Martynivka Treasure

Martynivka Treasure is a hoard consisting of 116 silver items found in 1909, in the village of Martynivka, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. The treasure is currently preserved at the National Historical Museum of Ukraine in Kyiv and the British Museum in London. It is dated approximately to the 6th–7th centuries AD.

Origin

Historians proposed different theories for the culture which this treasure could have belonged. The most popular hypothesis connects this hoard with Penkovka culture and Kolochin culture usually associated with the Antes.

Description

The hoard includes four anthropomorphic silver figurines of 'dancing men', five animal figurines, three fibulas, a radiate-head brooch, six armlets, tiaras, ear rings, neck rings, buckles, belt-fittings and horse harnesses. The style of figurines is sometimes considered as influenced by Huns, Bulgars or Avars.

Literature

Клейн Л. С. // Троицкий вариант — Наука. № 99. С. 14.Корзухина Г. Ф. Клады и случайные находки вещей круга «Древностей антов» в Среднем Поднепровье. Каталог памятников // МАИЭТ. Вып. V. Симферополь, 1996. С. 352—425, 525—705.Рыбаков Б. А. Древние русы // Советская археология. Т. XVII. 1953. С. 76-89.

Dafydd Kidd, Ludmilla Pekarskaya, , Mémoires de l'Association française d'archéologie mérovingienne, 1995, p. 351-360.