Ethnic-Cultural Identity and Dating of the Clothing Clasp Group from the Territory of Prut-Dniester Interfl uve

The article considers a group of non-ferrous metal patches discovered in the territory of the Pruto-Dniester region. An analysis of several analogies allowed the authors to conclude that these items represent paired clothing clasps. The group of studied analogies features the flindings discovered in the Caucasus region where similar clasps existed for a long period of time. Caftans with paired clasps are a characteristic trait of a girl's and in certain cases a woman's ethnographic costume. Caftans with such clasps were worn over a dress. In terms of shape, the samples in question are most similar to the characteristic clasps present in Nogai women's costume. The authors date the considered group of items 16th – 18th centuries and correlate it with the antiquities of the Nogais inhabiting the Black Sea and Budjak regions.