Items of the Seima-Turbino Metal Complex from Lower Pyshma River

Abstract

Purpose. This article examines the collection of recently discovered items from lower Pyshma River (Tyumen region, Tyumen district), belonging to the Seima-Turbino time, which to be found on the territory of Eurasia is rather a rare archaeological phenomenon. Results. The researchers identified a set of items encompassing bronze objects - spears, knives, celts, an ice pick and mask. This composition of items entirely reflects a standard set of artifacts belonging to the Seima-Turbino time. Furthermore, this set of items is obviously close to religious collections (Galichsky Klad), which contained anthropomorphic metal objects. Of special interest in the collection is a metal mask with a protruding nose made of bronze plates. The sharp angled upper and lower parts of the face are considered to be its culturally determining signs. The shape and appearance of the top of the head may well be classified as headgear characteristic of the Samus’sko-Seima time. Such tight-fitting hats are typical of various samples of anthropomorphic plastic art in the south of Western Siberia. The iconographic features of this toreutics item belonging to the Bronze Age largely encapsulates peculiarities of similar-purpose images that existed in the forest territories of Western Siberia up until the Middle Ages. Conclusion. It is important to emphasize that this collection presents great significance in terms of studying nonferrous processing technologies. Overall, the discovered items can be considered as both a set of tools, and as part of cult paraphernalia and the transcultural phenomenon of Middle bronze Age, especially in connection with the discovered bronze mask.