Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 46 (2) 2018   DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2018.46.2.100-105

Annotation:  Excavations at Darvagchay-Zaliv-4: An Early Paleolithic Site in Dagestan Argillite Artifacts and Final Pleistocene to Middle Holocene Cultural Links Across the Vitim River B Late Krotovo (Cherno-Ozerye) Burials with Casting Molds from Tartas-1, Baraba Forest-Steppe The Andronovo Age Women’s Costume, Based on Finds from Maytan, Central Kazakhstan Textile Decoration and Patterns on the Andronovo Vessels: Possible Reconstructions A Study of Bronze Age Ceramics from the Forest Zone of Eastern Europe: What Does the Term “Fatyanovo Petroglyphs of Zanskar, India: Findings of the 2016 Season Offerings of Hunnic-type Artifacts in Stone Enclosures at Altynkazgan, the Eastern Caspian Region Old Turkic Stone Enclosures at Kyzyl-Shin, Southeastern Altai New Data on Iron-Smelting Sites in the Kuektanar and Turgun Valleys, Southeastern Altai The Technology of Manufacturing Glass Beads at Gnezdovo, Smolensk Region Mongol Warriors of the Jochi Ulus at the Karasuyr Cemetery, Ulytau, Central Kazakhstan Silver Vessels of the Golden Horde Era from the Middle Ob Basin The Cemetery at Fort Umrevinsky, in the Upper Ob Basin Remains of Brown Bear (Ursus arctos L.) from the Kaninskaya Cave Sanctuary in the Northern Urals Animal Bones in Ritual Accumulations at Monkys Uriy Manifestation of Worldviews in Traditional Narratives: Reconstruction of Global Tendencies in the Sp   

The Technology of Manufacturing Glass Beads at Gnezdovo,
Smolensk Region

O.P. Dobrova

Paleoethnology Research Center, Novaya pl. 12, bldg. 5, Moscow, 109012, Russia

Over 12 thousand glass beads have been excavated from medieval burials at Gnezdovo. Most fall into nine technological groups similar to those in a collection from the earthen ramparts of Staraya Ladoga. At Gnezdovo, however, hitherto unknown types have been found, such as those represented by isolated specimens formed from lumps of molten glass. A few bea ds appear to have been made in a mold; cross-striated beads had been welded from several pieces. The latter resemble Greek and Roman era specimens from the Northern Pontic region. For the first time in Old Rus, glass beads with a copper pipe are described. This is a rare technique, also practiced in Central Europe. Numerous specimens from Gnezdovo are two-layered; others are made from a pipe, from a rod, a mosaic, or curled. Some experts argued that the use of pipe as a core is motivated by economy of the paste of which beads were made. Pipe cores in cobalt beads might facilitate shaping. Since cobalt-colored beads and bracelets were popular in 800–1100 AD, economy cannot provide a universal explanation. The fact that other materials, such as copper and ceramics, were also used is another proof thereof. Generally, such beads are rare not only in Gnezdovo but elsewhere in Kievan Rus as well.

Keywords: Glass beads, technology, Old Rus, Gnezdovo