Horseman-shaped pendant

myminifactory

The bronze pendant takes on a life-like shape, resembling a horseman cast in metal. Unearthed during excavations at Zeleny Yar's necropolis, it lies between two graves, sparking debate about its origins - was it part of a mortuary complex or discarded as a result of theft? Made from intricately crafted bronze, the pendant boasts two sides with raised details and an expertly polished finish. A horse is present but lacks both front legs and a chunk of its head; the rider leans forward toward the animal's mane, yet there are no signs of reins or stirrups. The hollow figure has a rounded tube at the end of its head, which resembles worn leather straps. Prominent features include a large Roman nose, prominent brow lines, almond-shaped eyes, and a crescent-shaped mouth; clothing details are absent except for an ornate belt with rectangular plaques encircling the rider's waist. The three-fingered hands grasp the horse's mane. The pendant was likely cut in two during casting. The short horse has oversized ears, big almond-shaped eyes, round nostrils, and a slot-like mouth; its mane is represented by four strands on each side of its neck. Drop-shaped cartouches adorn the horse's hips, featuring vertical chains of round "pearls." Concentric circles mark the hooves, while the two-strand tail hangs beyond the braided frame connecting the base of the tail to the hind legs. The artifact is unique, with no exact analogies known; some details share distant similarities. Typically, West Siberian artifacts from complexes dating back to the 19th century depict horsemen sitting in a womanly manner. The "cutting effect" has been observed since the 8th century AD. Three other artifacts featuring an anthropomorphic figure with a large Roman nose and tube-like head have been found; they date back approximately to the 10th-11th centuries AD. Clearly, this horseman-shaped pendant from Zeleny Yar is part of high-status men's jewelry. This object was scanned by The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Research in Archaeology "Artefact" of the National Research Tomsk State University