Археологические находки из памятников Республики Калмыкия в музеях России (количественный анализ)

Abstract

Introduction. Archaeological collections to have resulted from excavations in the territory of Kalmykia are currently stored at different museums of Russia, namely: Palmov National Museum of Kalmykia (Elista), Saratov Oblast Museum of Local History and Lore (Saratov), State Historical Museum (Moscow), and several other public museums of the region. Goals. The article attempts a comprehensive analysis of museum collections to have arrived from archaeological sites of Kalmykia. The finds were explored from a number of aspects, such as origin, archaeological era, materials, inventory categories, level of investigation, use in exhibitions, availability in published catalogues. Results. The study clarifies the mentioned museums contain over 8.000 items, and more than 7.000 of the latter come from funerary sites (kurgan burials and altars), as well as from single scattered burials; over 1.000 finds have resulted from excavations of settlements (hillforts). The bulk of the latter date from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age. For items from funerary monuments, the figures are somewhat different, namely: 1.819 (40.6%) attributed to the Bronze Age, 1.442 (32.2%) — Early Iron Age, 1.222 (27.3%) — Middle Ages. The assessment of distribution by individual burials reveals the average for all collections is 2.4 finds per burial. The calculated distribution of finds by materials used shows those number a total of 60 different designations. Most them are made of clay — 40.6%, iron — 16.2%, bronze — 11.4%. The rest of the finds are made of flint, bone, stone, etc. The insight into distributions by inventory categories examines almost 6.000 items to reveal the absolute majority of the latter are pottery and incense burners (over 2.500 items), while finds classified as tools and weapons are slightly fewer (more than 1.400 units). Another major cluster is compiled from personal jewelry and personal utensils — over 1.000 units.