The muroma fire-steels

Fire-steels were practically a mandatory element of the grave offerings foundin the Muroma male graves of the 6th-11th centuries. The Muroma population is mentionedin ancient chronicles. The overall number of discovered fire-steels is 253, they are dividedinto five main types: 1) plated (Fig. 1, 2; 2, 1); 2) grooved (Fig. 1, 3); 3) oval rod openended (Fig. 2, 2-4; 3, 1-3); 4) kalach-type (С-type) (Fig. 1, 4; 3, 4-6); 5) fire-steels witha bronze handle (bimetallic) (Fig. 1, 5). Iron pipes with a slot from a fire-steel set are traditionally called tinder-pipes / wick-containers in the literature; but, most likely, theywere used as a clamp for the fire-steel bag opening. In accordance with the inhumationburial rite, the position of the fire-steel items in the Muroma male graves is identified nearthe part of the body where they were usually carried, i.e. the waistline.