Lower Don Region Research Articles

Roman bronze amphoras from the Sarmatian burials of Eastern Europe

In the Sarmatian burials six intact or fragmented bronze amphoras and one separate handle of Tassinari types A3212 and A3220 were found. The peculiarities of shape, details and sizes discussed. The clear majority of large vessels (mainly from 40 to 44 cm high) in Thrace and Asian Sarmatia contrasts with the finds from Pompeii or Western and Central Europe. A significant number of amphoras from Sarmatia originate from the so-called ‘princely’ burials in the Lower Don region of the second half of the 1st – early 2nd century AD. There is a correlation of the finds with the remains of the funeral feasts associated with central female burials in the mounds. The penetration of amphoras to the nomads gives reason to assume that such vessels were in some demand among them and it was not by chance that large amphoras were brought to Thrace and Sarmatia. If this is so (and I cannot find another explanation), then such large vessels could have been specially made with a view to the Thracian and Sarmatian aristocracy. Of course, this was not the only way of penetration of large bronze amphoras to the Sarmatians. There are grounds to suggest that the large bronze amphoras could be acquired by the Sarmatians also during the Bosporan–Roman war in 45–49 AD.

КУРГАНЫ МОГИЛЬНИКА АЛМАЛЫК-ДЕРЕ В ПОГРЕБАЛЬНЫХ ТРАДИЦИЯХ ВОСТОЧНОЙ ЕВРОПЫ

The article considers three burial mounds from the Almalyk-dere burial ground (Mangup) that date from the second half/end of the 4th – first half of the 5th century and are associated with the initial stage of its operation. The general characteristics of the architectural features of the burial structures are presented, and on this basis a circle of closest analogies is formed from the territories of the North Caucasus, Lower Don region, Dnieper area, interfluve of Dniester and Danube, and Great Hungarian Plain (Alfeld). The greatest connection is typologically traced between the considered funeral objects and similar monuments in the North Caucasus and Lower Don.

Evaluation of the potential of the Johanniter grape variety for high-quality winemaking in the Lower Don region

Evaluation of the potential of the Johanniter grape variety for high-quality winemaking in the Lower Don region

Autochthonous grape varieties in the Lower Don Region

This article describes modifi cation changes in the phenotypic traits of grape varieties, including the number of normally developed shoots and infl orescences, the average bunch weight, and grape yield under the infl uence of unstable weather conditions. The research was carried out in the moderate continental climate of the Lower Don region in the period from 2013 to 2022. The average annual air temperature ranged from +10.2 to +11.6 °C, with the climatic norm being +10.4 °C. In the period of active vegetation (May–September), the temperature ranged from +21.2 to +22.7 °C, with the norm being 18.1 °C. The maximum temperature ranged from +37.2 to +40.0 °C, with the norm being +40.0 °C. In winter, during the plant dormancy period (December–February), the average air temperature varied from 0.6 to minus 2.6 °С, with the norm being about minus 2.4 °С. The annual precipitation varied from 292 to 693 mm, with the norm being 548 mm. During the vegetation period of grapes, atmospheric precipitation by the years of observation varied from 99 to 359 mm, with the norm being 177 mm. The aim was to establish the limits of modifi cation variability of phenotypic traits under the infl uence of the unstable moderate continental climate of the Lower Don Region. The research objects were autochthonous grape varieties, including ‘Varyushkin’, ‘Krasnostop’ ‘Zolotovsky’, ‘Kumshatsky Belyi’, ‘Plechistik’, ‘Sibirkovy’, and ‘Tsimlyansky Chernyi’. The reaction norm and modifi cation changes of the phenotypic traits of grape plants under the infl uence of natural conditions in their habitats were studied. The autochthonous grape varieties in contrasting weather conditions exhibited individual and varietal specifi city in terms of reaction norm and adaptability. According to the variability of phenotypic traits and adaptive potential, the varieties were ranked in the following descending order: ‘Plechistik’, ‘Krasnostop Zolotovsky’, ‘Varyushkin’, ‘Kumshatsky Belyi’, ‘Sibirkovy’, and ‘Tsimlyansky Chernyi’. The genotypes ‘Plechistik’, ‘Krasnostop Zolotovsky’, ‘Varyushkin’, and ‘Kumshatsky Belyi’ with their high adaptive potential for formation of stable vine plantations are recommended for developing stable grape plantations in the conditions of the Lower Don region.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СОРТА ВИНОГРАДА ДУРМАН НА КОЛЛЕКЦИИ В НИЖНЕМ ПРИДОНЬЕ

The results of a 16-year study of the autoch-thonous Don grapevine variety Durman are pre-sented in comparison with the control variety Risling Rejnskij. The research was carried out in 2008−2023 at the Don ampelographic collec-tion named after Ya.I. Potapenko (Novocher-kassk, Rostov region). The varieties are culti-vated in a grafted (Kober 5 BB) cover crop. The study was carried out using generally ac-cepted methods in viticulture and National standards. According to the results of long-term observations, the Durman grapevine varie-ty has a high agrobiological potential in the cli-matic conditions of the Lower Don region (66% of open buds, 77% of fruitful shoots, fruiting coefficient 1.2, average bunch weight 173 g, yield 11.3 t/ha). The average estimated yield of the Risling Rejnskij variety was 4.5 t/ha, which is 2.5 times less than that of Dur-man variety. Durman variety has an early-medium ripening period (133 days). Upon reaching technological maturity, it accumulates 20.7 g/100 cm3 of sugars with a titratable acidi-ty of 6.5 g/dm3. Dry white wine from Durman variety is pale straw in color, the aroma has muscat-spicy tones, the taste is harmonious and full. Wine tasting score: 8.6 points. The wine from the control Risling Rejnskij variety re-ceived a score of 8.7 points. The article presents data from the molecular genetic passport of Durman variety (for six microsatellite loci). Based on the results of the studies, it was con-cluded that Durman grapevine variety is advis-able to use for producing high-quality dry white wines, as well as a mother form in breeding for crop quality. The disadvantage of this variety is functionally female type of flower, so it is rec-ommended to grow it in mixed plantings, inside an array, to improve the quality of pollination.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СОРТА ВИНОГРАДА ВАРЮШКИН В РЕГИОНЕ ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ

The article presents the results of a 17-year study of autochthonous Don grapevine variety Varyushkin. The studies were carried out in 2006−2022 at Don ampelographic collection named after Ya.I. Potapenko (Novocherkassk, Rostov region). The variety is cultivated in a grafted (rootstock Kober 5BB) covering cul-ture, the scheme of planting bushes is 3.0 × 1.5 m. The study was carried out using methods generally accepted in viticulture and State Standarts. An ampelographic description of the variety (crowns of a young shoot, leaf, bunch, berry) and an analysis of meteorological condi-tions of the research are given. According to the results of long-term observations, the Don autochthonous grapevine variety Varyushkin has a high agrobiological potential in the climat-ic conditions of the Lower Don region (71 % of blossoming buds, 58 % of fruitful shoots, fruit-ing coefficient 0.8, average bunch weight 253 g, yield 109 c/ha). Medium ripening variety (141 days). When reaching technological ma-turity, it accumulates sugars of 22.3 g/100 cm3 with a titratable acidity of 8.2 g/dm3. It has the following characteristics: bunch length 17.2 cm, bunch width − 9.2 cm, berry length − 14.7 mm, berry width − 13.9 mm. The average weight of 1 berry was 2.1 g. Dry red wine from Varyush-kin variety has a harmonious taste and has a tasting score at the level of wine from the clas-sic Pinot noir variety (8.6 points). Therefore, the variety can be used to expand the raw material resource in order to produce high-quality wines that help meet the needs of the population, as well as a valuable genetic material for breeding.

The population of the middle course of the Ural River in the Early Iron Age (by the data from the Industrialnaya Zona cemetery)

Presented in the publication are the craniological data on a series of early nomads of the Sarmatian type from the Industrialnaya Zona (Poyma) cemetery in the territory of Terekti District of Western Kazakhstan Oblast. Age and sex determinations were given for 61 burials of the Early Iron Age and five of the Bronze Age. The cra-niological series is represented by 32 crania, of which 20 are male and 12 are female. They are characterized by similar morphological features characteristic of the population of the Ural River Basin. As of today, this series is one of the largest, and it dates to a rather narrow chronological period of the 4th–3rd cс. BC. The ‘Sauromato-Sarmatian’ population across the whole territory of its settlement demonstrates biological unity, which is also con-firmed by the palaeogenetic data. It is likely that the Volga-Ural and Cisaral regions constituted the hearth of the racial genesis, which is associated with the origin of the early nomads of the arid zones from the Urals to Ancient Khwarazm and from the Turgay to the Lower Don regions and the formation of the specific craniological complex, with large latitudinal characteristics of the cranium and facial region. The angles of the horizontal profiling feature significant flattening at the upper level, while at the lower level it is at the borderline between the Caucasoid and Mongoloid types with the nasal bones protruding prominently in profile. Also presented in the publication is the graphic reconstruction of the face from the cranium from burial No. 3, mound No. 10. The features presented in the physical appearance of the reconstruction reflect what the ancient nomads of the Ural River Basin looked like. The comparison of the craniological characteristics of the Industrialnaya Zone cemetery against a broad back-ground of the comparative materials, generalised from the cultures of the Early Iron Age, showed that the cranio-logical features of the group do not differ from the surrounding population with similar cultural characteristics of the Volga-Ural region, Western Kazakhstan, and the Lower Don region at the end of the 6th — 3rd c. BC.

РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЕ БАКТЕРИОЗА ЯГОД НА РАСТЕНИЯХ РАЗЛИЧНЫХ СОРТОВ ВИНОГРАДА В УСЛОВИЯХ НИЖНЕГО ПРИДОНЬЯ

Information is given on the prevalence and intensity of development of bacteriosis of grape berries in the conditions of the Lower Don region. Bacteriosis of berries is caused by the bacterium Bacillus. Basically, bacteria enter the berries through the wound surface of the skin of the berries, caused by insect stings, sunburn, and other factors, although the infection of the berries with bacteria is fixed without damaging the skin. The causative agent of the disease is resistant to high temperatures and lack of moisture. The disease symptoms on the same varieties was noted not every year. The intensity of spread of bacteriosis of berries also differed by years. In 2020, signs of damage by bacteriosis of berries were noted in 30% of the studied varieties and with a greater intensity of damage, compared with 2021. The intensity of bacteriosis damage from 1.5 points and higher was noted in the varieties: VIR-1, Kabashny, Kosorotovsky, Pochatochny, Staryy Goryun, which is 13% of the observed varieties. In 17% of varieties, the intensity of the damage did not exceed 1.4 points. In 2021, bacteriosis of berries appeared in a smaller number of varieties compared to 2020 (10% of the studied ones) and with a lower intensity of damage (up to 1.5 points).

ВЛИЯНИЕ БУТЫЛОЧНОЙ ВЫДЕРЖКИ НА СОСТАВ ОРГАНИЧЕСКИХ КИСЛОТ ВИН ИЗ СОРТОВ ВИНОГРАДА ВЕНГЕРСКОЙ СЕЛЕКЦИИ В УСЛОВИЯХ НИЖНЕГО ПРИДОНЬЯ

The aim of the work was to study the influence of bottle aging on the composition of organic acids and organoleptic properties of wines made from white grapevine varieties of Hungarian breeding growing in the Lower Don Region. The objects of the study were dry white wines made from grapevine varieties of Hungarian breeding − Bianca, Lakhedyi mesesh, Crystal, control − Aligote (Vitis vinifera L.), aged in a bottle from 1 to 3 years in the oenoteca of the Institute. The studies showed that during 3 years of aging the total content of organic acids (sum) decreased by 0.35−2.41 g/dm3. The largest decrease in the amount of organic acids was noted in the experimental wines from the variety Bianca (by 2.41 g/dm3). In the experimental wines the total amount of tartaric and malic acids was 56,8−76,3% of all the acids in the wine and decreased in the wines from variety Aligote (control) − by 11.2 %; Bianca − by 18.6 %; Lakhedi Mezesh − by 10,2 %; Kristall − by 7 % as it was aged in the bottle. The greatest decrease in tartaric acid concentration was observed in experimental wines of Bianca variety (by 2.4 g/dm3). In all the experiments the concentrations of succinic acid (by 13.3−28.3 %) and citric acid (by 20−38 %) decreased. The change of succinic acid content in the wines from Aligote variety (control) occurred after 2 years of aging in bottle, and of citric acid after 3 years of aging. In wines from varieties of Hungarian breeding (Bianca, Lakhedy Mesz, Crystal) it was observed that the change of citric acid content occurred after 2 years of aging and of amber acid content after 3 years. As a result of the organoleptic analysis it was determined that the highest tasting scores were given to Aligote (Control) (8,7−8,9 points) and Lakheddi mezesz (8,6−8,7 points), these wines during 3 years long aging had a bright varietal aroma, and more over their bouquet has improved, they have a light harmonious taste with a long pleasant aftertaste.

Joy and Venus seedless grape cultivars in the lower Don Region

In 2018-2022, a series of studies was conducted in the experimental plots of the Novocherkassk branch of Potapenko All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking (Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast) using conventional viticulture methods and GOSTs. A comparative study of the Joy grape, a new promising resistant seedless cultivar of the University of Arkansas (USA), and the Venus grape, one of the first seedless cultivars of the same institution, was carried out. The growing characteristics included the following: uncovered, unwatered, grafted, Berlandieri×Riparia Kober 5B rootstock, 3.0×1.5 m planting scheme, fan-shape formation on the middle stem. Agrobiological indicators, phenological observations, productivity, chemical and technological data, as well as tasting evaluations of fresh and dried grapes, are presented. During the study period, the preservation of buds in the Joy and Venus plants was 78.3 % and 80.1 %, respectively. Although the indicators of shoot fruitfulness and fruiting ratio were high in both cultivars, Joy showed a higher average weight of bunches and berries compared to Venus (311 and 282 g; 3.1 and 1.6 g, respectively). The yield was 13.8 t/ha and 12.4 t/ha, respectively. Both cultivars proved to be highly resistant to major grape diseases; in 2021, Joy grape bunches were slightly affected by mildew at the level of 2.5 points. The mass concentration (average for the study period) of sugars in Joy and Venus plants comprised 20.2 g/100 cm3 under the titratable acidity of 6.8 g/dm3 and 19.3 g/100 cm3 under the titratable acidity of 7.3 g/dm3, respectively. The conclusion is made that the studied cultivars present interest for cultivation as table wine and raisin varieties in areas with sufficiently moderate climate due to their high yield and seedless characteristics. These cultivars are recommended for possible expansion of vine plantations and further use in breeding.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ АВТОХТОННОГО ДОНСКОГО СОРТА ВИНОГРАДА ЦИМЛЯНСКИЙ БЕЛЫЙ В УСЛОВИЯХ НИЖНЕГО ПРИДОНЬЯ

The study was carried out in order to assess the agrobiological and uvological indicators of the rare autochthonous Don grape variety Tsimlyansky Belyy, growing in the conditions of the Lower Don, and can be used to expand the raw material resource in the production of quality wines and as a valuable genetic material for grape breeding. The experiments were performed on the ampelographic collection (Rostov region) in 2015-2021, according to generally accepted methods and GOST. The bushes are grafted onto the rootstock Kober 5BB. Varieties are cultivated in a covering culture. It has been established that under these growing conditions, Tsimlyansky Belyy variety has an early ripening period (117 days), and the control variety Sibir'kovyy has an early-middle period ripening of berries (128 days). According to the results of agrobiological surveys, good overwintering and fruitfulness of plants were noted, the percentage of fruiting buds in Tsimlyansky Belyy variety was at the level of 72.7%, and in Sibir'kovyy variety - 66.2%. In terms of the percentage of fruitful shoots and the fruitfulness ratio, the differences were not significant and amounted to 5.8% and 0.1, respectively. The yield of the studied variety Tsimlyansky Belyy was 91 centners/ha, in the control variety - 86 centners/ha. The characteristics of grape were practically at the same level (medium sugar content - 20.6 g/100 cm3 for Tsimlyansky Belyy variety and 20.2 g/100 cm3 for the Sibir'kovyy variety; and the acidity of the varieties was low: Tsimlyansky Belyy - 6.4 g/dm3, Sibir'kovyy - 6.3 g/dm3). The wine from Tsimlyansky Belyy variety has a pale straw color, with a shine, has delicate floral and honey notes in the aroma, turning into the taste. The taste is full and harmonious. Tasting score 8.6 points. Wine from the control variety Sibir'kovyy received a tasting score of 8.7 points. In 2022, Tsimlyansky Belyy grape variety is included in the State Register of Russian varieties approved for use, has a high agrobiological potential in the climatic conditions of the Lower Don region, and can be used to expand the raw material resource in the production of quality wines, and as a valuable genetic material for grape breeding.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СОРТОВ ВИНОГРАДА МЕЖВИДОВОГО ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ В УСЛОВИЯХ РОСТОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The studies were carried out in order to clarify the agrobiological and uvological characteristics of grape varieties of interspecific origin, selection of Federal Rostov Agrarian Research Center, in non-covering culture. The work was carried out in the northern zone of industrial viticulture in 2018–2021 on the ampelographic collection (Rostov region) of grapes. We studied 3 technical varieties (Grushevsky white, Saperavi northern, Flower) and 3 table varieties (Vostorg, Talisman, Rusmol). The collection was founded in 2008 by grafted vine seedlings (rootstock Kober 5BB), planting scheme 3×1.5 m. The height of the stem of the bushes was 70-100 cm. There were no severe winters during the study period. On average, over the years of the study, the number of blossoming eyes and fruitful shoots in industrial varieties was 82...97 and 83...89%, respectively, in canteens - 71...95 and 57...79%, respectively. According to the duration of the growing season, the varieties were distributed as follows: Vostorg - very early (109 days), Talisman - early (125 days), Rusmol, Tsvetochny, Saperavi northern - medium (139 ... 143 days), Grushevsky white - medium-late (146 days). The yield of technical varieties varied from 4.5 (Saperavi Severniy) to 8.4 kg/bush (Tsvetochny); canteens - from 5.5 (Talisman) to 9.7 kg/bush (Rapture). According to the average weight of the bunch, Grushevsky white (312 g) stood out among the technical varieties, surpassing other varieties of this group by 111 ... 200 g, among table varieties - Rusmol (619 g), ahead of other table varieties by 133 ... varieties was high and very high (from 20.7 to 23.4 g/100 cm3), in table varieties - medium and low (from 16.2 to 18.9 g/100 cm3). Tasting scores of wines from berries of technical grades were at the level of 8.4…8.5 points, from table fruits – 7.8…8.5 points. In general, changes in the climatic conditions of the Lower Don region did not affect the economically valuable traits of the studied varieties of domestic selection.

Фрагменты импортных бронзовых сосудов, предметов утвари и костюма – амулеты из сарматского погребения на Нижнем Дону

fragments of imported bronze vessels, utensils and items of costume (?) used as amulets in the 2nd century AD burial of a young woman in burial mound no. 9/1987 of the Valovyy-I cemetery in the vicinity of Tanais in the Lower Don region are discussed. Attributions of a patera medallion, a part of a strainer receptacle, a ring-shaped lamp handle (?), a mirror and a plate in the form of an openwork palmette, possibly a belt clasp are offered. The finds under consideration reflect a phenomenon that is quite rarely recorded in the burials of Sarmatia. In addition to finds in the burial mounds in the Mius and Lower Don basins, to mention are the rare finds in the Kuban region and Western Kazakhstan. Attention is drawn to the concentration of amulets from fragments of bronze vessels and utensils in the burial grounds of the barbarian population of the South-Western Crimea in the first centuries AD.

The use of Albit in the technology of growing grafted seedlings of technical grape variety

In 2014-2016 were laid 2 experiments: 1. Processing during the stratification period; 2. Processing during the growing season in the nursery garden, the purpose of which was to determine the effectiveness of including foliar fertilizing (Albit) in the conditions of the Lower Don region in the technology for the production of grafted planting material for industrial grapes. The treatment of vaccinations during the stratification period has a positive effect on their yield, which increases to 65.6-92.2%, which is 5.6-32.2% more than the control, with a positive correlation to an increase in concentration. The final yield in this experimental variants varied from 32.2 to 48.9%, significantly exceeding the control by 14.4-31.1%. Treatment of grafts during the growing season in a nursery garden with a solution of Albit in a similar concentration contributed to the aerial parts, roots, increasing the survival rate to 50.3-64.6% (increase to control 2.1-16.4%) and the final yield up to 33.3-57.2% (increase to control 10.0-33.9%), with a positive correlation to an increase in concentration. Foliar treatment during the growing season in a nursery garden with a solution of the Albit preparation provided the formation of a more powerful annual growth with increased quality indicators compared to the control.

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics in Response to Tillage Practices in the Steppe Zone of Southern Russia

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content is a vital indicator for soil health. The use of moldboard (traditional) plowing for many years had led to a prominent decline in the SOC and soil organic matter (SOM) in Southern Russia. Application of no-tillage (NT) is a sustainable alternative to conventional tillage (CT) as it offers an advantage for SOC store. The aim of the study was to assess soil organic carbon dynamics in response to tillage practices in the steppe zone of Southern Russia. The conservation of SOC under different tillage systems (CT and NT) was evaluated in comparison with the soils of the virgin soils (VS) in three different regions of the steppe zone of the Lower Don region (Southern of the European part of Russia). The SOC content under the conditions of CT was significantly lower than that in the VS and demonstrated an inclining trend when using NT technology. We estimate that the transition to NT over an area of 5.5 million hectares will lead to a significant reduction of carbon emissions into the atmosphere (by ~39 × 109 g C/year), thereby SOC deposition will be (~5.1 × 1012 g C) and high economic advantages will be reaped (with cost savings of up to 27%) in the Rostov region of Russia.

Загробный путь киммерийской колесницы. Рентгено-флуоресцентные и масс-спектрометрические исследования конского и колесничного снаряжения из кургана Льговское в Крыму

The article discusses prescription additives and traces of impurities in the alloy of an assemblage of horse harness and chariot equipment of the Cimmerian period from a barrow near the village of L’govskoe in the North-East Crimea. X-ray fluorescence analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were applied in the study. It was determined that certain alloys were used for casting objects of different functional purposes. So, all cheekpieces were cast from tin-lead bronze without arsenic, and gnawed cheekpieces — on the contrary, from arsenic or tin-arsenic bronze. Arrows in most cases are cast from Cu-Sn-Pb-As-Sb multicomponent alloy. In terms of types, the morphology of objects and metallurgical groups of alloys used, the Cimmerian assemblage fully fits into the general picture presented by researchers for the North Caucasus, the Dnieper, and the lower Don region.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ СОРТОВ ВИНОГРАДА МОЛДАВСКОЙ СЕЛЕКЦИИ В УСЛОВИЯХНИЖНЕГО ПРИДОНЬЯ

The article presents the results of the study of grapevine genetic resources at Don Ampelo-graphic Collection named after Ya.I. Potapenko (Novocherkassk, Rostov re-gion). In 2016–2020, agrobiological, uvologi-cal, chemical and technological study of 9 ta-ble varieties and 2 technical varieties of the Moldovan breeding was carried out. The pur-pose of the research was to determine the adaptive potential of varieties in the condi-tions of the Lower Don region and to accu-mulate material for the database. According to the complex of economically valuable signs (a high percentage of blooming eyes, fruit-bearing shoots, yield, sugar and acid content, organoleptic assessment), the following varie-ties stand out: Skorenskiy krasnyy, Moldova, Zvezdnyy, Vierul–59, Marshalskiy. The tech-nical variety of Norok was distinguished by the productivity and high quality of the wine, the wine tasting score was 8.7 points. The Pyfos variety can be recommended for selec-tion for winter hardiness (the safety of the eyes is 97.6 %) and productivity (the percent-age of fruitful shoots is 90.7, and the coeffi-cient of fruitfulness of shoots is 1.6).

Два ритуальных клада эпохи Митридатовых войн из Нижнего Подонья

The article is about two ritual deposits of the 2nd—1st centuries BC from the Lower Don region. The first votive hoard was found in 2018 in the inter-mound space of Turbuta III burial ground and transferred to the NovocherkasskMuseum of the History of Don Cossacks. The complex consisted of a crumpled bronze situla and helmet, a set of silver phalerae and a frontlet, as well as six sets of bits and cheekpieces. In 2016, information about another ritual deposit from illegal excavations in the Rostov region got on the Internet. Both complexes are very similar in composition, the nature of ritual damage, and the way things are placed. Phalerae and the frontlet from Turbuta III find close analogies in the well-known Starobelsk hoard. Obviously, in the Lower Don region, the same pattern can be traced as in the Northern Black Sea region — the connection of sets of phalerae with votive hoards. The helmets from both hoards are later versions of the Celtic helmets with a reinforced crown. It is difficult to determine unambiguously whether these helmets were made by Celtic armourer, or in a workshop of one of the Hellenistic kingdoms according to Celtic patterns. Situlae are believed to have been part of Roman military equipment. Probably, objects from both ritual deposits reflect participation of the Sarmatians in the Mithridatic wars, recorded in written sources.

Chinese mirrors from the burials of the nomads of Eastern Europe of the second half of the 1st millennium BC-first centuries AD: Typology, chronology, distribution and technology of manufacture

The article is devoted to the Chinese mirrors found in the burials of the nomads of Asian Sarmatia. The typology and chronology of mirrors is presented, the earliest of which dates back to the period of the Warring States, but most of them, dating back to the 1st century BC – 2nd century AD. In the complexes of the second half of the 1st century BC – the first half of the 1st century AD the number of Chinese items in Asiatic Sarmatia is increasing. They are represented, among others, by two mirrors of the Western Han type, which come from the Lower Volga and Don regions; they are not known in the South Urals. In the complexes of the second half of the 1st– the first half of the 2nd century AD the Chinese mirrors are much more common. As before, they are not known in the Urals, but they are also represented in the Kuban and Lower Volga, and especially in the Lower Don region. In the burials of the late Sarmatian period of the late 2nd – middle / second half of the 3rd century AD Chinese mirrors are relatively abundant in the Urals, where the mapping of finds allows us to distinguish two local groups (1 – South Urals: Lebedevka and burial grounds in the Ilek river basin; 2 - South Bashkiria, interfluve of the Sakmara and the Urals rivers, and the Trans-Urals), while further to the west – in the Lower Volga and Don regions, they generally ceased to fall, only two mirrors are known outside the South Urals – in Trans-Kuban and Central Ciscaucasia. The issue of deliberate damage to mirrors is specially considered.Is it possible to consider the Chinese bronze mirrors as trade items? If we assume that they belonged to the items of trade along the Silk Road, then two conclusions following from the dating of the finds should be taken into consideration. Firstly, these mirrors were not distributed to the ancient centers of the North Pontic area and further to the territory of the Roman provinces. Thus, the way of the mirrors ended in the steppe. Moreover, starting from the second half of the 2nd century AD (late Sarmatian culture) Chinese mirrors cease to fall to the west of the Urals – their finds are unknown neither in the Lower Volga region, nor on the Don. This means that the connection between the distribution of the Chinese mirrors and the functioning of the northern branch of the Silk Road is unlikely.

Preserving grapevine variety Fioletoviy Ranniy in the collection in vitro

The paper is devoted to the problem of plant biodiversity conservation. This problem is acute all over the world. Lower Don Region has a centuries old history of viticulture and winemaking. There are many valuable vine varieties which are worthy of preservation for future generations. Classical methods no longer cope with this task. Applying advances of biotechnology in addition to traditional methods of ex situ and in situ biodiversity conservation allows sustainable management of genetic resources. This article summarizes the study of methods for creation slow growing collection for grapevine variety Fioletoviy Ranniy. Keeping plants in a slow-growing collection is one of the best ways to preserve biodiversity. This study analyzed the effect of various media compounds on vigor of vine in order to elongate the time between replantings.