Alexander Begowatkin

By this author

THE NEW DATA ABOUT OLD RUSSIAN SWORDS OF A-HANDLE TYPE

Issue 4 from 01.10.2013

At the end of 1980-s during the open-cut works for break stone development an Old Russian sword with a bronze handle, which was according to the classification of A.N. Kirpichnikov of an A-handle type and dated back to 1000 year, was found in the near vicinity of the village Purdoshki of the Temnikovsky district of the Republic of Mordovia. The sword from the village Purdoshki is the fourth published find of such kind found on the European territory. Furthermore, this is the only exponent known in Russia which has a rich ornamentation in the shape of intertwined double vegetable sprouts combined with the eastern palmettes placed on the guard of the hilt. The appearance of Old Russian swords on the territory, which was not under control of Russian Princes, A.N. Kirpichnikov considers as a demonstration of a military activity of Kyiv in the eastern direction. Pendants with the sign of the Riurikid dynasty found in Kelginsky burial in Moksha area and in Rozhdestvensky burial in Kama area testify it indirectly.

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