Istvánovits Eszter: International Connections... (Jósa András Múzeum Kiadványai 47. Aszód-Nyíregyháza, 2001)

Oxána V. Bobrovskaia: Belt amulet sets in the female costume of the Cherniakhov Culture

of pendant shells in the Northwest Pontic region. The epicentre of this concentration can be observed in the cemeteries on the Lower Dniester and Danube where wellexpressed Sarmatian features of the burial rite were registered (GUDKOVA 1987; GUDKOVA-ROSOKHATSKI 1991; GUDKOVA-ROSOKHATSKI-FOKEEV 1997; ROSOKHATSKI 1987; ROSOKHATSKI 1989; ROSOKHATSKI 1990).

2 Taking into consideration the above-mentioned chronology of the basic mass of the assemblages with belt amulets, it is conceivable that the simultaneous appearance of such a significant number of shells can be connected with a single trade action which took place in the period between 330/350-367. The indirect evidence for the upper date comes from both archaeological and historical data. Researchers connect the events of 367-369 - Emperor Valens' expedition to expel Atanarich's Visigoths with the date of the accumulation of Roman coin hoards in this region (STOLIARIK 1989, 48). As a consequence of the treaty of 369 significantly limiting the trade rights of the barbarians (BUDANOVA 1990, 151), the assortment of imported objects became poorer, and anti-Roman and anti-Christian feelings increased among the Cherniakhov population.

3 Most probably, the shells were brought to Cherniakhov population in the period preceding these events. These shells were used for cultic purposes mainly by women

4 and are associated with the graves of all age groups. Finds of beltamulets in female burials must be examined primarily as objects connected with the cult of fertility. Indirect evidence for this is provided by the discovery of a Bolinus brandaris pendant together with a phallus-shaped Roman amulet in a burial of the 4

TH - beginning of the 5

TH c. unearthed in Bavaria (SCHULZE-DÖRLAMM 1986, Abb. 5). M. Schulze-Dörlamm, who has investigated the spread and semantics of Bolinus brandaris pendants, suggests that since they were parts of sets, different shells could have had the same semantic content. In the Antique world, Bolinus brandaris shells were used for processing purple. They were also used in healing, for preparing powders and ointments for toothaches and tumors. In addition to their curing properties, they were also considered to be of magic character, to be apotropaic objects offering protection from a witch's glance. According to Schulze-Dörlamm, "Goths" having extensive trade connections could have taken control of the part of Antique spiritual culture connected with superstitions and superstitious things (SCHULZE-DÖRLAMM 1986, 350). This point of view, although intriguing, is not entirely convincing. It is obvious that apotropaic objects could have been used by men as well. However, we have not encountered any findings of Bolinus brandaris amulets in male - by anthropological or archaeological determination - burials. The appearance of pyramidal bone pendants has been explained by the suggestion that they were analogous to the objects of the Antique cult of Hercules in the German pantheon (WERNER 1966). In this case, given that the Hercules-Thor 2 I am very grateful to A.V. Gudkova and AA. Rosokhatski, the excavators of the cemeteries Belen'koe and Nagornoe, for the opportunity to study their materials. 3 It was followed by an ideological reaction in Gothia — the persecution of Christians continuing intothe period of 370—372. 4 The determination of sex was made on the basis of both anthropological data and the grave-goods.