JAVELIN-HEAD FROM THE MIDDLE PSEL RIVER BASIN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37445/adiu.2026.01.06Keywords:
javelin-head, «Seim» bronze, Babyne and Pokrovsk culture, Velyki Sorochyntsi, Kovalivka, Myrhorod District, Poltava Region, Hrun-Tashan, Psel.Abstract
Unique weapon artifact — javelin-head of so-called «Seim-Turbyno» type, found on the altitude in the wide Psel River flood plain near Kovalivka Village of Velyki Sorochyntsi Rural Territorial Council Myrhorod District Poltava Region, at the right bank of the Hrun-Tashan River not far from its mouth is published in the paper. This is the «Seim» javelin-head molded of tin bronze of 18 cm long with elegant relief dйcor, close to KD-30 rank according to Ye. M. Chernykh and S. V. Kyzminykh and to the heads from Seim, Karamysh and Pokrovsk burial mound. The javelin-head has circular-rhombic stem, leaf-like rhombic blade with triangular eye at one side, conical widen to the bottom thin-walled socket with rib, embraced with relief patterned collet, decorated with four transversal rollers; blowhole for fixing shaft is placed between them. Roller-collars at the socket is a basis for ornamental band oriented to the blade. Pattern elements are represented with four upward oblong thin-rolled equicrural triangles of low relief divided in half by center line. Tops of these figures are ended with small round projections — segments of spheres. The parallels of decoration elements are provided, peculiarities of pattern location at Borodino and proper «Seim» heads are mentioned. Uniqueness of the finding from the Psel River bank is emphasized. Hypothesis concerning the origin of «Seim» bronze, especially the point of view that Ukraine was the place where metallurgic tradition (molding in two-pieces forms), quite close to «Seim» one — are observed. This process took place in the late Bronze Age in the contact zone of Corded ware and Catacomb cultures. Role of this territory in the spread of innovations at northern and eastern regions during the process of development of «Seim» metallurgy in basins of the Oka and Upper Volha Rivers is described. The authors suggest that few findings of typically «Seim» bronze weapon items in Ukraine are probably the result of early Pokrovsk Zrubna tribes’ invasion from the north east. That explains the appearance of the mentioned javelin-head in the second half of the 16th c. BC in the Mid-Psel River basin.
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