Про західнобалтські типи фібул з могильника Острів
Authors: Дяченко Д. Г. 
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to the research of two types of brooches from the Ostriv
burial ground in Porossia (Middle Dnipro River region). The morphological
characteristics of the objects, the type and chronological attribution and the
accompanying archaeological context are considered. In general, seven penannular
brooches with connected star-shaped terminals and four ring brooches with ribbed bows
were discovered during the first seven years of research at the Ostriv burial ground.
All the brooches were recorded in female burials, except two items found in the cultural
layer and one brooch with a controversial archaeological context. Together, they make up
23 % of all the clasps found at the territory of the cemetery or 27 % of the brooches
discovered in the burial complexes of the necropolis. These types of ancient pins now
make up 52 % of women’s burials with brooches. Penannular brooches with connected
star-shaped terminals can be divided into two subtypes — larger ones with seven
transverse ribs and surface coating with white metal, and slightly smaller ones with six
ribs. The damaged brooch from the burial no. 100 stands out for its massiveness and
could contain eight or nine decorative ribs, but the item is fragmented, which does not
allow clarifying its specific features. Brooches with ribbed bows can also be divided
into two subtypes: two items are larger and have twelve decorative ribs on their
surface, and two more specimens are slightly smaller and contain seven transverse ribs
on the front side. Among the latter two variants can be distinguished — with a concave
semicircular and a simple semicircular section of the case. Significantly, the
penannular brooch with connected star-shaped terminals and the brooch with ribbed bows
with a surface coating of white metal were found in rich burials with neck-rings of the
Totenkrone type. Therefore, it is possible to emphasise the probable connection between
the objects, the production of which was more time-consuming, with the social position
of the deceased during their lifetime, and probably with the chronological factor.
Furthermore, only these two types of fibulae among all the categories of jewellery and
clothing elements discovered at this necropolis now reliably testify to the long-term
habitation and high-quality repair of the objects. In addition, the general features of
the repair do not differ from technological receptions within the mother regions of
migrants. In conclusion, penannular brooches with connected star-shaped terminals and
brooches with ribbed bows had been widespread in the Baltic region during the 11th—12th
centuries. However, they were most typical for the population of the South-East Baltic,
the medieval Prussians, from whose area they spread among other Baltic, Finnish and
Scandinavian people due to trade connections and/or resettlement of groups or
individuals within the region (migration of warriors, marriages, etc.). Finally, these
types of brooches in the absolute majority of cases are found in the burials of men,
mainly in two-tiered cremation burials with a horse and weapons in burial complexes on
the territory of the Sambi Peninsula and its adjacent territories. Sometimes such items
occur in women’s and children’s burials outside the Prussian area, but they are still
more numerous in men’s complexes. Such a contrast of the Ostriv burial ground with
synchronous Baltic burial sites seems very interesting, however, conducting a detailed
comparative study of the costumes of representatives of the Baltic enclave in Porossia
and the female population of the Sambia Peninsula is extremely problematic. The reason
is almost absent separated women burials of the 8—13th centuries in the range of the
Prussians, because of their dependent social position in this tribe. Thus, it is still
impossible to establish whether the materials of the Ostriv burial ground reflect (at
least partially) the traditions of medieval Prussian women’s clothing, or whether the
composition of the costume underwent significant changes due to migration. The location
of these types of brooches in burial complexes in most cases indicates their direct use
in a costume to fasten outer clothing — woollen cloaks or capes. However, other
provisions are also recorded, which may be related to this population’s peculiarities of
burial practices.