Tests of statistical methods on identifying authorship in metalworking (based on toreutics from the Bolshoi Telek burial ground of the Askiz culture)

This article presents the results of testing the methods for identifying the authorship in metalworking using statistics. Effectiveness of the methodology, which is based on the concept of microstyle - individual style of an artisan, consisting of his conscious choice and automated actions - was tested on the evidence of the nomadic cultures from Southern Siberia. A case of detecting the signs of automated actions for iron toreutics of minor forms from a collective burial in mound 1 at the Bolshoi Telek burial ground of the Askiz culture (42 items) was analyzed. Five features which distinguish the parameters of technical and decorative elements on the objects (size, density and inclination of technical notches, size and shape of decorative cuts) have been identified. A number of experiments were aimed at establishing dependence of specific features on the actions of the performers. These features included basic operations for manufacturing technical and decorative elements, the properties of which were taken into account in the study. It has been established that objects of iron toreutics of minor forms from burial mound 1 included the products of two artisans differing in the manner of holding the tools, force of impact, speed ofwork, and choice of technical elements. These artisans worked in the same workshop, which is confirmed by the presence ofproducts made by the same stamps by both artisans. Classification of shaping and decorating techniques according to the complexity of execution has made it possible to evaluate the skill level of the artisans, which was relatively the same. Both artisans had sufficient skills to produce sophisticated elements (vegetative ornamentation, chasing).The study has revealed the effectiveness of the methodology as applied to the evidence left by the Medieval nomads of Southern Siberia. Further development of the methodology should be aimed at testing its effectiveness by comparing the items from different sites and regions.