The Medieval Metal Face from Novosibirsk Region as an Item of the Transcultural Material Complex in Western Siberia

The Medieval Metal Face from Novosibirsk Region as an Item of the Transcultural Material Complex in Western Siberia

A.P. Borodovsky.

Medieval bronze anthropomorphic faces from Western Siberia represent a special type among the metal fi gurines. The purpose and chronology of the bronze faces have been the focus of debate in the archaeological literature. The Middle and Lower Ob regions in the northern parts of Western Siberia represent the main dispersal area of bronze faces. Discoveries of such faces beyond the stated area are quite few and are of considerable interest, not only because of their spatial distribution, but also because of distant connections between various Western Siberian regions. The bronze anthropomorphic face was incidentally discovered in the Upper Ob region (Krokhalevka-57 in the vicinity of Novosibirsk). This item, which was found in a distant southern periphery of the dispersal area, is of interest as belonging to one of the categories of medieval transcultural material complex. The specifi c morphological features of this artifact suggest a greater age as compared with other medieval bronze faces discovered in Western Siberia.

Keywords: Western Siberia, Middle Ages, metal anthropomorphic face, transcultural material complex, incidental archaeological fi nds.