New data on the characteristic of non-ferrous metal from North-Eastern Rus’ (on the material of investigations in medieval Yaroslavl)

This article presents the results of quantitative analyses of the metal composition of finds from excavations of Yaroslavl (mainly the 11 th-14 th cc.), totally 123 specimens. Optical-emission spectral analysis (2 standards method) and X-ray fluorescence analysis were used. The obtained results show that the jewellers of this urban center, throughout its history used metals and alloys with different technological characteristics. The data from Yaroslavl correspond to the tradition of using alloys at other sites of North-Eastern Rus’ in the pre-Mongol period. In the 11 th and early 12 th c. the brass used in the region had either a medium-level or high zinc content (on average 12-13%). Two items of Merya-type rattling ornaments were made from tin-lead bronze (8-10% of tin), which corresponds to the manufacturing tradition of Finno-Ugrian rattling jewellery. In the 12 th and early 13 th c. brass retained its importance in local metal-work. Bronze alloys become the most popular. Differences are established in the materials from various production centers. In Yaroslavl alloys with low or medium tin content (up to 10%) typical of North-Western Rus’ predominate, while higher concentrations of tin were discovered in the objects from Rostov, Vladimir and Gorodets and rural settlements of the Suzdal Field region. This was probably linked with the production tradition inherited from the Finno-Ugrians. In the second half of the 13 th and the 15 th c. shield finger-rings made of easily fused alloys and cast in stone moulds became popular in Yaroslavl and in Northern Rus’ generally. Some common features are singled out in the traditions for using alloys in various large production centers of the region. Their distinctive features were clearly manifested in the early period. Between the late 12 th and 15 th c. the differences between North-Eastern and North-Western Rus’ became less noticeable with regard to the alloy formulas, which reflects the increasing economic unity within Northern Rus’.