Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 43 (1) 2015

Annotation:  The Lower Paleolithic of Iran: Probing New Finds from Mar Gwergalan Cave (Holeylan, Central Zagros) The Mesolithic of the Forest-Steppe Don Area: Retrospective and Prospective Reviews Morphology and Decoration of Ceramics from Novoilyinka III—A Chalcolithic Settlement in Northern Kul Two New Finds of the Chalcolithic–Bronze Age from the Fars River in the Northwestern Caucasus Late Bronze Age Burial Complexes of the Pakhomovskaya Culture, Eastern Variant (Site of Grishkina Za Weaponry, Adornments, and Garment Accessories from the Krasnyi Stroitel Site in the Chuy Valley of K Pendant Cross from Fort Albazin: Problems of Attribution Kholyato-1 Ritual Complex on the Yamal Peninsula The Medieval Metal Face from Novosibirsk Region as an Item of the Transcultural Material Complex in Johann Georg Gmelin and Tomskaya Pisanitsa (to the Three Hundred and Fifth Anniversary of the Resear Vegetation Reconstruction in the Ufa II Fortifi ed Settlement and in Adjacent Landscapes According t Stable-Isotope Analysis as a Method of Taxonomical Identifi cation of Archaeozoological Material Siberian Folklore and the Na-Dené Origins “As the Measure and Beauty Suggest”: Traditional Principles of Geometry in Russian Orthodox Churches The Burial at Ak-Alakha-3 Mound 1, Gorny Altai: New Findings   

The Medieval Metal Face from Novosibirsk Region as an Item of the Transcultural Material Complex in Western Siberia

A.P. Borodovsky.

Medieval bronze anthropomorphic faces from Western Siberia represent a special type among the metal fi gurines. The purpose and chronology of the bronze faces have been the focus of debate in the archaeological literature. The Middle and Lower Ob regions in the northern parts of Western Siberia represent the main dispersal area of bronze faces. Discoveries of such faces beyond the stated area are quite few and are of considerable interest, not only because of their spatial distribution, but also because of distant connections between various Western Siberian regions. The bronze anthropomorphic face was incidentally discovered in the Upper Ob region (Krokhalevka-57 in the vicinity of Novosibirsk). This item, which was found in a distant southern periphery of the dispersal area, is of interest as belonging to one of the categories of medieval transcultural material complex. The specifi c morphological features of this artifact suggest a greater age as compared with other medieval bronze faces discovered in Western Siberia.

Keywords: Western Siberia, Middle Ages, metal anthropomorphic face, transcultural material complex, incidental archaeological fi nds.