Pages: 105-125 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp254105125
The article provides information about finds of mollusk shells from the Black Sea that fell into the burials of the Late Scythian Ust’-Alma necropolis, located in Crimea. These burials date back to the 1st century. BC — first half of the 3rd century AD. Most often, shells of oysters (Ostrea edulis), scallops (Flexopecten glaber), and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), used as containers for grinding cosmetics, were placed in burials. The shells of Cerastoderma glaucum and Mactra could also perform this function. Small shells of the gastropod mollusks Cerithium (Cerithium vulgatum) were used as pendants, worn along with beads and other pendants, some of which are considered to be amulets. The shells of the Black Sea mollusks could have been obtained by local residents near the Ust’-Alma settlement. Many species of mollusks live in this region today.
Keywords: Crimea, Ust’-Alma necropolis, cemeteries, Black Sea mollusks, seashells
Information about author:
Alexander Trufanov (Simferopol, Crimea). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Academician V. I. Vernadsky Ave. 2, Simferopol, 295007, Crimea
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-6036-4004