Comb-Making in Medieval Novgorod (950-1450): An industry in transition 9781841718118, 9781407328003

Table of contents :
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
A Note on Data, Illustrations, Spellings and References
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Combs, Comb-Making, Comb-Makers and Comb-Users in Novgorod
Chapter 3: Single-Sided Composite Combs and Comb Cases
Chapter 4: Simple Combs in Skeletal Materials
Chapter 5: Wooden Simple Combs
Chapter 6: Double-Sided Composite Combs
Chapter 7: Conclusions: Comb-Making Activities in Novgorod. Historical Models of the Industrial Development in Connection with Social and Cultural Development Within the Town
Glosssary
References
List of Abbreviations
A Guide to Databases

Citation preview

l na tio ne di nli ad l o ith ria W ate m

BAR S1369 2005  SMIRNOVA  COMB-MAKING IN MEDIEVAL NOVGOROD (950-1450)

9 781841 718118

B A R

Comb-Making in Medieval Novgorod (950-1450) An industry in transition

Lyubov Smirnova

BAR International Series 1369 2005

Comb-Making in Medieval Novgorod (950-1450) An industry in transition

Lyubov Smirnova

BAR International Series 1369 2005

Published in 2016 by BAR Publishing, Oxford BAR International Series 1369 Comb-Making in Medieval Novgorod (950-1450) © L Smirnova and the Publisher 2005 The author's moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher.

ISBN 9781841718118 paperback ISBN 9781407328003 e-format DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9781841718118 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library BAR Publishing is the trading name of British Archaeological Reports (Oxford) Ltd. British Archaeological Reports was first incorporated in 1974 to publish the BAR Series, International and British. In 1992 Hadrian Books Ltd became part of the BAR group. This volume was originally published by Archaeopress in conjunction with British Archaeological Reports (Oxford) Ltd / Hadrian Books Ltd, the Series principal publisher, in 2005. This present volume is published by BAR Publishing, 2016.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS List of figures ..............................................................................................................................iv List of tables ..............................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................xi A Note on A Note on Data, Illustrations, Spellings and References .......................................xiii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Aims and Structure of the Study....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 The Database............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2.2 The Typological Analysis ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2.3 The Distributional Analysis ..................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Problems and Limitations ................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 An Introduction to Novgorod Excavation Sites ................................................................................ 5 Chapter 2. COMBS, COMB-MAKING, COMB-MAKERS AND COMB-USERS IN NOVGOROD ..................................................................................................................................9 2.1 Combs – A Special Category for the Study of the Dynamics of the Transition of Urban Industries. Its Role as an Interpretative Tool..................................................................................... 9 2.2 Raw materials: Identification and Availability ................................................................................. 9 2.3 The Assemblage of Combs from Novgorod: Primary Classification and Terminology ................. 15 Chapter 3. SINGLE-SIDED COMPOSITE COMBS AND COMB CASES................................. 17 3.1 Chronology ..................................................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Survey of morphological traits........................................................................................................ 22 3.2.1 Construction ........................................................................................................................... 23 3.2.1a Combs ............................................................................................................................. 23 3.2.1b Comb Cases .................................................................................................................... 41 3.2.2. Decorations ........................................................................................................................... 47 3.2.2a Decorative motifs............................................................................................................ 47 3.2.2b Decoration of billets and end-plates ............................................................................... 52 3.2.2c Decorative schemes on the ornamented side-plates of combs and cases ........................ 57 3.2.3 Forms ..................................................................................................................................... 77 3.2.3a Cases............................................................................................................................... 77 3.2.3b Combs............................................................................................................................. 77 3.2.3c Side-plates of combs and cases....................................................................................... 82 3.2.4 Raw Materials ....................................................................................................................... 85 3.3 Review of the Main Stylistic Groups of Class 1 Combs with Comparative Analyses of Assemblages from Ryric Gorodishche, Staraia Ladoga and Other Contemporary Sites in and outside Russia........................................................................................................................... 86 3.4 Chronological and Spatial Distribution of Single-sided Composite Combs in Novgorod Properties ....................................................................................................................................... 92 3.5 Areas of Origin and Place of Manufacture ..................................................................................... 98 3.5.1 Use, Loss and Disposal .......................................................................................................... 99 3.5.2 Production ............................................................................................................................ 101 3.5.3 Distribution .......................................................................................................................... 102

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Chapter 4 – SIMPLE COMBS IN SKELETAL MATERIALS ......................................................... 106 4.1 Introduction. Chronology.............................................................................................................. 106 4.2 Survey of Morphological Traits.................................................................................................... 110 4.2.1. Comb Outline and Integral Parts ......................................................................................... 110 4.2.1a Outline .......................................................................................................................... 110 4.2.1b Teeth............................................................................................................................. 132 4.2.1c Central zone.................................................................................................................. 140 4.2.2. Decoration ........................................................................................................................... 144 4.2.2a Decoration of central zone ............................................................................................ 145 4.2.2b Decoration of sides of comb faces................................................................................ 165 4.2.2c Decoration of side edges............................................................................................... 165 4.2.3.Raw materials....................................................................................................................... 170 4.3 Review of the Main Stylistic Groups of Class 2a Combs with Comparative Analyses of Assemblages from Ryric Gorodishche, Staraia Ladoga and Other Contemporary Sites in and outside Russia......................................................................................................................... 177 4.4 Chronological and Spatial Distribution of Simple Combs of Skeletal Materialsin Novgorod Properties ..................................................................................................................................... 185 4.5 Areas of Origin and Place of Manufacture ................................................................................... 198 4.5.1 Use, Loss and Disposal ........................................................................................................ 198 4.5.2 Production ............................................................................................................................ 200 4.5.3 Distribution .......................................................................................................................... 211 Chapter 5 – BOXWOOD SIMPLE COMBS...................................................................................... 213 5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................... 213 5.2 Chronological and Spatial Distribution......................................................................................... 213 5.3 Survey of Morphological Traits.................................................................................................... 217 5.3.1. Comb Outline and Integral Parts ......................................................................................... 217 5.3.1a Outline .......................................................................................................................... 220 5.3.1b Teeth............................................................................................................................. 223 5.3.1c Central zone .................................................................................................................. 226 5.3.2. Decoration ........................................................................................................................... 227 5.3.3.Raw materials....................................................................................................................... 242 5.4 Review of the Main Stylistic Groups of Class 2b Combs............................................................. 243 5.5 Areas of Origin and Place of Manufacture ................................................................................... 244 Chapter 6 – DOUBLE-SIDED COMPOSITE COMBS .................................................................... 250 6.1 Introduction, Chronology.............................................................................................................. 250 6.2 Survey of Morphological Traits.................................................................................................... 252 6.2.1 Construction ......................................................................................................................... 252 6.2.2 Outline.................................................................................................................................. 265 6.2.2a Front view..................................................................................................................... 265 6.2.2b Size ............................................................................................................................... 275 6.2.2c Teeth ............................................................................................................................. 279 6.2.3 Decoration............................................................................................................................ 282 6.2.3a Decoration of side-plates .............................................................................................. 282 6.2.3b Decoration of end-plates............................................................................................... 282 6.2.3c Decoration of the side edges ......................................................................................... 291 6.2.3d Decoration of billets ..................................................................................................... 293 6.2.4 Raw Materials ...................................................................................................................... 293 6.3 Review of the Main Stylistic Groups of Class 3 Combs with Comparative Analyses of Assemblages from Ryric Gorodishche, Staraia Ladoga and Other Contemporary Sites in and outside Russia..................................................................................................................... 295 6.4 Chronological and Spatial Distribution of Double-Sided Composite Combs in Novgorod Properties ..................................................................................................................... 297 6.5 Areas of Origin and Place of Manufacture ................................................................................... 304 6.5.1 Use, Loss and Disposal ........................................................................................................ 305 6.5.2 Production ............................................................................................................................ 305 6.5.3 Distribution .......................................................................................................................... 308

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Chapter 7 – CONCLUSIONS: COMB-MAKING ACTIVITIES IN NOVGOROD. HISTORICAL MODELS OF THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TOWN ......................... 310 7.1 The Repertoire of Comb Classes .................................................................................................. 310 7.2 Manufacture of Combs and Raw Materials .................................................................................. 315 7.3 Use of Combs in the Urban Context: Chronological Evolution of Combs on the Background of the Social and Economic Development of the Urban Community of Novgorod.. 316 7.3.1 Early Novgorod: 10th – early 12th century ............................................................................ 317 7.3.2 ‘Republican’ Novgorod, pre-Tartar-Mongol epoch: mid 12th – early 13th century .............. 318 7.3.3 The Novgorod State in the mid 13th – mid 14th centuries ..................................................... 319 7.3.4 The dawn of fame: Novgorod in the late 14th – 15th centuries.............................................. 319 7.4 Results and Perspectives............................................................................................................... 319 Glossary................................................................................................................................................. 321 References ................................................................................................................................ 322 List of abbreviations ...............................................................................................................330 A Guide to Databases......................................................................................................................... 332 Appendix...................................................................................................................................CD

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iii

LIST OF FIGURES 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35

An example of a database entry ........................................................................................................ 2 Novgorod in the Northern European context .................................................................................... 3 Excavation sites in Novgorod ........................................................................................................... 7 The location of Novgorod excavation sites within the town’s medieval layout................................ 8 Samples of archaeological antler: a) elk antler; b) reindeer antler .................................................. 12 Samples of modern antlers: a) elk antler; b) reindeer antler; c) red deer antler............................... 13 Micro structure of antlers. Transverse sections of beams in reflected light (x12): a) elk antler; b) reindeer antler; c) red deer antler ................................................................................................ 14 Micro structure of antlers. Longitudinal thin sections through compacta of beams (x12): a) elk antler; b) reindeer antler; c) red deer antler ........................................................................... 14 Primary classification of Novgorod combs ..................................................................................... 16 Measurements of combs and their parts .......................................................................................... 16 Single-sided composite combs with retained cases......................................................................... 18 Single-sided composite combs with retained cases (A16, 29) and matching pairs (A50-51, A191-197)........................................................................................................................ 19 Single-sided composite combs and comb cases. Chronological distribution (a)............................. 20 Single-sided composite combs and comb cases. Chronological distribution(b).............................. 20 Single-sided composite combs designed to be kept in composite cases when not in use................ 21 Single-sided composite combs. Chronological distribution (c)....................................................... 21 Single-sided composite combs. Chronological distribution (d) ...................................................... 22 Single-sided composite combs and comb cases. Construction........................................................ 25 Comb A336 of unusual construction............................................................................................... 26 One-billeted comb A152 and simple comb A145 carved to resemble a form of a composite comb Combs with varied width of billets in assembly ............................................................................. 27 Combs with ‘ears’ and square terminals ......................................................................................... 28 Attributes of the end-plates of cased combs.................................................................................... 31 ‘Winged’ combs .............................................................................................................................. 32 Chronological distribution of combs with copper alloy and iron rivets .......................................... 33 Single-sided composite combs. Chronological distribution of combs featuring an average of 1 and 2 rivets per billet a) Iron-riveted; b) Copper alloy-riveted ....................................................... 33 Single-sided composite combs. Chronological distribution of all combs featuring an average of 1 and 2 rivets per billet ............................................................................................................... 34 Single-sided composite combs. Eastern Scandinavian (early) tradition of riveting single-sided composite combs and its variations................................................................................................. 35 Single-sided composite combs. Variations of the eastern Scandinavian tradition of riveting combs .............................................................................................................................................. 36 Single-sided composite combs. Western Scandinavian tradition of riveting combs ....................... 37 Single-sided composite combs. Side-plates a) All combs. Size of the side-plates; b) Cased combs. Size of the side-plates...................................................................................................................... 39 Single-sided composite combs. Relative depth of side-plates with plano- convex cross-section ... 39 Single-sided composite combs. Side-plates. Chronological distribution of proportional groups.... 40 Comb cases with two pairs of contiguous side-plates and a comb case with a single pair of B-shaped cross-sectional side-plates imitating pairs of contiguous side-plates (A88).................... 42 Comb cases with a single pair of side-plates................................................................................... 43 Case construction with the emphasis on the form of the end-plates................................................ 44 Lower side-plates of cases secured with additional rivet ................................................................ 45 Single-sided composite comb cases. Side-plates a) Size of the side-plates; b) Proportion of the side-plates........................................................................................................................................ 45 Single-sided composite combs and cases with plano-convex cross-section of side-plates. Relative depth of the side-plates.................................................................................................................... 46 Single-sided composite comb cases with plano-convex cross-section of side-plates. Relative depth of the side-plates.................................................................................................................... 47 Single-sided composite combs with interlaced linear decorations .................................................. 48 Single-sided composite combs and cases with stylised interlaced decorations............................... 51 Mid 10th century single-sided composite combs decorated with groups of ring-and-dot motifs.... 52 Cases decorated with bands of multiple ring-and-dot motifs and groups of ring-and-dot elements .......................................................................................................................................... 53 Combs and comb cases decorated with bands of multiple ring-and-dot motifs, arranged vertically and horizontally............................................................................................................................... 54 iv

3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.42 3.43 3.44 3.45 3.46 3.47 3.48 3.49 3.50 3.51 3.52 3.53 3.54 3.55 3.56 3.57 3.58 3.59 3.60 3.61 3.62 3.63 3.64 3.65 3.66 3.67 3.68 3.69 3.70 3.71 3.72 3.73 3.74 3.75 3.76 3.77 3.78 3.79 4.1 4.2

Combs with metal sheeting behind the side-plates with T-shaped openings .................................. 55 The 10th century single-sided composite combs with decorated end-plates................................... 56 Decorative schemes 0, 1 and 2 ........................................................................................................ 58 Decorative scheme 3 ....................................................................................................................... 60 Decorative scheme 4 ....................................................................................................................... 61 Decorative schemes 5, 7 and 8 ........................................................................................................ 63 Decorative scheme 6 ....................................................................................................................... 64 Single-sided composite combs featuring vertically limited ornamental zones (decorative schemes 2, 3 and 4)........................................................................................................................................ 65 Single-sided composite combs featuring ornamentation according to decorative scheme 6........... 66 Single-sided composite comb cases featuring ornamentation according to decorative scheme 6... 67 Combs featuring Scandinavian tradition of ornamentation (variant 6.8 of decorative scheme 6)... 68 The 11th century comb from the Novgorod Kremlin, manufactured and decorated in the Norwegian tradition ........................................................................................................................ 70 Undecorated combs from 10th (A367) and late 12th (A114 and A337) century deposits and amulets in the forms of a comb (A330) and a sheathed knife ......................................................... 71 Chronological distribution of combs with vertical and horizontal arrangement of decoration a) Non-cased combs b) Cased combs.............................................................................................. 72 Chronological changes in the combination of vertically arranged decorative schemes on single-sided composite combs a) Non-cased combs; b) Cased combs............................................ 73 Single-sided composite combs. Dynamics of chronological changes in the use of antler raw material a) Non-cased combs; b) Cased combs............................................................................... 74 10th century single-sided non-cased and cased composite combs made out of elk (A22, A95), red deer (A118, A227) and reindeer antler (A89, A120) ...................................................................... 75 Single-sided composite combs and cases. Antler identification of side-plates with varying relative depths (Index K.A.)......................................................................................................................... 76 Single-sided composite combs and cases. Elk and red deer antler use in side-plates with varying relative depths (Index K.A.)............................................................................................................ 76 Single-sided composite combs and cases. Dynamics of chronological changes in the use of antler raw material..................................................................................................................................... 76 Single-sided composite combs. Average width of billets................................................................ 77 Single-sided composite combs. Average width of billets of elk and red deer antler....................... 78 Single-sided composite cases. Proportions of the main groups....................................................... 78 Chronological distribution of cases with one and two pairs of side-plates ..................................... 78 Proportions of non-cased and cased combs..................................................................................... 80 Dynamics of chronological changes in proportions of non-cased combs ....................................... 80 Dynamics of chronological changes in proportions of cased combs............................................... 80 Height of teeth relative to comb height in non-cased and cased combs .......................................... 81 Dynamics of chronological changes in the relative height of teeth on cased combs....................... 81 Forms of non-cased and cased single-sided composite combs........................................................ 81 Long teethed and relatively short combs from mid 10th century contexts...................................... 82 Classification of forms of the side-plates ........................................................................................ 83 Single-sided composite combs and cases. Main forms of the side-plates ....................................... 86 The Rus lands (after Franklin and Shepard).................................................................................... 88 Combs A115 and A357 of Scandinavian origin.............................................................................. 89 Spoons of Scandinavian origin with interlaced linear decoration ................................................... 90 Distribution of 10th century single-sided composite combs on the properties of the Nerevsky End (Nerevsky site) ................................................................................................................................ 95 Distribution of 11th century single-sided composite combs on the properties of the Nerevsky End (Nerevsky site) and location of the late 12th century comb ............................................................ 96 Distribution of 10th century single-sided composite combs on the properties of the Liudin End (Troitsky site).................................................................................................................................. 97 Distribution of 11th century single-sided composite combs on the properties of the Liudin End (Troitsky site) and location of the late 12th century combs ............................................................ 97 Waste elements from the Troitsky dwelling XI-29-170 (property Ƚ) on and combs deriving from the same context ................................................................................................................... 100 Bone with part of runic alphabet from the Nerevsky site.............................................................. 103 Hemispherical gaming pieces of walrus ivory from Troitsky site................................................. 104 Reproduction of the diagram demonstrating the relative depth of ‘A’ combs and ‘B’ combs (after Ambrosiani 1981, 71 Fig. 37).............................................................................................. 104 Double-sided combs trimmed and reused as single-sided............................................................. 107 Simple combs featuring suspension holes (B898 and B1040) and a comb with surviving v

4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 4.43 4.44 4.45 4.46 4.47 4.48 4.49 4.50 4.51 4.52 4.53 4.54 4.55 4.56 4.57 4.58

leather case (B234)........................................................................................................................ 108 Chronological distribution of simple combs in skeletal materials................................................. 108 Simple combs in skeletal materials. Degree of side slope............................................................. 111 Forms of lower parts of beams of red deer and elk antler ............................................................. 111 Simple combs in skeletal materials. Proportions........................................................................... 112 Simple combs in skeletal materials. Basic forms .......................................................................... 112 11th century simple combs in skeletal materials. Basic forms...................................................... 113 12th century simple combs in skeletal materials. Basic forms...................................................... 115 13th century simple combs in skeletal materials. Basic forms...................................................... 116 14th – early 15th century simple combs in skeletal materials. Basic forms .................................. 117 Simple combs with convex sides .................................................................................................. 117 Simple combs in skeletal materials. The degree of concavity of comb sides................................ 118 Simple combs with straight sides .................................................................................................. 118 Simple combs with concave sides ................................................................................................. 119 Simple combs with sides slightly curved inwards (0.02