave 160 in Cherniakhov. In general, fibulas with widened foot are stylistically close to fibulas with medium-size foot, and we could not assume any large chronological lacunae between the dates of their coming into being. The "archaic" variants of double-plate fibulas mentioned above became the basis for the formation of a series of typologically more complicated and "advanced" forms. The Petre§ti variant finds its continuation in specimens of fibulas which have a similar scheme (a head-plate without a knob, a post for the spring designed for the lower string, and a rather narrow foot, widened at the edges opposite to a bow), but which are somewhat larger (fig. 2: 6, 8-9, 17, 18 - block of the Hárman variants). The specimen from Tiszadob-Sziget (more than 7 cm in length, with a cored, massive bow) was found in grave 18 (fig. 2: 1-6) accompanied by small earrings with a cast polyhedral bead, which convinces us that the date of the assemblage is not earlier than the end of 4

th c. (ISTVÁNOVITS 1992. 97; ISTVÁNOVITS 1993. 121), in combination with fibulas, which were common in the Tisza region in the Late Roman Period. Wide chronological frameworks of the lower horizon of this cemetery (grave 18 is assigned to this horizon) are defined as the second half, or, more precisely, the last third of the 4

th c. (ISTVÁNOVITS 1992.; ISTVÁNOVITS 1993.). Fibulas of the block of Hárman variants are close to the series of fibulas which have a knob on the head-plate. This knob appeared, obviously, under the influence of other fibula variants of the "archaic" group (fig. 2: 7, 11, 13, 16). One such fibula is found in an assemblage with a P-shaped fibula with inverted foot. The latter is large and has a lengthened foot (fig. 2: 15-16). One-piece fibulas with the same characteristics are known in the assemblages of the 5

th c. (AMBROZ 1966. 59), and the appearance of such objects is dated a bit earlier (ISTVÁNOVITS 1992. 90-92; ISTVÁNOVITS 1993. 116). In all likelihood, this fact reflects the general tendency to increase the sizes of details of a set of objects, which is characteristic of the Hun Age. Fibulas with flat imitations of the knob on the head-plate (fig. 13: 4, 8, 15-16 - variant Stara Palanka) or with inverted foot (fig. 2: 13 - variation Oinac) are the derivatives of the described series of double-plate fibulas (Marosszentanna/Síntana de Mures type). As has been already emphasised, the large (more than 7 cm) fibulas referred to here, often found with a 120