ИСТИНА

Gnezdovo archaeological complex situated on the banks of the river Dnieper, c.12 km west of present city of Smolensk originally consisted of over 4000 barrow graves dating from the early 10th to the early 11th centuries and several settlements. This site is notable for the largest quantity of genuine Scandinavian objects outside the Nordic countries including 140 symbolic objects made of iron, copper alloys, lead, silver and gold. Thor’s hammers miniature strike-a-lights, scythes, wheel, weapons, tools, human and animal figurines can be interpreted as pagan amulets. Most of these objects are pendants except three-dimensional lead ‘idol’ in the form of small-scale standing man. The lack of suspension loop can possibly indicate that it carried in the pouch. The pattern of distribution of Scandinavian amulets in Gnezdovo show that 41% of them came from the graves situated in five mound groups. A wide range of symbolic objects (52%) was found at the different parts of inhabited area; the share of stray finds is about 5%. Just single amulets came from twelve silver hoards. Unfinished amulets of copper and iron found at the excavations of the workshop area evidence for their local production. Chronological distribution of the magic objects testifies that pagan beliefs dominated in the religious views of the local society up to the end of its existence in the early 11th century AD in spite of the small part of the Gnezdovo elite which was involved in the initial process of Christianization.