Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 40 (1) 2012

Annotation:  Bairaki – a Lower Paleolithic Site on the Lower Dniester The Denticulate Mousterian as a Supposedly Distinct Facies in Western Central Asia Non-utilitarian Lithic Objects from the European Paleolithic Decorated Birch-Bark Artifacts from Section VI of the Gorbunovsky Peat-Bog An Alakul Funeral and Ritual Site in the Eastern Orenburg Region Medieval Amulet Illustrating the Divine Horseman Myth, Rozhdestveno, Perm Territory Face Images in Lower Angara Rock Art Boats in the Rock Art of Kanozero and Northern Europe New Data on Bronze Age Jewelry in the Southeastern Urals The Old Russian Male Funerary Attire (Based on Finds from the 10th–11th Century Burial Mounds at Goc Investigation of Wooden Burial Structures in the Process of Archaeological Excavations A Contribution to the Study of the Eastern Links of the Bronze Age Culture of the Northern Middle Vo Secular Imagery in the Islamic Space of Medieval Zirikhgeran Stone Statue of Ailyan, Gorny Altai Jurchen Pendants of the Netsuke Type Elements of Religious Ritualism in Popular Medicine among the Izhma Komi of the Lower Ob Region Early Metal Age Crania from Bolshoy Oleniy Island, Barents Sea   

Jurchen Pendants of the Netsuke Type

N.G. Artemieva.

Netsuke, miniature sculptures of stone and glass, are among the most striking materials discovered at the medieval sites of Primorye. At the present time, 29 such pendants have been recorded. All were discovered at sites dating back to the time of the Jurchen state Eastern Xia (1115–1233). The distinctive style and certain standardization of these small sculptures gives one to assume that the Jurchen people had their own original school of small plastic art. Netsuke appeared among the Jurchen in the 13th century. No such sculptures have been found at sites dated earlier than the 13th century. Therefore, the present author supports the view of researchers who suggest that the Japanese and the Mongolians adopted netsuke from the Jurchen people.

Keywords: Netsuke, Jurchen people, small plastic art, Eastern Xia state, Primorye, medieval archaeology, decorative and applied arts.