Early medieval bronze amulets representing horsemen from the Carpathian-Dniester region

Among the materials related to the early Middle Ages in the Carpathian-Dniester region, which have been discovered during archaeological excavations and reconnaissance, as well as among chance finds there are bronze amulets depicting a rider on a horse. The area of distribution of these bronze figures of riders includes extensive regions, starting from the North Caucasus and the middle reaches of the Don in the East to Central and South-Eastern Europe in the West. Most of the finds were discovered in the south of Russia, in Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary. On the territory of the Prut-Dniester region (Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) it was found 24 bronze figures of riders belonging to different typological models. They were found in the following settlements: Hansca (Ialoveni District) - 3 figures, Păhărniceni-Petruha - 2 objects, Lucăşeuca and Furceni (Orhei District), Ocniţa (Ocniţa district), Briceni - 2 objects, Caracuşenii Noi (Briceni District), Popeştii de Sus (Drochia District), Tătărăuca Veche - 2 objects, Balinţi and Inundeni (Soroca District), Tarasova (Rezina District), Rezeni (Ialoveni District), Porumbrei and Schinoşica (Cimişlia District), Enichioi (Cantemir District), Dezghingea and Capaclia (Gagauzia) and Bolgrad (Odessa region). Seven bronze figures, presented at ?Violity? Auction & Antiques in Kiev, may also be originated from the Prut-Dniester region.