New Finds of Bone Items From Kopyriv Kinets in Kyiv

Abstract

In the article bone artifacts from the site at Kudriavska st., 24A (Kyiv), studied in 2016—2018, are introduced into scientific circulation and analyzed. Bone and antler artifacts were found in the filling of ten various objects. The items are represented by finished products and fragments of bone and antler with traces of processing. Among finished items are the following: two two-sided combs, girth buckle, sleeve, talus of ungulates — playing attributes, a whistle and a primitive tool made of roe deer antler. Among ankle bones, an item with graffiti, which is the possible name of its owner, attracts attention. Tools made of various bones with holes are one of the common categories of items, and their different types served for numerous works. The compact substance taken from animal long bones of legs that was obtained from large domestic ungulates (a bull, a horse) and the dense horn of wild ungulates in general, served as the main raw material for the work of ancient Rus bone carvers. These artifacts can rightly be considered as blanks for the future products. It should be noted that among bone items there are no tools with a pointed functional end, which are often found in Kyiv ancient Rus cultural layers. In addition to finished products, fragments of bone and antler with traces of saw and cutting tools were found. Among them, two saiga horns are of particular interest. Findings of processed saiga horn are extremely rare and products made of it are absent at ancient Rus sites. However, some known specimens of saiga horns with traces of processing allow raising a question on the possibility of their usage as material for bone carvers or as technical raw material. A small amount of processed bone materials found in the area under study does not give grounds for supposing the existence of a stationary bone-carving workshop here. Bone processing could exist at the place as a household craft. Finished items of high quality, such as combs and a buckle, could be considered as products of one of Kyiv stationary bone-carving workshops.