Zhurukhina O. The Beads of Middle Dnieper region of the 10th–13th centuries

This dissertation contains the complex analysis of beads – the common adornment in the Middle Ages culture. This study is the first corpus of the beads from the Middle Dnieper region ranging in time from the 10th to the 40-ies of 13th century, i.e. the time of appearance, establishment and development of Old Rus’ till the Mongol invasion. New archaeological finds were introduced to scientific parlance; the base of sources was supplemented and generalized; the history of beads studying was analyzed; beads were classified on the ground of the complex classification including both morphological and chemical-technical features; the major periods of common use of beads were marked; manufacture complexes (glassworks, glassmaking and amber handling workshops in Kyiv Podil district) were systematized, analyzed and put onto map; the chemical analysis of glass was carried out (raw materials, samples of production from craftsmanship complexes, vestiges of production) in order to distinguish imported and home-made (Old Rus’) production; the technologies of glass articles production were ascertained by morphological features; combining the study of technology and ascertaining of chemical composition aided to detect the production centres and import routes.