Sergey Yu. Kainov^1,*, Ekaterina S. Kovalenko^2,**, Konstantin M. Podurets^2,***, Viktor P. Glazkov^2,****, Mikhail M. Murashev^2,*****, Natalia N. Presnyakova^2,******, Elena Yu. Tereshchenko^2,*******, Ekaterina B. Yatsishina^2,********

¹The State Historical Museum, Moscow, Russia
²“Kurchatov Institute” Research Centre, Moscow, Russia

*E-mail: skainov@mail.ru
**E-mail: kovalenko_es@mail.ru
***E-mail: Podurets_KM@nrcki.ru
****E-mail: vivadin@yandex.ru
*****E-mail: mihail.mmm@inbox.ru
******E-mail: kolobylina@gmail.com
*******E-mail: elenatereschenko@yandex.ru
********E-mail: Yatsishina_EB@nrcki.ru

Keywords: Rus, the Chernaya Mogila mound, cremation, arrowhead, science research methods, neutron tomography, ornament.

The article discusses the results of studying a fragment of an arrowhead from the Chernihov barrow of Chernaya Mogila. The use of science research methods (synchrotron and neutron tomography, neutron diffraction, and electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis) allowed determining the preservation of the object and revealed the ornament adorning the arrowhead. It is shown that the present condition of the object is mainly caused by the effect of the funeral pyre and further corrosion process. The ornament consists of two half-palmettes diverging from the central three-petalled figure. The ornament is created by punching grooves in metal where wire pieces made of copper alloy were inlaid. A comparison of the object under study with the known samples of the decorated arrowheads is conducted. The studied arrowhead complements the picture of the barbaric magnificence that characterizes the burial of one of the last pagan chieftains of Rus.

DOI: 10.31857/S086960630010894-2