Pages: 369-380

A study of chemical composition of metal used in 16 breast crosses found in Ustye 2,3 settlements (Kimovsky district of the Tula Oblast) helped to identify different types of copper-base alloys. It was found that the tin-lead bronze, typical for the non-ferrous metalworking of this territory in the 12th — first half of the 13th century, was still in use in production of crosses during the Golden Horde time. A breast cross of the 17th century was made from a different raw material — multicomponent bronze containing zinc. The sample included well-known and rarely found types of crosses. Planygraphic analysis of finds showed that Ustye 2, 3 settlements stand out among other sites of the Upper Don area by concentration of crosses.

Keywords: Upper Don area, Kulikovo field, pre-Mongol period, Golden Horde period, underwear crosses, copper-base alloys

Information about authors:

Mikhail Gonyanyi (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. State Historical Museum. Red Square, 1, Moscow, 109012, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Tatiana Saracheva (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. State Historical Museum. Red Square, 1, Moscow, 109012, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]