Silver Earrings from the Dyalyan Burial Ground (Altai Mountains): technological and comparative-morphological analyses

The authors present the results of the study of silver earrings from the Dyalyan burial ground of the Hun-Sarmatian time, located in the Chemalskiy district of the Republic Altai. The purpose of paper was to determine the methods of manufacturing the jewelry on the basis of technological and comparative-morphological analyses. A traceological analysis of the earrings was carried out, according to the results of which the authors put forward some assumptions. For their verification, 33 experiments, grouped into four series, were performed. On the basis of traceological observations, comparative-morphological analysis and experiments, the authors established that the earrings were divided into two types: spiral-shaped cylindrical earrings and crescent-shaped earrings. Spiral earrings were widely distributed. They were made using simple and common technology. However, to obtain a die for them in the form of a thin wire, it was required to use a special tool. Therefore, perhaps, the wire was created by one master, and the earring by another. The composition of silver and the detection of similar products on other sites of the Altai Mountains testify to the local origin of this jewelry. In relation to not typical for the Altai area earrings in the shape of a crescent, the authors can not note the high skill of the jeweler. This was a product of local home production. This is evidenced by the rudeness of his performance relatively simple technology and composition of metal, possibly obtained from local ores of the Mongolian Altai.