Byzantine Buckles of the “Syracuse” Type from the Burial Ground near the Village of Luchistoye (Southwestern Crimea)

Introduction. In the 7th century, Byzantine bronze buckles of the “Syracuse” type were especially popular among the Goth-Alan population of the southwestern Crimea. Method. The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of buckles from two crypts in the burial ground near the village of Luchistoye, provides their cultural and chronological attribution, and analyzes the alloy composition and technological features of production. Analysis. According to the decorative features, the buckles of the “Syracuse” type are presented in two variants. Variant 1 includes items with large stylized acanthus leaves on the shield, and variant 2 includes items with a decorative composition in which the main emphasis is on the flower ovary, depicted in large detail in the center of the shield, surrounded by relatively small acanthus leaves. Finds from the burial ground near the village of Luchistoye confirm the previously proposed dating of this type of clasp. Buckles with decorations of both types were found in complexes of the same chronological groups and often in the same burial, which indicates their simultaneous existence in the 7th – early 8th centuries. In the Crimean Goth costume, the Syracuse-type buckle was a universal fastener – it was worn by men, women, and children. In the traditional women’s costume with a large belt fastener, the buckle was used as a fastener for a handbag. By the end of the 7th century, when large belt fasteners went out of fashion, their place in women’s costume was taken by buckles of the “Syracuse” type intended for a narrow belt. In the civilian male costume, the buckle served as a fastener for the belt, less often for a bag with a flint and tools. In some burials of men and children, two buckles of the “Syracuse” type were found. One of them was used to fasten the waist belt that encircled the outer clothing, the second one – the belt from the trousers. Results. The published buckles are made of multi-component copper alloys containing tin, lead, and zinc in various combinations. Two groups of products are distinguished. The first group includes buckles of variant 1 from crypts 223 and 280 with a high lead content, which can characterize the products as being produced in places where there are no reserves of high-quality raw materials. Crimea is one of such regions. The second group includes two buckles of variant 2 from crypt 223, made of an alloy in which the lead concentration is below average. In terms of the composition of lead and other components – zinc and tin – these items are close to the same type of buckles found in Sardis. Considering the composition of the alloy, as well as the fact that the buckles from Luchistoye were made using one reusable mold, we can say that they are the product of one of the Asia Minor workshops. Authors’ contributions. E.A. Khairedinova performed a cultural and historical attribution of the finds, presented a range of analogies, substantiated the dating, and characterized their role in costume; A.V. Antipenko studied the elemental composition of the alloy used; A.Yu. Loboda conducted a financial support of the Russian Federation, represented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, within the framework of the Agreement on the provision of grants from the federal budget in the form of subsidies No. 075-15-2025-451 dated 05/30/2025.