Hun Assemblage from the Dnipro River Lower Region
Abstract
n the spring 1966, 5 km west of the Proletarka village of the former Tsiurupynsk district, the Kherson Oblast, during ploughing the tractor drivers A. Pulinets and M. Horshkov destroyed an ancient burial. Pupils and teachers of the local school came to the place to examine it. As a result a golden diadem, golden earrings, a golden necklace with pendants, silver shoe buckles, thin gold plates, amber beads, a knife and a clay spindle whorl were brought to the Kherson Local History Museum.
The reconstruction of the burial rite is very difficult. Dr. Ratner classified it as a “female burial with a horse” and subsequently all researchers referred to this definition. Only three molars, two animals and one human, survived from the remains. However, animal teeth from the assemblage belong to a large representative of cattle.
Scholars attribute this burial to the “western” group of Hun sites and associate it with the migration of “royal” Huns. According to the chronology of J. Teyral, they date Proletarka assemblage to the period D2 (380/400–440/450) and the initial phase D2/D3 (430/440–440/450) like the most Hun’s burials of the region. According to О. V. Komar’s correlation of the Hunnic Age relics the assemblages can be classified to the group C2 which is synchronous to the European stage D2 (Unterzibenbrunn horizon); in the Northern Pontic region this stage is dated to 420–445. I. P. Zasetska classified this burial to the first chronological group, subgroup 1 “b” and dated it to 425–454.
The analogies allow us to attribute the burial from Proletarka to the early chronological group of sites of the late 4th — first half of the 5th centuries. The correlation of chronological markers narrows this dating to the second quarter of the 5th century.
The diadem from the burial belongs to the single-part and not triple-part ones, as was mistakenly defined in previous publications. The number of objects made of precious metals and the peculiarities of the costume of buried women allow considering her as a noble in the Hun society. The necklaces with conical pendants, similar to those found in Proletarka are a typical element of “princely” female burials of the Horizon Untersiebenbrunn. The finding of the spindle whorl in the burial is also unusual element for the nomadic Hun burials. All these peculiarities emphasise the specificity of the burial and may indicate close contacts with the settled population of the Danube region and the Crimea, or the fact that woman buried in Proletarka originally came from this population. The grave goods prove this hypothesis. However, we cannot confirm or refute this opinion, since no anthropological materials of the burial have survived.
References
Arseneva, T. M. 1977. Nekropol Tanaisa. Moscow: Nauka.
Astafev, A E., Bogdanov, E. S. 2023. Pogrebalno-pominalnyi kompleks Altynkazgan (III – pervaia polovina VI v.). Materialy i issledovaniia po arkheologii Kazakhstana, XVIII. Almaty: Institut arkheologii im. A. Kh. Margulana.
Baranov, V. I. 2010. Pogrebenie gunnskogo vremeni u khutora Sagi. K istorii obnaruzheniia i publikatsii nakhodki 1887 g. In: Peskova, A. A., Shcheglova, O. A., Musin, A. (eds.). Slaviano-russkoe iuvelirnoe delo i ego istoki. Saint Petersburg: Nestor-Istoriia, p. 79-85.
Gopkalo, O. V. 2008. Busy i podveski cherniakhovskoi kultury. Kyiv: IA NANU.
Dashevskaia, O. D. 1969. Pogrebenie gunnskogo vremeni v Chernomorskom raione Kryma. In: Evtiukhova, L. A. (eds.). Drevnosti Vostochnoi Evropy. Materialy i issledovaniia po arkheolgii, 169. Moscow: Nauka, p. 52-61.
Dashevskaia, O. D. 2014. Nekropol Beliausa. Simferopol: Feniks.
Ermolin, A. L. 2009. Krovavo-zolotoi stil “klauzone” v iuvelirnykh izdeliiakh Bospora (po materialam nekropolia Dzhurga Oba). In: Vakhtina, M. Iu., Gritsik, E. V., Zuev, V. Iu., Kashaev, S. V., Sokolova, O. Iu., Khrshanovskii, V. A. (eds.). Bosporskii fenomen. Iskusstvo na periferii antichnogo mira: materialy mezhdunarodnoi nauchnoi konferentsii. Saint Petersburg: Nestor-Istoriia, p. 70-77.
Zasetskaia, I. P. 1982. Klassifikatsiia polikhromnykh izdelii gunnskoi epokhi po stilisticheskim dannym. In: Ambroz, A. K, Erdeli, I. F. (eds.). Drevnosti epokhi velikogo pereseleniia narodov V―VIII vekov. Moscow: Nauka, p. 14-30.
Zasetskaia, I. P. 1993. Materialy Bosporskogo Nekropolia vtoroi poloviny IV ― pervoi poloviny V vv. n.e. In: Aibabin, A. I., Gertsen, A. G., Khrapunov, I. N. (eds.). Materialy po arkheologii, istorii i etnografii Tavrii, III. Simferopol, p. 23-105.
Zasetskaia, I. P. 1994. Kultura kochevnikov iuzhnorusskikh stepei v gunnskuiu epokhu (konets IV — V v.). Saint Petersburg: Ellips. Ltd.
Zastrozhnova, E. G., Sharov, O. V. 2017. “Marfovskii klad” 1925 goda: publikatsiia arkhivnykh materialov. Stratum plus, 4, p. 395-410.
Kazanskii, M. M. 2014. Pogrebenie epokhi pereseleniia narodov v Kontseshtakh: inventar, datirovka, pogrebalnyi obriad, sotsialnyi status i etnokulturnaia atributsiia. Stratum plus, 4, p. 299-336.
Kazanskii, M. M., Mastykova, A. V. 1998. Germanskie elementy v kulture naseleniia Severnogo Kavkaza v epokhu velikogo pereseleniia narodov. Istoriko-arkheologicheskii almanakh, 4, p. 102-135.
Kazanskii, M. M., Mastykova, A. V. 2009. “Tsarskie” gunny i Akatsiry. In: Furaseva, A. G. (ed.). Gunny, goty i sarmaty mezhdu Volgoi i Dunaem. Saint Petersburg: Fakultet filologii i iskusstv SPbGU, p. 114-126.
Kazanskii, M. M., Mastykova, A. V. 2014. Zhenskie mogily znati postgunnskogo vremeni v pontiiskikh stepiakh i konstantinopolskaia moda. In: Pavlenko, T. A., Skhatum, R. B., Ulitin, V. V. (eds.). IV “Anfimovskie chteniia”. Krasnodar, p. 97-108.
Kishsh, A. 1995. Opyt issledovaniia arkheologicheskikh pamiatnikov alan v Zapadnoi Evrope i Severnoi Afrike. In: Tmenov, V. Kh. (ed.). Alany: istoriia i kultura, ІІІ. Vladikavkaz: SOIGI. p. 79-100.
Kovaleva, I. F. 1962. Pogrebenie IV veka u s. Staraia Igren. Sovetskaia arkheologiia, 4, p. 233-237.
Komar, A. V. 2000. Aktualnye problemy khronologii materialnoi kultury gunnskogo vremeni Vostochnoi Evropy. In: Evglevskii, A. V. (ed.). Stepi Evropy v epokhu srednevekovia, 1. Donetsk, p. 19-53.
Komar, A. V. 2013. Kompleks iz Makarteta i ritualnye pamiatniki gunnskogo vremeni. In: Botalov, S. G. (ed.). Gunnskii forum. Problemy proiskhozhdeniia i identifikatsii kultury evraziiskikh gunnov. Cheliabinsk: Izdatelskii tsentr IUUrGU, p. 88-109.
Kostsiushko-Valiuzhinich, K. K. 1900. Otchet g. Zavedyvaiushchego raskopkami v Khersonese K. K. Kostsiushko-Valiuzhinicha za 1897 god. Otchet Imperatorskoi arkheologicheskoi komissii za 1897 god. Saint Petersburg: Tipografiia Glavnogo upravleniia udelov, p. 91-132.
Limberis, N. Iu., Marchenko, I. I. 2009. Rannesrednevekovye pogrebeniia iz mogilnika Starokorsunskogo gorodishcha № 2. In: Furasev, A. G. (ed.). Gunny, goty i sarmaty mezhdu Volgoi i Dunaem. Saint Petersburg: Fakultet filologii i iskusstv SPbGU, p. 127-142.
Mamaev, Kh. M., Narozhnyi, E. I., Rostunov, E. V. 2011. “Gunnskoe” pogrebenie iz Kobi (Shelkovskii raion Chechenskoi respubliki). Materialy i issledovaniia po arkheologii Severnogo Kavkaza, 12. Armavir, p. 108-114.
Mastykova, A. V. 2009. Zhenskii kostium Tsentralnogo i Zapadnogo Predkavkazia v kontse IV – seredine VI veka n.e. Moscow.
Mastykova, A. V. 2019. Kostium naseleniia Sirmiia v epokhu Velikogo pereseleniia narodov. In: Aibabin, A. I. (ed.). Materialy po arkheologii, istorii i etnografii Tavrii, XXIV. Simferopol: Krymskii federalnyi universitet imeni V. I. Vernadskogo, p. 94-108.
Mastykova, A. V., Zemtsov, G. L. 2016. Bogatoe pogrebenie na poselenii Mukhino-2 na Verkhnem Donu i imushchestvennaia gradatsiia privilegirovannykh mogil gunnskogo vremeni v Barbarikume (gruppa Unterzibenbrunn). In: Makarov, N. A. (ed.). Kratkie soobshcheniia Instituta arkheologii, 244. Moscow: Izdatelskii dom Iazyki slavianskoi kultury, p. 131-145.
Mastykova, A. V., Kazanskii, M. M. 2005. O proiskhozhdenii “kniazheskogo” zhenskogo kostiuma varvarov gunnskogo vremeni (gorizont Unterzibenbrunn). In: Belotserkovskaia, I. V. (ed.). II Gorodtsovskie chteniia. Moscow, p 253-268.
Mastykova, A. V. 2021. Zolotye ozherelia s udlinennymi podveskami epokhi Velikogo pereseleniia narodov i ikh sredizemnomorsko-pontiiskie istoki. In: Alekseenko, N. A. (ed.). ΧΕΡΣΩΝΟΣ ΘΕΜΑΤΑ: imperiia i polis. XIII Mezhdunarodnyi Vizantiiskii Seminar. Simferopol: Arial, p. 191-200.
Matsulevich, L. A. 1934. Pogrebenie varvarskogo kniazia v Vostochnoi Evrope. Novye nakhodki v verkhove reki Sudzhi. Izvestiia GAIMK, 118. Leningrad: Pechatnyi dvor.
Pile, K. 2006. Ot “Klada iz Erana” k mogile “Kniazhny iz Multa”. In: Aibabin, A. I., Pletneva, S. A. (eds.). Materialy po arkheologii, istorii i etnografii Tavrii, ХII. Simferopol: Krymskii federalnyi universitet imeni V. I. Vernadskogo, p. 251-270.
Puzdrovskii, A. E., Zaitsev, Iu. P., Nenevolia, I. I. 1999. Pogrebenie voina gunnskogo vremeni na Ust-Alminskom mogilnike. Khersonesskii sbornik, 10, p. 194-207.
Radiush, O.A., Shcheglova, O. A. 2014. Volnikovskii “klad”. Kompleks snariazheniia konia i vsadnika 1-I poloviny V v. n.e. Katalog kollektsii. Moscow: Golden-Bi.
Ratner, I. D. 1984. Dovidnyk z arkheolohii Ukrainy. Khersonska oblast. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka.
Sikoza, D. N. 2018. Kompleks gunnskogo vremeni iz okrestnostei sela Proletarka. In: Bratchenko, T. G. (ed.). Naukovi zapysky. Problemy arkheolohii, istorii, istoriohrafii, dzhereloznavstva, literaturoznavstva, mystetstvoznavstva, muzeieznavstva, onomastyky, folklorystyky, etnohrafii. Kherson: Ailant, p. 178-184.
Strokov, A. A. 2002. Remennye garnitury gunnskoi epokhi Aziatskogo Bospora. Bosporskie issledovaniia, XXI, p. 303-319.
Tikhanova, M. A., Cherniakov, I. T. 1970. Novaia nakhodka pogrebeniia s diademoi v Severo-Zapadnom Prichernomore. Sovetskaia arkheologiia, 3, p. 117-127.
Khairedinova, E. A. 2003. Obuvnye nabory V–VII vv. iz Iugo-Zapadnogo Kryma. Materialy po arkheologii, istorii i etnografii Tavrii, X, p. 125-160.
Khairedinova, E. A. 2023. Sergi-kalachiki iz Kryma. In: Aibabin, A. I., Khairedinova, E. A. (eds.). Imperium et Barbaricum: vzaimodeistvie tsivilizatsii: sbornik statei v chest 70-letiia Mikhaila Kazanskogo. Simferopol: OOO “Antikva”, p. 210-218.
Khrapunov, I., Kazanskii, M. 2016. Pogrebeniia epokhi pereseleniia narodov v mogilnike Neizats. In: Khrapunov, I. (ed.). Krym v sarmatskuiu epokhu (II v. do n.e. – IV v. n.e.). II. Dvadtsat let issledovanii mogilnika Neizats. Simferpol: Nasledie tysiacheletii, p. 194-229.
Bezuglov, S. I. 2001. “Danubian Fashion” and Tanais (The Early Phase of the Migration Period). In: Istvánovits, E., Kulcsár, V. (eds.). International Connections of the Barbarians of the Carpathian Basin in the 1st — 5th Centuries A.D. Aszód; Nyíregyháza: Jósa Anrás Museum; Osváth Gedeon Museum Foundation, p. 275-284.
Bierbrauer, V. 2008. Ethnos und Mobilität im 5. Jahrhundert aus archäologischer Sicht: Vom Kaukasus bis nach Niederösterreich. München: Verlag der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. https://doi.org/10.11588/bjb.2009.0.37363
Bóna, I. 1991. Das Hunnen-reich. Budapest: Corvina.
Fabech, Ch. 2017. Sösdala and Fulltofta: The Ritual Depositions. In: Fabech, Ch., Näsman, U. (eds.). The Sösdala Horsemen and the Equestrian Elite of Fifth Century Europe. Moesgard: Jutland Archaeological Society, p. 43-64.
Holst, S., Nielsen, P. O. 2020. Excavating Nydam Archaeology, Palaeoecology and Preservation. The National Museum’s Research Project 1989-99. The Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, 33. Copenhagen: Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries.
Kazanski, M. 1996. Les tombes “princières” de l’horizon Untersiebenbrunn le problème de l’identification ethnique. L’idéntité des populations archéologiques. Actes des XVI-e rencontres internationales d’archéologie et d’histoire d’Antibes. Sophia-Antipolis: Éditions APDCA, p. 109-126.
Kazanski, M. 2010. Les Hunugours et le commerce de fourrure au VI-ème siècle. In: Theune, C. (eds.). Zwischen Fjorden und Steppe. Festschrift für Johan Callmer zum 65. Geburtstag. Internationale Archäologie: Studia honoraria, 31. Rahden: Verlag Marie Leidorf GmbH, p. 225-239.
Kazanski, M., Mastykova, A. 2017. The Sösdala findings in the perspective of Central and South-Eastern Europe. In: Fabech, C., Näsman, U. (eds). The Sösdala Horsemen – and the Equestrian Elite of 5th Century Europe. Aarhus: Jutland Archaeological Society, p. 297-311.
Kazanski, M., Mastykova, A. 2018. La tombe de Hochfelden. In: López Quiroga, J. (eds.). In Tempore Sueborum. El tiempo de los Suevos en la Gallaecia (411–585). Volumen de Estudios. Ourense: Deputación Provincial de Ourense, p. 109-114.
Kovrig, I. 1985. Das Diadem von Csorna. Folia archaeologica, 36, S. 107-148.
Kubitschek, W. 1911. Grabfunde in Untersiebenbrunn (auf dem Marchfeld). Jahrbuch für Altertumskunde, 5, p. 32-74
Levada, M. 2011. To Europe via the Crimea: On Possible Migration Routes of the Northern People in the Great Migration Period. In: Khrapunov, I., Stylegar, F. A. (eds.). Inter Ambo Maria: Contacts Between Scandinavia and the Crimea in the Roman Period. Simferopol: Dolya Publishing House, p. 115-137.
Minajeva, T. M. 1929. Zwei Kurgane aus der Völkerwanderungszeit bei der Station Sipovo. In: Sirelius, U. T. Tallgren, A. M. (eds). Eurasia Septentrionalis Antiqua IV. Helsinki: K.F. Puromiehen Kirjapaino O.Y., S. 194–210.
Näsman, U. 2017. Sösdala and Fulltofta: Bridles and Saddles. In: Fabech, C., Näsman, U. (eds.). The Sösdala Horsemen: and the Equestrian Elite of Fifth Century Europe. Højbjerg: Jutland Archaeological Society, p. 153-193.
Shchukin, M., Kazanski, M., Sharov, O. 2006. Des Goths aux Huns. Le Nord de la mer Noire au Bas–Empire et a l’époque des Grandes Migrations. Oxford.
Szenthe, G. 2021. Social Power, Identity and the Ritual Deposits in “Attila’s Europe” In: Rácz, Zs., Szenthe, G. (eds.). Attila’s Europe? Structural Transformation and Strategies of Success in the European Hun Period. Budapest: Printed and bound by Dürer Nyomda Ltd, p. 563-579.
Szenthe, G., Mozgai, V., Horvath, E., Bajnoczi, B. 2019. Ritual Deposit from the Hun Period from Telki (Central Hungary). Hungarian Archaeology, p. 9-18.
Tejral, J. 1988. Zur Chronologie der frühen Völkerwanderungszeit im mittleren Donauraum. Archaeologia Austriaca, 72, S. 223-304.
Tejral, J. 1997. Neue Aspekte der frühvölkerwanderungszeitlichen Chronologie im Mitteldonauraum. In: Tejral, J., Friesinger, H., Kazanski, M. (eds.). Neue Beiträge zur Erforschung der Spätantike im mittleren Donauraum. Brno: Archeologický ústav AV ČR, S. 321-392.
Tejral, J. 2007. Das Hunnenreich und die Identitätsfragen der barbarischen “gentes” im Archäologisches Institut der Akademie der Wissenschaften der Tschechischen Republik. Brno.
Tejral, J. 2011. Einheimische und Fremde: das norddanubische Gebiet zur Zeit der Völkerwanderung Archäologisches Institut der Akademie der Wissenschaften der Tschechischen Republik. Brno.
Tejral, J. 2016. Die frühvölkerwanderungszeitlichen Eliten Gräber und das Problrm der Stilgruppe Untersiebenbrunn. In: Geisler, H. (ed.). Wandel durch Migration? 26. Internationales Sympsium “Grundprobleme der frühgeschichlichen im mittleren Donauraum”. Buchenbach: Verlag Dr. Faustus, S. 39-84
Tejral, J. 1987. Zur Chronologie und Deutung der südöstlichen Kulturelemente in der frühen Völkerwanderungs- zeit Mitteleuropas. Anzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums, S. 11-46.
Tomka, P. 1986. Der hunnische Furstenfund von Pannonhalma. Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 38, p. 423-488.
Wieszner, B., Nagy, E. G. 2021. A New Sacrificial Deposit of the Hun Period from Debrecen. In: Rácz, Zs., Szenthe, G. (eds.). Attila`s Europe. Structural Transformation and Strategies of Success in the European Hun Period. Budapest: Printed and bound by Dürer Nyomda Ltd. p. 259-301.
Abstract views: 182 PDF Downloads: 71
Copyright (c) 2026 Arheologia

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license








