Archaeologia Bulgarica 2008 XII 2

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59 Archaeologia Bulgarica XII 2008 2 59-80 Sofia AN EARLY MEDIEVAL GRAVEYARD IN THE DIVDYADOVO QUARTER OF SHUMEN (NE BULGARIA) † GEORGI ATANASOV/ SVETLANA VENELINOVA/ STANIMIR STOYCHEV The excavations Human bones were discovered in the north- ern part of the Divdyadovo quarter of Shumen while digging a drainage ditch along Veliki Preslav Street in October 2004. The burial pits thus revealed appeared as darker strata in the two sections of the ditch. The area is densely built on and the area examined had thus to be restricted to the confines of the drainage ditch with length of 61 m, width 2.20 m and depth 1.90 m (fig. 1). Some of the pits were below the modern pavement as well as in the nearby housing area, and as a result have only been partly researched. The ancient cultural layer is 0.40-1.75 m below the present surface. Cultural stratification of different periods 1 was discovered during the archaeological ex- cavations. Two bronze coins of the 3 rd -4 th C AD 2 and a number of sherds of dark-red glazed vessels made on a fast potter’s wheel were found in the ditch and in the yards of the nearby houses. It seems probable that a settlement ex- isted in the vicinity during the Late Roman pe- riod. The remains of a sunken house (pit VII) and garbage pits with traces of production proc- esses (pits I, II and IV) were recorded. Sherds, gray-black and russet-brown in colour and with inorganic inclusions thrown on a slow potter’s wheel were found in these pits. All these sherds were poorly fired and most of them were deco- rated with incised linear or undulating orna- ment. Isolated fragments of vessels with bur- nished cordons and other sherds with green glaze were also found in this system of pits. This ceramic material can be dated to 9 th -10 th C AD, when a settlement probably existed in the area. Seventeen graves were examined. Most of them had been disturbed by the modern con- struction works and were badly preserved on account of their location immediately under the aggregate bed of the asphalt covering. Namely the orientation of the graves, the evidence of a burial rite and the associated grave goods are the basic indicators by which we intend to characterize and date these buri- als as such belonging to cemeteries of different periods. Fourteen of the graves were densely situ- ated in the southwestern part of the ditch. Sherds of 17 th -19 th C AD were discovered in the fillings of the pits. Most of the graves were irregular outlined. The dead were laid out in an extended position the upper and lower limbs followed the axis of the body. The skulls were facing to the south–southwest. A shattered stone was dug in near one of the walls of the pit of grave 4. Charcoal, small animal bones and pottery sherds were found in most of the graves. Objects of corroded iron were discovered in two of the graves, and a fragment of a glass bracelet in a third one. The placing of a stone and personal belongings and probably the traces of a funerary feast (trizna) are characteristics of pagan burial practices which were incorpo- rated into Christian ceremonial, and remained locally preserved down to the present day (Âúæàðîâà 1977, 30-49). It seems likely that this group of graves formed part of a cemetery of the Ottoman period. In 2005 archaeological investigations contin- ued and other seventeen graves from the same cemetery were investigated in the immediate proximity of those previously discovered (Ðàøåâ et al. 2006, 375). The graves located in the northern half of 1 The rescue excavations were carried out by the authors headed by the late Georgi Atanasov. 2 One of the coins entered the Numismatics Department of the Regional Museum of History-Shumen. This coin and the one from grave 3 are studied by Dr. Zhenya Zhekova.

description

An Early Medieval Graveyard In The Divdyadovo Quarter of Shumen (NE Bulgaria)

Transcript of Archaeologia Bulgarica 2008 XII 2

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Archaeologia Bulgarica XII 2008 2 59-80 Sofia

AN EARLY MEDIEVAL GRAVEYARD IN THE DIVDYADOVO QUARTEROF SHUMEN (NE BULGARIA)

† GEORGI ATANASOV/ SVETLANA VENELINOVA/STANIMIR STOYCHEV

The excavationsHuman bones were discovered in the north-

ern part of the Divdyadovo quarter of Shumenwhile digging a drainage ditch along VelikiPreslav Street in October 2004. The burial pitsthus revealed appeared as darker strata in thetwo sections of the ditch. The area is denselybuilt on and the area examined had thus to berestricted to the confines of the drainage ditchwith length of 61 m, width 2.20 m and depth1.90 m (fig. 1). Some of the pits were belowthe modern pavement as well as in the nearbyhousing area, and as a result have only beenpartly researched. The ancient cultural layer is0.40-1.75 m below the present surface.

Cultural stratification of different periods1

was discovered during the archaeological ex-cavations. Two bronze coins of the 3rd-4th CAD2 and a number of sherds of dark-red glazedvessels made on a fast potter’s wheel werefound in the ditch and in the yards of the nearbyhouses. It seems probable that a settlement ex-isted in the vicinity during the Late Roman pe-riod. The remains of a sunken house (pit VII)and garbage pits with traces of production proc-esses (pits I, II and IV) were recorded. Sherds,gray-black and russet-brown in colour and withinorganic inclusions thrown on a slow potter’swheel were found in these pits. All these sherdswere poorly fired and most of them were deco-rated with incised linear or undulating orna-ment. Isolated fragments of vessels with bur-nished cordons and other sherds with greenglaze were also found in this system of pits.This ceramic material can be dated to 9th-10th CAD, when a settlement probably existed in thearea.

Seventeen graves were examined. Most of

them had been disturbed by the modern con-struction works and were badly preserved onaccount of their location immediately under theaggregate bed of the asphalt covering.

Namely the orientation of the graves, theevidence of a burial rite and the associatedgrave goods are the basic indicators by whichwe intend to characterize and date these buri-als as such belonging to cemeteries of differentperiods.

Fourteen of the graves were densely situ-ated in the southwestern part of the ditch.Sherds of 17th-19th C AD were discovered inthe fillings of the pits. Most of the graves wereirregular outlined. The dead were laid out in anextended position the upper and lower limbsfollowed the axis of the body. The skulls werefacing to the south–southwest. A shatteredstone was dug in near one of the walls of the pitof grave 4. Charcoal, small animal bones andpottery sherds were found in most of the graves.Objects of corroded iron were discovered intwo of the graves, and a fragment of a glassbracelet in a third one. The placing of a stoneand personal belongings and probably the tracesof a funerary feast (trizna) are characteristicsof pagan burial practices which were incorpo-rated into Christian ceremonial, and remainedlocally preserved down to the present day������������ ��-49). It seems likely thatthis group of graves formed part of a cemeteryof the Ottoman period.

In 2005 archaeological investigations contin-ued and other seventeen graves from the samecemetery were investigated in the immediateproximity of those previously discovered������ et al. 2006, 375).

The graves located in the northern half of

1 The rescue excavations were carried out by the authors headed by the late Georgi Atanasov.2 One of the coins entered the Numismatics Department of the Regional Museum of History-Shumen. This coin and the one

from grave 3 are studied by Dr. Zhenya Zhekova.

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the ditch, which will be treated in greater detailbelow, are of great interest and may be pre-sumed to belong to a cemetery establishedsome ten centuries earlier – in the early middleages.

Two grave pits were uncovered (fig. 1/III,IV) partially preserved in the two sections ofthe ditch. The bottoms of the pits were coveredby a layer of crushed small stones and one ofthese layers was laterally edged with largerstones. Charcoals, small quantity of animalbones, fragments of gray-black pottery with orwithout incised ornament and with burnishedcordons were found in the embankment. Thetwo pits were not completely preserved and noskeletal remains were discovered. That theywere graves seems likely in view of their simi-lar construction to surviving cremation burials��������� ��� ���� however, there is noconclusive evidence. Much the same situationis that of another pit preserved in the easternsection (fig. 1/VI). The undisturbed skeleton ofa foal3 was found at this location but one canonly hypothesize whether this was an adjacentniche-like pit of a grave destroyed when themodern drain was cut. Early medieval gravesin which horse bones have been found associ-ated with human skeletal remains are known inthe cemetery of Popina 1, near Kyulevcha������������ 86, 168, 270), Novi Pazar(�������/��������7, 11) and in tumulus���near Madara �������� !�� – all inNortheast Bulgaria.

Information on grave construction was dis-covered in only three of the ten pits excavatedin the northern part of the ditch. Grave 1 hadnot survived in its original form (fig. 2). Onlythe pits of graves 3 (figs. 3, 4) and 6 (figs. 5,6) were comparatively well preserved. Theywere rectangular with rounded corners andwith an additional niche formed to them. Theelliptical niche in grave 6 was situated to thenorthwest of the pelvic and thigh bones of thedeceased. The niche in grave 3 was semicircu-lar. It was to the southeast of the metatarsalbones of the buried and extended over a stepformed at a height of 0.25 m. It was 0.80 m

wide and to the southeast only 0.65 m of theniche survived as the rest was covered by themodern pavement. The niche in grave 58 nearKyulevcha was constructed in a similar way������������ " 86, 119). A significantnumber of graves in the early medieval cem-eteries in NE Bulgaria near Bdintsi, Nozharevo,Devnya-1, Novi Pazar and 20% of those atKyulevcha were with niches �#�$�%������ ��&%' ��'

Graves 1, 3 and 6 represent individual buri-als. The position of the bones in grave 1 is veryimpressive. According to the constructionworkers the scull was oriented to the west. Thevertebrae of the lower part of the spinal columnwere discovered in situ and followed the east-west axis of the body. The ribs and the pelvicbones were disturbed; the two thighbones wereseparated some 1.35 m from each other. Thehumerus and the ulna were situated lying acrossone another and to the east of the spinal col-umn. A heap of medium sized crushed stoneswith traces of burning was placed to the north-east of the bones. The filling of the pit wasmixed with charcoals in high concentration, ani-mal bones and pottery sherds. A thin lens ofcharcoal and ash some 0.055 to 0.080 m thickwas visible above the stones.

Unfortunately grave 1 had been damagedduring the construction works and thus did notallow any firm conclusions concerning the origi-nal disposition of the bones. However, it can besupposed that although disturbed, since thebones were not found in a heap, it was not asecondary burial. Perhaps subsequently, as sug-gested by the 9th-10th C AD sherds, the pit wasopened for a second time and the bones of thedead were disturbed though left but followingthe same original orientation.

The individuals in graves 3 and 6 were bur-ied in an extended supine position. As a resultof the ditch digging activities, the western partof grave 3 was disturbed. The scull, part of thethorax, the left clavicle and humerus were miss-ing. According to the anthropological analysesthe massive bones belonged to a man, about 40years old, 1.75 m tall, with many exostoses

3 The osteological analysis was done by Dr. Nikolay Spasov from the Natural History Museum at the Bulgarian Academy ofSciences - Sofia.

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along the spinal column4. Grave 3 was east-west oriented, and the arms of the dead werefolded over the pelvis. About 16 years old, a1.72 m tall individual was buried in grave 6. Thebones of his right arm were destroyed when thedrain was laid while the head was facing to thesouth, and the upper and lower extremities fol-lowed the axis of the body. In the light of thegrave goods one may assume that the burialwas that of a young woman.

Both western orientation and crossing armsare commonly observed features of inhumationburials in early medieval cemeteries and areonly rarely practiced in the pagan period. Thecrossing of arms was a dominant feature as lateas 11th-12th C AD ������������ �� !�'The cemeteries of Varna-2 and Devnya-2 and3 �(�)����� ��! � �� ��� pose thequestion whether it is correct to assume thatthe western orientation, crossed arms and the

4 The anthropological analysis of the bones was done by Professor Dr. Yordan Yordanov and Dr. Branimira Dimitrova fromthe Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum - Sofia.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

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Fig. 3

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Fig. 4

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absence of grave goods are sufficient indica-tions for differentiation between graves of thepagan and Christian periods. The grave orien-tation in the early medieval cemeteries was notconstant and indicates the heterogeneous com-position of the Proto-Bulgarians ���%�)�*��� ���'

Unfortunately only three graves from theShumen cemetery were preserved in the north-ern part of the drain, also damaged by the con-struction work. As a result it is not possible todetermine what the common custom as to ori-entation was. According to the verbal reports,other graves, also oriented to the west, wereunearthed during the construction of the housesin close proximity to the excavation area. Prob-ably the population or a part of it that buriedtheir dead in the early medieval cemetery pre-ferred a western orientation.

We suggest that traces of rites to pacify thespirit of the dead, aimed at keeping it in thegrave pit and preventing it from disturbing the

living, were preserved in the burial practice ofthe excavated graves of Divdyadovo. The an-kles of the individual buried in grave 6 wereplaced close to each other and probably theywere tied together. There are similar examplesfrom graves in the cemeteries of Kyulevcha,Nozharevo, Balchik, Devnya-1 and 3 ������/�����%���"� !������������� �� ����� ������+����!��� ���' This isthe most common way of assuaging the deadpracticed by the Proto-Bulgarians to the northand west of the Black Sea �,%���� �"� �"-179). Piles of gravel were discovered onthe cervical vertebrae and on the crural bonesof the person burial in grave 6. The bodies ofsome of those buried in the cemetery of Dev-nya-1 and 3 were also weighed down withstones ��������� ��� �� (�)������� �!�(�)�����1972, 50). This recallsthe two medium sized stones placed near oneof the short ends of grave pits 3 and 6. This is apractice known from the pagan cemeteries of

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

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Nozharevo, Devnya-1 and 3 ������/�����-%���"� ! ������������ �).

Also in connection with the same aspect ofthe ritual practices, fire with its purging powerwas used together with the burying and weigh-ing down of the bones with stones and the bind-ing together of the extremities. Considerablequantities of charcoal were discovered roundthe lower extremities of those buried in graves3 and 6. Placing embers in the graves is a com-mon pagan ritual, which later entered Christiantradition. It seems that a burning wooden beamwas laid under the body of the dead in grave 3.A 0.10 m wide layer of charcoal, ash and burnt

piece of wood was formed 0.25 m to the northand along the side of the skeleton. The woodhad burnt all the area below the thorax; paral-lels for this may be found in the cemeteries ofBdintsi, Topola, Kyulevcha and Novi Pazar��������� ��� 1!! ! � ����������� �"� �������.������ ��� � !"-�� ���(������-/������et al. 1989, 187-197). There were also traces of burning on themedium sized stones heaped in the niche ofgrave 3, where the surrounding soil wasbricked, and a thin layer of ash and charcoalvisible above it. It may be suggested that somekind of funeral fire ritual was performed in the

Fig. 7

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Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

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Fig. 12

A

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Fig. 13

Fig. 14

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niche at the same time the burial took place.Sherds of both hand-made and wheel-turnedvessels, poorly fired, gray in colour and withlarge silicate inclusions were scattered in theniche of grave 3. Some of the sherds had beensubjected to fire and their surface was black-ened and warped by the heat of the fire.Unburnt sheep bones were also discovered. Allthese elements (scattered pottery sherds, ani-mal bones) were probably remains of the triznacustom in which vessels were ritually brokenand some food had been offered. Small animalbones and sherds analogous to those from grave3 were found around the bones of the buried ingrave 6.

Associated artifactsAnother common feature characterizing

graves 1, 3 and 6 are the grave goods whoserich and disparate character are of great sig-nificance for defining the chronological limits ofthe Divdyadovo cemetery.

A fragmentary bone shank of an awl withincised ornament and hollowed out in the upperpart was discovered near the bones of the skel-eton buried in grave 1. A fragment of heavilycorroded iron was preserved in the socket.

Dimensions: length 0.091 m; diameter of theshank 0.014 m; diameter of the socket 0.004 m.

Grave 3 – the richest one regarding the finds– confirms the practice of placing vessels in thegrave pits. A wooden vessel, probably a largemug pail or bucket was placed as an offeringon the crural bones of the dead. Fragments oftwo bronze mounts, the upper with a smallerdiameter were preserved.

Fig. 15

Fig. 16

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There are two dotted lines along the two lon-gitudinal sides of the mounts. The handle of thepail is arch-shaped and has a square cross-sec-tion. One of the terminals is incomplete whilethe other ends in an S-curve decorated with a“bird’s eye”. A rectangular plate was attachedwith two rivets to the upper mount. Its lowerterminal resembles a double-hook, and a slotinto which the handle of the vessel was fas-tened, had been cut in the upper mount. Tracesof wood have been preserved between theplates.

Dimensions: width of the facing – 0.024 m,thickness – 0.001 m. Length of the handle –0.101 m. Dimensions of the section 0.005 x0.002 m (fig. 7).

In early medieval cemeteries buckets wereplaced as burial urns (Devnya-1) or as graveofferings like that in grave 3. A clay pail fromthe bi-ritual cemetery of Histria �(�)�������! �" �&�'��012342r 1992, Taf. 347) pro-vides some evidence for reconstructing ourShumen example. Wooden pails were found incremation graves from the cemeteries ofBdintsi, Kyulevcha, Sini vir, Razdelna, Devnya-1 and 3 ������������ �� !! ��5� �&�' 1,2, 729, 10, 1017, 1023� (�)��������(�)�����1972, 68; Fiedler 1992, 474,494, Taf. 71/15, 97/8, 10), in pagan inhumationgraves in the cemeteries of Nozharevo ���-���/�����%�� �"� !� !"� #�$�%������, � ��&%' �� Hitovo �6������ 105)and Gledachevo �7������/8���$����!��� ���and in graves in the Christian cemeteriesof Galiche, Preslav-1 and Nikolovo ������������ !!� !�! �&�' �2-4, 1583-6; 1981, 39).As in grave 3, an adult man was buried withrich burial offerings in grave 15 of the cemeteryat Nozharevo. An amphora-like vessel wasplaced on his legs, together with a wooden pail,and above it the skulls of a sheep and of a calf������/�����%���"� !� �&�' �' Par-allels show that although they were isolatedfinds, wooden pails were placed in the gravesnot only during the pagan period but during theChristian era too.

A complete amphora-like vessel, made of afine wear and traces of secondary burning onits surface, was placed behind the wooden ves-

sel above the ankles of the dead. The pot be-longs to the type of medium sized amphora-likevessels which were worked on slow potter’swheel. The body of the vessel is spherical, andits maximum diameter is almost twice the di-ameter of the base (D2:D3 = 1,8:1), and theheight of the body is almost equal to its width�9-h:D2 = 0.9:1). The widest part of the vesselis above the mid-point of the body�9-:;91 =2,1:1). The shoulders gently curve into a nar-row, high and cylindrical neck, which broadensout into a funnel-like mouth. Two opposingarch-curved handles with elliptic cross-sectionand longitudinal grooves are applied to the mid-point of the neck and the shoulders. Two paral-lel horizontal grooves are incised just below thewidest part of the vessel. The base is flat.

Dimensions: height 0.225 m, diameter of themouth 0.052 m, diameter of the body 0.225 m,diameter of the base 0.087 m (fig. 8).

Having regard to its spherical shape, thecharacteristics of the wear itself and the incisedornament of two lines on the lower part of thebody, the amphora-like vessel from Divdyadovoresembles some of the jugs, classified by L.Doncheva-Petkova as type III �(������-/������1977, 72, 174-175, cat. ##221-!! !!� !!� ��&%'<=223,226� �" �������-������ " ��&%'<=�2 <=��1,2,4 <=���10-

12,14,15�(�)����� �� �� �&�' �' Re-garding the proportion of the amphora-like ves-sel: the height and the width, the heights of theneck and the body, its maximum diameter to-wards the diameter of the base, two jugs fromthe cemetery of Novy Pazar are the closestanalogues to the amphora-like vessel from gra-ve 3 �9-h:D2 = 0.8-0.9:1; D2:D3 = 1.6-1.9:1;h:h1 = 0,33-0,54:1) ����������� " #� ��&%'<=��2,4�(������-/��������� � cat. ##223,!!� ��&%'<=223,226), as wellas a third one from the necropolis Devnya-1�9-h:D2 = 0.8-0.9:1; D2:D3 = 1.7:1; h:h1 = 0.33-0.54:1) �(������-/������ ��� �� cat.#!!�� (�)����� �� �� �&�' �' Thesame indicators reveal a similarity with twoamphora-like vessels from Pliska, tumulusXXXIII and the settlement of Brestak, classi-fied by L. Doncheva-Petkova as type I �����-���� " !�� �&�' !10����������� ��

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�&�'�1�8���$������� !� �&�'!�>��-$������ ! � �&�' 1�(������-/��������� �" ��&%'<�<249, cat. #249). In bothcases the neck is high and cylindrical but, com-pared to the vessel from grave 3 it is shorter orwider and ends with a straight or slightly out-ward curved and rounded mouth. Two flat han-dles are applied from the mid-point of the neckto the shoulders of these amphora-like vessels,but their curve is larger than that of the vesselfrom Divdyadovo.

The amphora-like vessel from grave 3 iswithout precise parallel. Although the similari-ties between the amphora-like vessel fromShumen and those from Pliska and Brestak,there are also number of clear differences be-tween them but it is normal, concerning the dateof the latter ones – 9th C AD. Regarding theprofile and general proportions of the vessel,there is a closer similarity with the sphericalbodied jugs. It can be assumed that the am-phora-like pot from grave 3 is an earlier versionof the amphora-like type I vessels and confirmstheir genealogical relationship to the jugs withspherical bodies �(������-/������ �" ���' This gives us grounds to treat the pot fromDivdyadovo as a link between the two types ofvessel (spherical jugs and amphora-like vessels)and to date it not later than the 8th C AD.

The man buried in grave 3 was laid out withhis personal weapons. A light battle-axe whichbelongs to type I, variant A of Valery Yotov’sclassification �6���� !�� ""� was placedby his right ulna. The axe was severely cor-roded and its rear part is square sectioned andthe trapezoidal cutting edge has the same sec-tion. The socket of the axe is elliptic withrounded edges. Traces of the wooden handleare preserved within the socket.

Dimensions: length 0.190 m, width of theedge 0.044 m, diameter of the socket 0.021 m(fig. 9/2).

Similar axes but of smaller size were foundin the cemeteries of Krasen and Nozharevo�6���� !��! !�-�!� 6���� !�� cat.##548, 549). They date from 8th- 9th C AD.

An iron knife-dagger was placed by the rightthighbone just under the pelvis. It also was se-verely corroded and there is no link between

some of its fragments. The blade of the daggeris long and narrow, with a rhomboid cross-sec-tion and traces of wood, probably from thescabbard. The length, the shape and the sectionof the blade classify it more as a stabbing thana cutting weapon.

Dimensions: length 0.210 m, width of theedge 0.015 m, thickness 0.006 m (fig. 9/1).

There is close parallel in a knife with a rhom-boid section of the blade. It was discovered,also placed at the right thighbone, in grave 252of the cemetery of Histria (Fiedler 2002, Taf.33/7, 9).

Fragments of a further severely corrodedand burnt iron object with traces of wood, dis-covered lying on the pelvic bones and some 0.30m along the left thighbone, arouse interest. Apossible interpretation was that this was a sicklewith a blade some 400 mm long, probably inten-tionally broken and laid upon the dead.

Dimensions: length of the haft 0.11 m, pre-served length of the haft with the curve 0.22 m,preserved length of the cutting part of the bladebeing 0.28 m (fig. 9/3).

Placing sickles in graves, although rare, isnot unknown. Parallels may be found but insome cremation graves from the Hitovo-3�6������ ��� and Razdelna cemeteries(Fiedler 2002, Taf. 6510, 8615). It is worth men-tioning that sickles were found in “Avarian”cemeteries too (G���������������� ������������k 1975, 336, fig. 8; Kovrig 1975, 177, 178,fig. 5/7). This fact is quite interesting becausean agricultural tool is in a warrior’s grave. Prob-ably the sickle was used as a weapon or forobtaining fodder for the horse �<�����$�"� ���'

Another everyday object was found in thefilling of grave 3 – a biconical stone spindlewhorl.

Dimensions: total diameter 0.035 m, internaldiameter 0.010 m.

Another find is a half follis minted in Con-stantinople in the period AD 507-512 during thereign of Anastasius I. The obverse has beencompletely effaced.

Dimensions: diameter 0.019-0.020 m, weight4.74 g.

Coins were rare and valuable objects in

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these times. Probably the late-antiquity coin dis-covered in grave 3 was used as an amulet.

The personal belongings, with which thedead in grave 3 were buried, deserve specialmention.

An applique (?) in the shape of a rosettewith a central opening was discovered amongthe grave goods. It was found next to the dag-ger, on the right side of the body. Made fromembossing copper alloy sheet there are tracesof a white metal coating covering the appliquein the hollows between the leaves of the ro-sette. One of the leaves was punched.

Dimensions: diameter 0.115 m, thickness ofthe plate 0.0005 m, height 0.0055 m (fig. 10).

The applique finds a parallel with objectsfrom graves 8, 9, 15, 25 and 49 in the cremationcemetery of Garvan-1, where they are de-scribed as stamped bronze buttons ������������ �-! �&�'�7, 73, 99, 142).

Thirteen appliques, two buckles and a strap-end with a loop were discovered near andmostly underneath the pelvis. Another strap-end was found amongst the fragments of themounts of the pail. They formed part of two beltsets of differing composition, one being of sil-ver alloy, and the other of copper alloy (fig. 11).

Both of the buckles have the same basicform. The cast frame is trapezoid in shape anda large tongue with a spike cast in the middle isfastened to it. The buckle-plate is rectangularwith concave long sides. The plate was madefrom a double-curved lamella with an openingfor the tongue and it had been joined to theleather strap by four rivets with semisphericalheads. The terminals of the obverse plate arecut and the edges of both plates are corroded,and the rear plate of the bronze buckle is with apunch. The silver buckle frame is some 0.005m wider and its plate is 0.001 m longer than thebronze one.

Dimensions:1. Silver alloy buckle with obverse plate

0.041�?0.026 m and rear one 0.04?0.025 m,the frame is 0.0��?0.0395 m, length of thetongue 0.042 m, and diameter of the rivets0.009 m (fig. 12/1).

2. Copper alloy buckle with plate 0.0 ?0.025 m, frame 0.0!"?0.0375 m, length of the

tongue 0.035 m, diameter of the rivets 0.0085mm (fig. 13/1).

There are three types of appliques.The first type is presented by three rectan-

gular double plates, two made from silver alloyand one from copper alloy. The upper plate iswith cut terminals. These plates had been joinedto the leather strap by four rivets with semi-spherical heads. Some fragments of the rearplates of two of the appliques (##1, 3) weremissing. Only the obverse plate of the third ap-plique (#2) was preserved. Four round open-ings had been cut out in its central part, forminga square with another irregular shaped piercingbetween them. The bronze applique is basicallysquare but it was heavily corroded.

Dimensions:1. Silver alloy applique, length 0.036 m, width

0.0255 m, and diameter of the rivets 0.0075 m(fig. 12/2).

2. Silver alloy applique, length 0.0325 m,width 0.024 m, and diameter of the rivets0.0082 m (fig. 12/3).

3. Copper alloy applique, length 0.026 m,width 0.024 m, and diameter of the rivets0.0075 m (fig. 12/2).

The second type of appliques are narrowplaques with loops presented in the tow belt setsin different variants. Four silver alloy appliquesbelong to the first variant; they consist of a rec-tangular plate with cut concave sides whichrear part forms an elongated trapezium. Theseappliques had been joined to the leather strapby two rivets with semispherical heads. Someof the extremities of the plaques are fragmen-tary or bent (#4), and one of the rivets had beenhammered flat (#2). A much worn loop of tri-angular cross-section was fastened by a hookto these appliques.

Dimensions:1. Silver alloy applique, length of the plate

0.027 m, width 0.014 m, diameter of the loop0.0235 m, thickness 0.004 m, diameter of therivets 0.0085 m (fig. 12/9).

2. Silver alloy applique, length of the plate0.027 m, width 0.014 m, diameter of the loop0.0235 m, thickness 0.004 m, diameter of therivets 0.0085 m (fig. 12/10).

3. Silver alloy applique, length of the plate

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0.027 m, width 0.014 m, diameter of the loop0.023 m, thickness 0.004 m, diameter of the riv-ets 0.0085 m (fig. 12/11).

4. Silver alloy applique, length of the plate0.026 m, width 0.014 m, diameter of the loop0.02.5 m, thickness 0.004 m, diameter of therivets 0.009 m. A fragment of the reverse sideof the plate is missing. The two corners of theobverse are bent to hold the loop (fig. 12/12).

The second variant of the applique plaquewith a loop is made of copper alloy. Unlike thesilver appliques, this one has an oval plate withslightly cut terminals. The reverse of the frag-mentary plate is trapezoid with convexcathetuses. It was joined to the leather strap bya rivet with semispherical head.

Dimensions: Copper alloy applique, length ofthe plate 0.017 m, width 0.0145 m, diameter ofthe loop 0.021 m, thickness 0.0032 m, diameterof the rivets 0.007 m (fig. 13/2).

The third type is represented by five appli-ques that formed part of the silver belt set. Theyare rectangular with cut ends. They had beenjoined to the leather belt by two rivets, analo-gous to the previous described ones. Some ofthe edges of the plates and the rivets were bro-ken (##1, 2, 3).

Dimensions:1. Applique, length 0.025 m, width 0.012 m,

and diameter of the rivets 0.008 m (fig. 12/4).2. Applique, length 0.025 m, width 0.012 m,

and diameter of the rivets 0.008 m (fig. 12/5).3. Applique, length 0.0255 m, width 0.0125

m, and diameter of the rivets 0.008 m (fig. 12/6).

4. Applique, length 0.025 m, width 0.012 m,and diameter of the rivets 0.008 m (fig. 12/7).

5. Applique, length 0.025 m, width 0.012 m,and diameter of the rivets 0.008 m (fig. 12/8).

The end of the copper alloy belt is a paral-lelogram with oval cross-section. Threespheres are joined to one of its long sides. Thestrap end is composed of two separately castparts. They are joined to each other by threerivets. They were used for fastening to theleather strap, traces of which have been pre-served.

Dimensions: length 0.033 m, width 0.017 m,and thickness 0.0065 m (fig. 13/4).

No parallels for this strap are known.The second of these belt ends with a loop

deserves special comment. The belt end and theloop are cast from silver alloy, and their orna-ment has been gilded. The strap end is tongue-shaped. The obverse side together with itsprotuberate edges form /-like cross-section. Athin plate is welded to it, which gives the strapend a box-like shape. The whole strap, wide0.028 m, fitted in the groove that was thusformed. It was fastened with two rivets withsmall heads, situated at the foot of the facing,the edge of which was fragmentary. A chip-carved ornament, which was later formed witha chisel and an auger, was laid out on the ob-verse side of the strap end when it was cast. Anarrow carved rim forms a frame. Four identi-cal circular floral elements comprising a slen-der stem with two twin-leafed semi-palmetteswith broad leaves are depicted. The first leaf iscurled, the second is pointed and the third oneis curved into a scroll.

Dimensions: length 0.121 m, width 0.0275 m,and thickness 0.0052 m (figs. 12/12A, 16).

The loop of the strap end is rectangular witha rectangular opening. It was joined to the strapby four rivets, fastened to the reverse plate. Anornament similar to that on the strap end wasincised on its obverse side. The design is formedof a floral scroll in an antithetically symmetricgroup – two twin-leafed semi-palmettes in iden-tical pairs set diagonally and springing from acommon stem opposite to each other.

Dimensions: length 0.032 m, width 0.0265 m,height 0.0115 m and thickness of the upper plate0.002 m (fig. 12/13).

Common stylistic features characterize thebelt sets from grave 3. They differ only in thematerial from which they have been made.Their dimensions differ only by a couple ofmillimeters. Based on the study of their con-struction and the fact that they were found to-gether, one may presume that they were pro-duced in one and the same workshop. Thereare traces of wearing on the edges of the buck-les and on the loops of the appliques. One ofthe appliques with loops had been damaged andsubsequently repaired. Scratches can be seenon the reverse side of the large strap end. This

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suggests that both belts had been in use forsome time. This factor, as well as their find-spot – near the pelvis of the dead person andnot simply thrown into the grave pit – indicatethat they had been owned by the person buriedin the grave. This observation assists us inspecifying the chronological limit for the use ofthe belt set which had probably been made twoor three decades earlier.

Parallels for the buckles and the plaque ap-pliques with loops can be found with the silvermount discovered in grave 1 at Some�eni�����+ ��" ��@A��� 7, 8, 10; Werner1986, 31, 33, Abb. 4). Similar buckles werefound in graves 29 and 58 of the Razdelnacemetery�(�)����� ��"� 012342B ��! CDE' 6513) and grave 31 at Bdintsi �������������' These appliques with a loop as well asthe rectangular examples with four rivets aresimilar to the appliques from the hoards fromVrap (Werner 1986, Tafeln 13, 2429-33) andErseke (Avar Treasure 1981, 10-29). Foursmall opposing openings were punched on anapplique from Vrap, as well as in the middle ofone of the plates from Divdyadovo. The orna-ment incised on the strap end and on the loopbelongs to the Vrap-Erseke type, decorated inthe so-called griffin-vinescroll style. This isanalogous to artifacts from the Central andLower Danube region dating from the end of7th-8th C AD. The floral ornament on the strapend indicates a common style with the strapends from Vrap (Werner 1986, Taf. 25), Erseke(Avar Treasure 1981, 13, 15; Werner 1986,Tafeln 271, 291), Lukach and the buckle fromZlatare (Werner 1986, Taf. 295�������!�� �� �&�'�1,2). The decoration on the loop isanalogous to a buckle from Vrap (Werner 1986,Taf. 2516a), an applique from a private collec-tion ������� !�� �� �&�' 1) and thestrap ends from Velino and Kamenovo ����-��%�� #����@����� � �&�'!�������!�� �� �&�'� �' There is a close stylis-tic similarity to two appliques from Vrap andanother five from Lukach, the main differencebeing the rhomboid field in the middle.

The origin and the cultural affiliations of thestrap facings of the Erseke-Vrap type is a ques-tion that has given rise to much controversy

(Werner 1986; Garam 1997, 23-33; Kiss 1995,99-122; Stadler 1988/99, 193-!�������%��/#����@�� ��� �-53; Fiedler 1996, 248-264; Daim 20�� �� �"�����+��" ��-370; �����%��!���������%��!��� ��-���������!�� ��-152).

From a formal point of view the belt setswere comprised only of a basis strap. There areno ends for vertical straps like those of the beltfrom Lukach. The precious metal of which oneof the belt sets was made and the large sizes ofthe strap end suggest their representative char-acter as borne out by the fine workmanship andthe marked symmetry between the separate el-ements of the ornament. The stylistic affinitywith the artifacts from Velino, Kabiuk ������et al. 2006, 374, 375), Zlatare, Kameno, Gleda-chevo �7������/8���$����!��� ��� sup-ports the theory concerning a fashion amongstthe nobility of wearing belt sets in the griffin-vinescroll style which spread in the time of thelower-Danube khanate. The small number ofthese finds supports their elite status. The vari-ety of the motifs and the facings made of silveras well as of copper alloy, are indisputable proofof the existence of a developed local produc-tion in 8th C AD ������%��!��� !�'

Grave 6, located immediately next to grave3 was also quite rich in finds.

Thirteen glass beads in different shades ofblue, gray and yellow were found under the cra-nium of the deceased. Five of these are spheri-cal in shape and one is cylindrical. The otherseven have a flattened profile and are pear-shaped and oval with piercings along the longi-tudinal axis. There are fragments of at least twomore spherical glass beads, as well as of abronze compound bead and fragments of an-other silver bead.

Dimensions: diameter of the spherical 0.005-0.006 m, diameter of the flattened 0.011-0.012m, length 0.015-0.018 m (fig. 14).

This type of beads, in some cases with hol-low spherical bronze beads have been found inthe cemeteries of Kyulevcha, Bdintsi and NoviPazar ������������ �� ���) as well asin the “Avarian” cemeteries �������������� �����������k 1975, 336, fig. 8).

Four earrings were placed on either side of

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the cranium of the buried in grave 6. Two ofthem were discovered with the crescentic pen-dant intact but fragmentary; of the other twoonly part of the suspension survived. The ear-rings were cast from a copper alloy. They be-long to the type of crescentic earrings with star-shaped pendants and rich ornament of pseudo-granules. The lower part is crescentic in shapeand to this three contiguous spheres are at-tached. On two of the preserved pendants (##1,2), the arcs of the crescents are edged with aline of pseudo-granules. Another line runsacross one of the arcs (#1). The crescents ofthe other two earrings (##3, 4) are also edgedwith two lines of pseudo-granules, which bisectthe crescents. The upper arc of the crescentsof these earrings forms a cusp, which termi-nates in three pseudo-granulated clusters. Inthree of these earrings (##1, 3, 4), a star-shapedpendant is attached to the crescent by a pieceof pseudo-granulated wire (the wire of earring#1 is plain).

There is a pseudo-granulated hemisphere inthe middle of the pendant and in one of thecases it is surrounded by an edge. The hemi-sphere is encircled by a line of granules and acluster of rays extend equidistantly from its cen-tre. The latter ones consist of three, six and tengranules. Three pendants are joined to thelower arc of the crescent of one of the earrings(#2). The two end ones consist of three gran-ules (one of them fragmentary) and the one inthe middle of five.

Dimensions:1. Pendant, length of the crescent 0.015 m,

total length 0.027 m and width 0.019 m (fig. 15/1).

2. Pendant, length 0.018 m and width0.020 m (fig. 15/2).

3. Pendant with curved section, total length(without the curved piece) 0.0305 m, width0.024 m (fig. 15/3).

4. Pendant with curved section, length of thecrescent 0.017 m, total length (without thecurved piece) 0.033 m, width 0.024 m (frag-mentary) (fig. 15/4).

Earring #2 has its closest parallel in a pair of

silver earrings from grave 21 of the cemeteryof ���� ���(Fiedler 1992, 177, Abb. 39/14-15) aswell as with an earring of unknown provenancein the National Museum of History, Sofia ���-����!��� !!"-!!� �&�'�2). The crescenticpendants of two bronze earrings found in grave55 of the Devnya-3 cemetery and grave 212 ofthe cemetery of Razdelna are shaped similarlyto those of earrings ##3, 4 (Fiedler 1992, 178,483, 502, Taf. 89/ 7�E'�!/��(�)�������! �!� (�)����� ��" ��&%' � !��'We see the double line of pseudo-granules alsoon the bronze earring from grave 6 of Tur-govishte-1 cemetery (Fiedler 1992, 177, Abb.39/13). The star-like pendant of earrings ##1,3, 4 finds its closest parallel in that of the bronzeearring from grave 6 of the Turgovishte-1 cem-etery. In this case the raised hemisphere is en-circled not by one but by two lines of pseudo-granules. Earrings ##3, 4 have a direct analogyin a silver earring from the region of Shumen,which is now in the Regional Museum of His-tory-Shumen5. The bronze earrings from grave6 belong to the same type as that of the twogold earrings discovered in the last decade ofthe 20th C AD in a grave in the southern part ofthe Divdyadovo quarter. The gold earrings arecrescent-like, edged with pseudo-granules. Theall-over decoration of their frontal surface andof the hollow pendant in the shape of a trun-cated cone fastened to the lower part offerclose parallels �F�%�&����/#����@��!��� �-145, o&�'� �'

In general the earrings from grave 6 aresimilar with earrings from the cemeteryRazdelna and Devnya-3 which it is assumed,date in the end of 7th – the beginning of 8th CAD, and the cemetery of Turgovishte dated tothe middle or the second half of 8th C AD �#�-$�%��� et al. 1997, 141-� � �����%����� ����������� ��� ��'This typeof earrings known as Pastyrs’ke are Chilinska’sclass II/C �� � ��� �����������!�type I accord-ing to Aibabin �#G&�&���73, 69, 71) and asVazharova’s variant 2, subclass 2 of her type V��������� ���, 361). Their use in AD 7th-8th C AD spread in Pannonia, Southern Yugo-

5 The authors wish to thank the late Prof. Dr. R. Rashev, senior research associate Milena Tonkova, Prof. Dr. Stanislav Stanilov,Boyan Ivanov, Tihomir Tihov for their help and information based on unpublished material.

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slavia, Transylvania, Southern Slovakia, South-ern Ukraine and the Lower Danube.

The grave pits with their niches, the evidenceof rites aimed at pacifying the spirit of the dead,the offerings of food placed in the graves andthe large number of grave goods identify thecemetery in the northern part of the Divdyadovoquarter as pagan. In the light of the manner inwhich the grave pits were laid out, the orienta-tion of the deceased and the burial ritepracticed, the Divdyadovo cemetery finds itsclosest parallel in the early medieval bi-ritualheathen cemeteries of Kyulevcha, Nozharevo,Topola, Devnya-2 and 3, Novi Pazar, Bdintsi,as well as with those of Hitovo, Cherna, Dev-nya-1 and Varna-1 and 2 – all in NE Bulgaria.It corresponds to the characteristic features ofthe bi-ritual heathen cemetery of the Shumengroup – rich grave goods including the deposi-tion of weapons and the burial of horses������������ " �' The typological char-acteristics of the amphora-shaped vessel, theiron axe, the crescentic earrings with a star-shaped pendant and strap end decoration withornamentation of the Vrap-Erseke type are ofgreat significance for elucidating the dating ofthe Divdyadovo cemetery. It must be assumedthat the three graves examined in the northernpart of the site belong to a pagan early-medi-eval heathen cemetery that existed in the firstdecades of the 8th C AD. The graves exca-vated a generation ago in the southern part ofthe district are situated about 1.5 km away.They probably formed part of another cemeteryof a later period (9th-10th C AD) when a settle-ment was built immediately above the early-medieval heathen cemetery. The storage pitsand the sunken house located near graves 1, 3and 6 (fig. 1) offer evidence for this.

The large number of grave offerings – 26 innumber, several of high quality, the type of graveconstruction and the traces of burial ritual provethat the man buried in grave 3 was of high so-cial status and was probably closely related tothe Bulgarian ruler in the beginning of 8th C AD.The parallels offered for the earrings and thebelt mounts are proof of the existence of localworkshops where luxury adornments were pro-duced for the needs of the Bulgarian aristoc-

racy.

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��,����� in the press.�����@��*����������&�-T���/%�@��'In: 9�A������N����T�+R/%�@���?��@��+�@����T���������\���I�S.MA)�� )�G!���$'

��������������"��������!���'])��@����%�-L�����@����%+K�����I�?�������@��*������-����K���@����%�������$��&�T��������@'8%�-*����� �&���R*����S �&L�����*����'5#�?��-%�$���@���������+���K��I�� 164-166.

. �"���������"�'U&�+*�&�K���������+I�$-��&���J?AI��&�%$��' In;/��&%�)���I��&�%-$��@�����@����+��A%�A��.��N�+. 177-186.

-��������%�1989. ��@������I�I���@?��*�-��[ ��A��� � @���+����� �@�*����� � �%�*�?@�%V@��?�K+G@�����J?��%�K�J?�K*�%���^$�-��@�����G\���I� �=���-<��'�' In;/��&%�)���I��&�%$��@�����@����+��A%�A��.��N�+. 87-104.

/�������� %� 1959. ���*��������� �)N��� �F�%$���+'– �K��@��+��#�?��%�$���@��+��@��-�A�<<�� ! �-262.

Avar Treasure 1981. Catalogue of The Avar Treas-ure. Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co. London.

��������������1975. Frauenschmuck aus dem 7. – 8.Jahrhundert im Karpatenbecken. – Slovenská Archeo-lógia XXII, 1, 63-96.

Daim, F. 2000. “Byzantinische” Gürtelgarnituren des8. Jahrhunderts. In: Die Awaren am Rand der Byzantini-schen Welt. Innsbruck.

Fiedler, U. 1996. Die Spätawarenzeitlichen Gürtelbe-stadteile von Vrap-Erseke aus Velino (Bez Varna, Bulga-rien). – Germania 74, 248-264.

Fiedler, U. 1992. Studien zu Gräberfeldern des 6. bis9. Jahrhunderts an der unteren Donau. Bonn.

Garam, É. 1997. Über den Schatzfund von Vrap(Albanien). – AA 49, 23-33.

Garam, É. 1975. The Szebeny I – III cemetry AvarFinds in the Hungarian national museum. Budapest. 13-110.

Kiss, G. 1995. A késöi avar aranyozott óvdiszek. –Somogyi múzeumok közleményei XI, 99-122.

Kovrig I. 1975. The Szob Cemetry. Avar Finds in TheHungarian national museum. Budapest. 159-209.

Stadler, P. 1988/99. Argumente für die Echtheit des“Avar Tresure”. – Mitteilungen der AntropologishenGesellschaft in Wien, 118/119, 193-217.

T���k C. 1975. The Visznek cemetri. In: Avar Findsin The Hungarian national museum. Budapest. 323-343

Werner, J. 1986. Der Schatzfund von Vrap in Alba-nien. Wien.

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†Georgi Atanasov MASvetlana Venelinova [email protected] Stoychev [email protected] Regional History MuseumSlavyanski Bul. 17BG-9700 Shumen