Metal of the "Cimmerian elite" of the North Caucasus ( on the materials of tomb 3 of the Terese burial ground)

Abstract

The article publishes the results of a study of bronze items from tomb 3 of the Terese burial ground (Central North Caucasus, Karachay-Cherkessia), one of the richest burials of the Koban culture of the Central North Caucasus during the Cimmerian campaigns in Transcaucasia and Western Asia.A typological analysis of the bridle accessories of a number of imported metal items from this complex shows that the burial belongs to a war-horseman of the late 8th centuryBC, who participated in military campaigns in Transcaucasia. ED XRF analysis reveals the main alloy groups used for production of the bridle and harness attachments from the Terese tomb 3 (26 samples) and Fars burial ground (2 samples). Tin bronzes and lead-tin bronzes with low, middle, and high tin concentration and a relatively low lead content clearly dominated the Terese selection. Lost wax casting into investment clay moulds was the main manufacturing technique. The Pb-isotope data of 23 samples obtained by MC-ICP-MS reveals the different sources of copper and lead as well as the recycling of scrap metal. Polymetallic ores of the Sadonsky ore field, located in North Ossetia was considered as one of the possible ore sources. Within the framework of the studied samples, arsenic bronze was recorded only as part of the inlay of two pins, originating from the Central Georgia which were probably made to order by a highly qualified Transcaucasian jeweller.