Metal ornaments from the burial mound necropolis Chornyanka of the Bilozerka culture (11th–10th centuries BC)

Abstract

The flat cemetery near the village of Chornyanka, Kakhovka district, Kherson region, is one of the largest row grave fields of the Late Bronze Age archaeological culture of Bilozerka in the northern Black Sea region. The cultural and chronological location of the Chornyanka burial ground was determined on the basis of an analysis of the main features of the funerary constructions, ceremonies and equipment. The established date of its functioning is the 11th‒10th century BC. 24 graves were identified and investigated. Most contained grave goods: pottery, bone and bronze tools, jewellery of bronze, bone, agate, mother-of-pearl, chitin and glass. This paper presents the results of metallographic and X-ray spectral analysis of bronze jewellery from Chornyanka cemetery: pins, temple rings and earrings. It presents and describes the characteristic microstructures of the metal finds. In addition, the process of production of various metal objects was investigated. Several chemical and metallurgical groups stand out in the spectral analyses of metals from Chornianka: Сu-Sn; Сu-Sn-As; Сu-As(Sn) and possibly remelting. Correlation diagrams of the characteristic pairs of elements are also given. In all the analyses, arsenic is present in tenths of a per cent. There is also a stable presence of an impurity such as antimony, mostly in tenths of a per cent, with concentrations in two cases reaching whole per cent. This means that they were probably included in the original ores. Some scientists believe that this feature is characteristic of the metallurgy of the Greater Caucasus. The results are compared with similar analyses from another cemetery of the Bilozerka Culture – Shyroke. Despite the general similarity and tradition, it is possible to highlight some differences in metalworking in both Bilozerka cemeteries (Chornyanka and Shyroke). Jewellery was made not only by casting. It was also forged with the help of mandrels. In addition, some products were made by welding several metal strips. Most researchers pay attention to the influence of the cultures of the Northwest region on the Bilozerka culture. Metalworking is traditionally thought of as having a Volga-Urals orientation. In this article, we propose to take into account new data on the chemical composition of metal and technology, which testify to the contacts of the Bilozerka culture with the Caucasus.