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

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

Igor Gavrltukhin Danube zone, which are close to the ones characterised above (fig. 6: 12, 15-16, map 3: 8), may be explained as well by the continuation of traditions of local "archaic" fibulas (fig. 5:41), and as with other prototypes, ascending to the local specimens of the Kosanovo circle. In the case of the latter, the specimens with platforms on the bow are significant (fig. 5: 23, 28, 6: 1-2, 8-9, cf. fig. 1: 15, 18, map 3: 7). We can define the line of the further evolution of the Boromlia-Kompanijtsy block of variants (map 2: 3; map 4: 6). One of the evolutionary tendencies in the Dnieper region becomes visible upon examination of the fibulas from Zhurovka (fig. 4: 6, 10, 16). We can mark an obvious "movement" of the line of the maximal expansion of the foot closer to the bow. The specimen of fibula from grave 14, where the expansion of the foot is evidently closer to the bow than to the opposite edge of fibula, is dated to the Hun Age based on the typical buckle with a tongue bending on its ring (fig. 4: 5) and on a bowl with dark blue stacked lugs. This bowl is closest to the late versions of variant A of type 67 by L. Barkóczi (fig. 4: 4) (BARKÓCZI 1988. 97, GAVRITUKHIN 1999.). Grave 43 (fig. 4: 9-16) can presumably be dated to the Hun Age or even earlier. This date is based on the fragments of a comb of type III by Thomas and on a pendant of "Hercules' club" type. The iron object reminiscent of the tongue of a buckle of a similar type to the one found in grave 14 corroborates our dating of grave 43 to the later period, but this attribution must remain tentative due to the strong degree of corrosion of this object (fig. 4: 9). The fibulas studied from grave 43 are decorated with border "cymation" on the headplate and also with an engraved line on the perimeter of foot. These decorative devices demonstrate the southwest direction of the cultural communications of the population of the Dnieper region (cf. fig. 1: 15, 2: 17, 5: 34, 37, 40^1, 6: 10-11). This is also confirmed by the appearance of fibulas with a post for the spring designed for upper string in territories to the west of the Dnieper Basin region. It is very significant that a number of the features of these western finds speak in favour of attributing them to local products, not to imported ones. We must compare the following: the contours of the foot on the specimens in fig. 4: 7, 17 with the contours typical of the fibulas of the Dniester-Danube zone (see above); ledges at the transition area from foot to bow (fig. 6: 33-34), characteristic of the specimens of Marosszentanna/Sintana de Mures series (fig. 2 etc.); the massive post for spring and "demountable" head-plate (fig. 6: 29) characteristic of a number of specimens of Izvoare series; and the semicircular section of a bow (fig. 4: 3, 8) characteristic of the number of finds from nearby territories (fig. 3: 27, 20, 5: 23, 27). On the other hand, the rhombic contours of the foot (fig. 6: 33-34, 29) and lengthened proportions of the head-plate, which is sometimes cut off according to the shape of lateral post for springs (fig. 4: 7-8, 17), are evidence for the fact that the influence of the Dnieper Basin region on the west was not limited to constructive features. The historical content of these communications can be discussed only on the basis of a much wider circle of materials. A fibula from Gochevo (fig. 4: 1) with lengthened head-plate and wide foot obviously reflects the influence of a style characteristic of Dnieper specimens (fig. 7: 5, 31 and similar specimens - see below). The widened part of the foot situated closer to the bow allows us to date this specimen to the Hun Age. The analogy of the above-mentioned fibula found in Rothebude (fig. 4: 2) is in concordance with the situation of the activisation of the Baltic-Dnieper intercommunications (GAVRITUKHIN-OBLOMSKI in print). Concluding the review of single-spring fibulas with upper string of Boromlia-Zhurovka series we should note the fact 122