The State Historical Museum (Moscow) houses, among its collections, cultural treasures that arrived in the USSR as compensatory restitution from Germany. Among them are three glass flasks, which are examined in this article. Judging by the inscriptions on the surviving labels, the hexagonal bottles came from Jerusalem (one from the Temple Series) and Kerch (one from the Dionysiac Series). Thus, the first vessel adds to the corpus of Temple Series flasks found in the Syro-Palestinian region and, more specifically, in Jerusalem, and the second adds to the very small corpus of hexagonal flasks found in the Northern Black Sea region, which includes only three other vessels: one flask of the Dionysiac Series from Nymphaeum and two flasks of the Temple Series from Panticapaeum and Gorgippia. The provenance of the bicephalic flask is unknown. However, it is interesting as a representative specimen of a flask blown in a mould of a much later generation. The large number of finds of such vessels testifies to their widespread popularity in the 3rd—5th centuries. They were apparently produced by many workshops that made moulds by taking impressions of the vessels at their disposal. The flask is made of glass of Levantine origin. Some features of its chemical composition suggest that it cannot predate the fourth century AD.

The article is dedicated to the study of two red slip vessels discovered during the construction works on the Tavrida highway in Crimea – a figurative vessel in the form of a bull and a fragmented patera with a relief gorgoneion in the centre of the bottom. Complete analogies to the first vessel, dated to the last quarter of the first century AD and made in an unidentified centre in Asia Minor, were never found, despite a significant number of morphologically similar smaller vessels dating back to Hellenistic times. The fragmented Knidian patera is easily restored thanks to a direct parallel – a find from the necropolis ‘Sovkhoz No. 10’, and dates back to the first half of the second century AD.

Based on comprehensive studies of fragments of antique red-glazed pottery (terra sigillata) of the Pontic, Bosporan, and Eastern groups, characteristic technological features of the slip layer and ceramic bulk have been identified. The Eastern-sigillata samples exhibited the best quality. The small size of the pores and inclusions suggests the use of finely dispersed clay. In addition, a mixture of two types of clay (ferrous and more refractory calcareous) was revealed. The special and, apparently, careful preparation of the clay suspension for the slip layer production included addition of a potassium-containing preparation, presumably, potassium potash (to glaze better the layer), as well as an iron-containing pigment, likely, ochre. The firing temperature for this group of samples was about 1000°C. Pontic sigillata products differed from the Eastern pottery by a lower content of potassium potash and the absence of specially added pigment in the varnish layer. The firing temperature was lower: 850–900°C. The Bosporan products are characterized by much less thorough preparation of both the clay raw material as a base and the varnish layer, as well as the lowest firing temperature in comparison with other groups (500–900°C).

Comprehensive studies of three Attic plastic vessels dated to the 4th century BC from the State Historical Museum collection have been performed. The use of X-ray tomography (XRT), large-scale X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD-SR) analysis made it possible to study in detail their state of preservation (including restoration traces) and the manufacturing technology, as well as to identify the pigments used in painting the surface. Based on the pigment residues, identified visually and on XRF maps, a reconstruction of the polychrome painting of the vessels was proposed. Because of the poor state of preservation of the coating on the surface of two vessels, the reconstruction of their possible polychrome painting was performed based on a comparison with known analogues.

The article presents the results of a natural-science study of several figured vessels from Cyprus, originating from the former collection of A.S. Uvarov and now stored in the State Historical Museum. X-ray tomography made it possible to reliably reconstruct the manufacturing technology of Cypriot figured vessels of the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Most of the vessels are handmade, some of them are made from one piece of clay mass, and some are composite. Additional parts (legs, spout, handle and some decorative elements) were made separately and later attached to the vessel's body. The volume of these vessels was extremely small - from 20 to 220 ml, which suggests their use for storing aromatic substances. The composite vessel & Bcy; 602/70 has two containers, directly fixed to one another (the upper one is inserted into the lower one), while their insides are isolated, and each container has a separate spout, allowing it to be used independently. The body of the composite askos & Bcy; 602/6 is formed by three containers in shape close to spheres, connected to each other with the tubes. To make the body of the rhytons in the form of a bull & Bcy; 605/126 and a goat/doe & Bcy; 605/127 a potter's wheel was used, and then body's ends were closed and smoothed on the outside.

This article presents the results of comprehensive studies of three Attic figured vessels from the 4th century BC, drawn from the State Historical Museum collection. The application of X-ray tomography, large-scale XRF mapping, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis under SEM and synchrotron XRD analysis enabled a comprehensive examination of the vessels' state of preservation, including the identification of restoration traces and the delineation of the manufacturing technology employed. Additionally, the analysis facilitated the identification of the pigments utilized in the surface painting. A reconstruction of the polychrome painting of the vessels was proposed based on the pigment residues identified both visually and on XRF maps. Given the poor state of preservation of the coating on the surface of two vessels, a reconstruction of their possible polychrome painting was performed based on a comparison with known analogues.

The article considers two textbook-famous Cnidian plastic vessels from the collection of the State Historical Museum in Moscow. One of them, shaped as a ram, comes from the excavations of N.I. Veselovsky in the Kuban region, the second one - a lagynos with erotic scenes on its body - was found by I.I. Gushchina at the Late Scythian burial ground Belbek IV in the Southwestern Crimea. As part of a project to do research on monuments of the classical period from the State Historical Museum collection, an X-ray tomographic study of these vessels was conducted at the National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", which made it possible to clarify the technology of their manufacture.

The article examines a collection of metal elements of costume from the Roman period and the Great Migration period from the State Historical Museum. It comes from Eastern Crimea (Kerch or Theodosia). Among the Roman time artifacts, the most numerous are brooches and buckles, bracelets, and pendants of “barbarian” origin, associated with the Sarmatians, Germans, and, possibly, the Western Balts. Items from the era of the Great Migrations, including brooches, buckles, and bracelets, belong to the Goths of the Cimmerian Bosporus. Their presence in this collection allows us to reiterate the question about the population of Theodosia at the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Red slip pottery or terra sigillata is the most important group of high-quality tableware of the first centuries AD and a source for studying the dynamics of trade relations between the Bosporan Kingdom and the local ceramic production of Roman times. One of the most important tasks in the study of Roman ceramics are issues related to archaeometry. The work presents the results of a study of the two most common groups of red glazed ceramics in Bosporus of the 1st century BC–2nd century AD, i.e., Bosporan and Pontic sigillatas. All fragments come from excavations at the acropolis of Panticapaeum by the expedition of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts under the leadership of V.P. Tolstikov in 1995–2006 (Central-Northern excavation). According to the results of the research, characteristic parameters that distinguish these groups from each other are identified: quantitative characteristics of porosity and inclusions, and the content of trace impurities.

For the first time, the results of X-ray fluorescence analysis of the composition of the alloy of two similar weights of the 5th century are presented with an image of the emperor sitting on the throne, originating from Chersonesos and Voronezh oblast. The opinions of researchers on identification of the image are divided. Most are inclined to believe that the figures are replicas from a large triumphal sculpture of Emperor Constantine. The weight from Chersonesos is made from gold-like brass, perhaps for greater decorative appeal. The second weight, stored in the State Historical Museum, is made from high-tin bronze with a large amount of lead. This alloy is also characterized by a beautiful golden hue. Initially, the weights were bimetallic; the cavity inside them was filled with lead to adjust specific instances of “fast” scales to the rocker arms. The figures are made in a highly artistic manner and, very likely, were a standard of reference or temple weights. The image of the emperor and the gold-like alloy of the weights served both to impart absolute authority to the ruling body and to propagate imperial power on the periphery and far beyond the borders of the Empire.

В результате изучения состава сплава металлических предметов из раскопок Н. М. Печёнкина могильника Бельбек I в 1903-1905 гг. была выделена небольшая группа находок (ременная гарнитура и пластинчатые перстни), сделанных из низкопробного серебра. Эти вещи можно отнести к категории предметов престижа, и поэтому, вероятно, для их изготовления применялся драгоценный металл, хотя и сильно «разбавленный» медью, иногда свинцом и оловом. В результате сравнения состава сплава этих находок и римских антонинианов III в. н. э. можно высказать осторожное предположение, что для изготовления украшений и аксессуаров могли использоваться римские серебряные монеты, которые не имели хождения в виде денежных знаков среди местного населения в Таврике. Антонинианы поступали на территорию Таврики вместе с римскими военными подразделениями. В варварской среде римские имперские монеты шли в переплавку и служили материалом для украшений, наряду с другими низкопробно-серебряными и бронзовыми изделиями в виде металлического лома. The study of the composition of metal items from the excavations led by N. M. Pechenkin at the Belbek I cemetery in 1903-1905 identified a small group of finds (a belt set and plate finger-rings) made of low-grade silver. These artifacts can be attributed to the category of items of prestige, therefore, probably, precious metal was used for their manufacture, though strongly «diluted» with copper, in some cases, lead and tin. As a result of a comparison of the alloy composition of these finds and the Roman silver coins (antoninians) of the 3rd century AD a cautious assumption can be made that since Roman silver coins did not circulate as monetary units among the local population in Tau-rica, they could be used to make jewelry and accessories. Antoninians reached Taurica together with the Roman military contingent. In a barbarian environment, Roman imperial coins were not used as money but were melted down and served as a material for jewelry, along with other low-grade silver and bronze items in the form of scrap

A comprehensive study of antique red glazed ceramics of the Pontic and two main groups of the Eastern sigillata (B, C) has been performed for the first time using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, X-ray diffraction phase analysis, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and X-ray tomography. The presence of a thin layer (engobe) deposited on a ceramic base, which is apparently the basis for the formation of red lacquer, is found in some samples. The main differences between the lacquer layers and the clay base are revealed. Signs of the introduction of iron-containing pigments (aimed, presumably, at enhancing the color of finished products), as well as potassium carbonate and soda, into the lacquer layer are found. The clay base of the studied samples is characterized by an increased content of uniformly distributed calcium and potassium-containing inclusions and the presence of quartz sand particles.

Статья представляет первую специальную публикацию, посвященную археологическому комплексу Красный Октябрь 1 в Прикубанье. Разновременный памятник (рубеж VI-V вв. до н. э. - Новое время) имеет площадь около 70 га, частично перекрыт современной застройкой. Сохранилось центральное укрепление городища с высокими валами и рвами, а также вторая укрепленная площадка к западу от нее, возможно, относящиеся уже к XVIII - началу XIX в. Точное время возникновения фортификации на памятнике пока неизвестно. Раскопками обнаружены следы гончарного производственного комплекса первой половины I в. н. э., где изготавливали грузила и другие мелкие предметы. Среди находок - бронзовая статуэтка Зевса/Юпитера провинциально-римской работы, сероглиняный светильник в виде маски Силена, разнообразные курильницы. This paper is the first special publication on the Krasnyy Oktyabr site in the Kuban region. This archaeological ensemble has been created and used in different time periods (turn of the 5th century BC - Modern Time), its area which is partially overlain by modern housing is around 70 ha. The survived structures of the ensemble include the central reinforced part of the settlement with high ramparts and ditches and the second reinforced area west of the central fortification, possibly, dating to the 18th - early 19th centuries. The exact dating of the fortification at the site is not yet known. The excavations discovered traces of a pottery production center dating to the first half of the 1st= century AD where sinkers and other smaller items were produced. The finds include a bronze figurine of Zeus/Jupiter from a Roman province, a gray clay oil lamp in the form of a Silenus mask and various incense-burners.

Denis Zhuravlev donne (p. 245) une liste d’inscriptions sur terra sigillata, dont Ἰσις et Σάραπις, liees au commerce avec les rives nord du Pont-Euxin.

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