Pages: 167-185

Samosdelskoe settlement, located in the lower reaches of the Volga, arose in the Khazar times and existed continuously until the Golden Horde era. Excavations yielded the richest ceramic material. A representative group of ceramics with zoomorphic moldings in the form of ram horns, “eyes”, “ears”, “muzzles” of various animals, as well as handles in the form of figurines of horses and rooster heads stands out. An expressive hand-made lid, which depicts two pairs of fantastic animals arranged in a circle. A ceramic rhyton is a unique find. Drawings of birds, fish and hares are found on glazed ceramics. An analysis of all images indicates a close connection of the settlement with Central Asia, the North Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Volga Bulgaria and the Don region of Khazaria.

Keywords: Lower Volga region, Middle Ages, Khazar Kaganate, glazed ceramics, non-glazed ceramics, zoomorphic elements, moldings, drawings, rhyton, Central Asia, North Caucasus

Information about authors:

Emma Zilivinskaya (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. N. N. Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Leninsky Ave., 32a, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.
E-mail: [email protected]
Dmitry Vasiliev (Astrakhan, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Astrakhan State University. Tatishchev St., 20a, Astrakhan, 414056, Russian Federation.
E-mail: [email protected]
Ekaterina Boldyreva (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. State Historical Museum. Red Square, 1, Moscow, 109012, Russian Federation.
E-mail: [email protected]