Abstract
An ancient terracotta sculpture (bearded male head), found in underwater excavations in the Kerch Bay (performed by experts of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences before the construction of Crimean bridge pillars), has been studied at the National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” using neutron and X-ray tomography. Based on the analysis of revealed technological seams, it is established that the object was made primarily by sculpturing, with successive addition of profiled details (hairstyle, nose, eyelids, eye, ears, nasolabial fold, beard) to the clay base. The terracotta was likely attached by its lower part to the lost support or base by a lead tie. All studies were carried out by nondestructive methods allowing for monitoring hidden cavities, which may further pose a threat to the preservation of valuable cultural heritage object.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
S. V. Ol’khovskii, Tavricheskie Studii, No. 12, 118 (2017).
I. B. Zeest, Materials and Investigations on Archaeology in the SSSR, No. 83 (Izd-vo AN SSSR, Moscow, 1960).
M. V. Kovalchuk, N. A. Makarov, E. B. Yatsishina, et al., Crystallogr. Rep. 64 (6), 1003 (2019).
E. B. Yatsishina, M. V. Koval’chuk, M. D. Loshak, et al., Crystallogr. Rep. 63 (3), 500 (2018).
E. B. Yatsishina, S. V. Vasilyev, S. B. Borutskaya, et al., Archaeol., Ethnol., Anthropol. Eurasia 47 (3), 136 (2019).
N. Applbaum and Y. H. Applbaum, X-Rays for Archaeology, Ed. by M. Uda (Springer, Dordrecht, 2005), p. 231.
V. P. Glazkov, E. S. Kovalenko, M. M. Murashev, et al., Crystallogr. Rep. 63 (4), 692 (2018).
A. A. Kaloyan, E. S. Kovalenko, A. V. Pakhnevich, and K. K. Podurets, Geol. Geofiz. 58 (11), 1805 (2017).
L. I. Govor, E. A. Greshnikov, I. E. Zaitseva, et al., Kratk. Soobshch. Inst. Arkheol. 249, Part II, 348 (2017).
V. A. Somenkov, V. P. Glazkov, V. T. Em, et al., J. Surf. Invest.: X-Ray, Synchrotron Neutron Tech. 13, 870 (2019).
H. W. Catling, Classical Rev. 42 (2), 402 (1992).
C. Grandjouan, E. Markson, and S. I. Rotroff, American School of Classical Studies at Athens (1989), Vol. 23, p. 71.
N. Serwint, Archaeol. Cypria III, 75 (1994).
N. Bookidis, American School of Classical Studies at Athens,Corinth (Princeton, 2010), Vol. 18(5), p. 315.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to the management of the Eastern-Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve for the possibility of studying the museum object.
Funding
This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-0001094 KOMFI.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated by Yu. Sin’kov
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kovalchuk, M.V., Yatsishina, E.B., Makarov, N.A. et al. Tomographic Studies of the Terracotta Head from Kerch Bay. Crystallogr. Rep. 65, 805–811 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063774520050120
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063774520050120