Pages: 167-181 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp224167181 

This article is devoted to the results of a comprehensive study of the finds of three gold amulet-boxes with preserved contents from the excavations of the Roman time burial ground Frontovoe 3 (Nakhimovsky district of Sevastopol). For amulets, an analysis of the chemical composition of gold was performed by XRF, and their structural elements were studied by neutron tomography (especially the soldered areas). Analysis of the internal contents, preserved in all three amulet-boxes, was carried out by neutron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. As a result, it was found that sulfur (α-S8) was inside the sealed amulet-boxes. In our opinion, the sulfur placed inside the amulet-boxes performed several functions, primarily ritual: it endowed the object with properties that protect against evil forces. At the same time, filling the hollow amulets with sulfur created a frame for the item, allowing it to remain intact for a long time and serve as an excellent piece of jewelry.

Keywords: South-Western Crimea, Roman period, barbarians, cults, golden amulet-boxes, XRF, neutron tomography and diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, sulfur

Information about authors:

Irina Saprykina (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117292, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0003-0059-0170
Elzara Khairedinova (Simferopol, Crimea). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Academician Vernadsky Ave., 2, Simferopol, 295007, Crimea
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-1362-757X
Sergey Kichanov (Dubna, Russian Federation). Doctor of Technical Sciences. Joint Institute of Nuclear Research. Joliot-Curie St., 6, Dubna, 141980, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-2324-3051
Anton Rutkauskas (Dubna, Russian Federation). Candidate of Physics and Mathematics. Joint Institute of Nuclear Research. Joliot-Curie St., 6, Dubna, 141980, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-8463-928X
Nadezhda Belozerova (Dubna, Russian Federation). Candidate of Physics and Mathematics. Joint Institute of Nuclear Research. Joliot-Curie St., 6, Dubna, 141980, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-3386-605X
Denis Kozlenko (Dubna, Russian Federation). Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. Joint Institute of Nuclear Research. Joliot-Curie St., 6, Dubna, 141980, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-9818-9507