Dmitry S. Korobov^1,*, Evgenia V. Belkevich^2,**, and Nikolay A. Mamonov^2,***

¹Institute of Archaeology RAS, Moscow, Russia
²State Historical Museum, Moscow, Russia

*E-mail: dkorobov@mail.ru
**E-mail: belkevich_j@mail.ru
***E-mail: mamonov.nikalex@gmail.com

Keywords: Northern Caucasus, early Alans, Podkumok-Khumara sites, harness mounts, XRF analysis.

During archaeological excavations at the Levopodkumsky 1 mound cemetery located in Malokara­chayevsky District of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, a catacomb beneath the mound was uncovered. It contained a horse burial and an unusual set of grave goods dating to the mid-3rd century AD which have survived despite the complex being looted in ancient times. The form of the burial structure – a Type IV catacomb with parallel axes of the entrance pit and the chamber – is characteristic of the Pod­kumok-Khumara cultural group. Among the finds was a unique harness mount made of two superimposed embossed plates with a tamga-like ornament, similar to those found among early Alanian antiquities. This publication introduces this burial complex, as well as analyzes the chemical composition of the elements in this mount and examines its manufacturing technique.

DOI: 10.7868/S3034577426010071