Vitaly Sherbakov

The article presents the results of the metallographic study of forged pieces of the second half of the 9 ^th-14 ^th cc. received in the process of the excavation works of the Suzdal archaeological expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of Russian Academy of Sciences at the ancient settlements of Suzdal Opolye. The revealed technological details of the black metal pieces point at the existence of the connections between rural settlements and developed handicraft industry centres in the period. However this does not eliminate the possibility of the existence of the proper metal-based manufacturing industry.