A Collection of Crepundiae in the State Museum-preserve “Tauric Chersonese”. An X-ray Fluorescent Analysis of Metallic Pendants-amulets of the First Centuries AD

The subject of this research is a collection of metallic pendants that is stored in the State museum-preserve “Tauric Chersonese”. The X-ray fluorescent analysis was conducted for the first time regarding this collection, which made it possible to perform a deeper analysis of the items’ alloys. A series of such analyses revealed specific patterns of morphological groups of the findings. Most of the pendants were made out of multicomponent brass (Cu-Zn-Sn, Cu-Zn-Pb, Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb), mainly with excessive lead content. These traits are referred to as amulets in forms of herms, anthropomorphic characters, amphorae, cones, birds, and spherical pendants. Other pendants that have forms of axes, lunulas, and bullae had a different composition. A casting mould finding with an anthropomorphic figure inside of it made it possible to determine an alloy standard for Chersonesos’ small metallic sculptural artisanship. This particular composition consisted of a multicomponent alloy (Cu-Zn-Sn-Pb) that was saturated in lead. It seems that a specific metallic scrap that was diluted with cheap metal was used for crafting. A hypothesis was proposed that pendants in necklaces were playing the role of crepundiae, a rattle that was keeping evil entities at bay and warding off an evil eye. This rattle’s trait matches Roman traditions that were common in the first centuries AD. The popularity of crepundiae on the clothes of children in South-Western and Central Crimea testifies to the invasion of Greek-Roman culture and traditions. Regarding this topic, an attempt to identify an anthropomorphic character embodied in one of the groups of pendants was undertaken. It is most likely that these characters are Castor and Pollux, Dioscuri twins

Alloy · Brass · Casting · Copper alloy · Fluorescence · Metal · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis