Metal finds from the stone crypt in the northern part of the Pantikapaean necropolis (“Glinishche” district): a comprehensive analysis

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Abstract

The article is focused on the study of the alloy composition and the peculiarities of the manufacturing technique of metal objects uncovered during the excavation in the crypt in the northern part of the Panticapaeum necropolis. Based on the results of research on the details of funeral wreaths with natural science methods, it was established that they were made of gold of a fairly high standard. The use of such an alloy in the Roman period was recorded for items from the excavations at the Panticapaeum and Phanagoria necropolises. Bosporan jewellers made parts of funeral wreaths by mechanical processing: in the beginning, a metal sheet was forged, after that they cut out items of the required shape from it and applied an embossed ornament. Bronze objects found in the crypt, which were used by their owner during his lifetime, are mostly cast. They are made of pure copper, brass, tin-lead and lead-tin bronzes.

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About the authors

Denis V. Beylin

Institute of Archaeology of Crimea RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: denis-beylin@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Simferopol

Irina V. Rukavishnikova

Institute of Archaeology RAS

Email: rukavishnikovairina@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

Nikolay F. Fedoseev

Institute of Archaeology of Crimea RAS

Email: ra@iaran.ru
Russian Federation, Simferopol

Tatiana N. Smekalova

V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University

Email: tnsmek@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Simferopol

Anna V. Antipenko

Institute of Archaeology of Crimea RAS

Email: an.antipenko@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Simferopol

Anastasia Yu. Loboda

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: lobodaau@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

Polina V. Guryeva

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: poli.b3@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

Ekaterina S. Kovalenko

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: kovalenko_es@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

Mikhail M. Murashev

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: mihail.mmm@inbox.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

Elena Yu. Tereshchenko

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”; Federal Research Centre of Crystallography and Photonics RAS

Email: elenatereschenko@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

Ekaterina B. Yatsishina

National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”

Email: Yatsishina_EB@nrcki.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. A satellite image of the central part of Kerch indicating the 2018 crypt location

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3. Fig. 2. A topographic plan of “Glinishche” with the indication of the 2018 crypt location

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4. Fig. 3. The 2018 crypt located at 10 Maly lane, Kerch

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5. Fig. 4. Artifacts made of copper alloys from the crypt

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6. Fig. 5. Details of the burial costume from the filling of the crypt chamber

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7. Fig. 6. The results of X-ray tomography of the triangular applique

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8. Fig. 7. X-ray tomographic sections of mirror fragments

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9. Fig. 8. Neutron tomographic sections of the buckle in three mutually perpendicular planes (1–3) with corrosion areas (marked by arrows) located under the central decorative element. The location of secant planes I and II for sections 2 and 3 respectively is indicated on the 3D model (4)

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