TROVES

TROVES, archaeological sites, which represent collections of sets of tools of labor, weapons, various household items, jewelry made of bronze, iron, silver, and gold. In Bashkortostan there were discovered over 20 such T. The earliest belong to the Bronze Age. The most famous T. is the Avryuztamak T. (8—9th centuries) which was discovered in 1989 during excavation work 1 km to the southwest of Derevnya Avryuztamak of Alsheyevsky Raion on the right bank of the Avruz River, 21 silver items of the Sogdian School, influenced by the cultures of the Sasanian Iran and the Turkic Kaganate, were found there. Part of the treasure was plundered and only 11 items have been preserved. One of two dishes found was decorated on the edge with plant‑like ornament, and in the center, there was an engraved image of a rider spearing a boar; the second shows a mountain goat with a waving scarf around its neck (the image of the Iranian god Khvarena, that of fortune and royal majesty). Seven potsherds were found: 3 legs in the shape of camel’s legs, 2 handles from a vessel in the form of an elephant’s head with a curved trunk and 2 in the form of a human figure supporting a lying leopard. There were also found top parts of 2 rhytons (cups) in the form of a bull’s head and a camel’s head. The materials are stored in the Sterlitamak Museum of History and Ethnography; The Bolsheabishevsky T. (13—14th centuries) was discovered by the builders in 1974, near Derevnya Bolsheabishevo in the Khaibullinsky Raion. The finds inside consisted of 24 iron objects, among which there are two axes with hammer‑shaped butts, two pointy picks, a knife (34 cm), an oval shaped stirrup with a wide footboard, three scythes, 14 sickles of various sizes, and scissors with large handles in the form of incomplete rings. Materials are kept in the Bolsheabishevo High School; The Brick-Alga T. (14th century) is located near Derevnya BrikAlga of the Belebeyevsky Raion. Discovered in 1967 by high school students of the town of Aksakovo (near Belebey). In an earthenware pot, there were found thick wire earrings of 6‑pointed shape. Also, there were found 400–450 silver coins (an earring and 159 coins of 76 varieties total have been preserved): the earliest coin was minted in honor of Khan Tokta in 1310/11 (710 AH), the latter ones were minted in honor of Khan Aziz Sheikh in 1364/65 (766 AH). In 2004, 140 silver coins were found: the earlier were minted in honor of Khan Tokta in 1310/11 (710 AH), the latter were made in honor of Khan Janibek III in 1375/76 (777 AH). Among the finds there were tools, armaments, jewelry (bronze bracelets, mirrors, silver wire earrings in the form of a question mark) and horse harness accessories. Also found were iron padlocks and keys, scissors, a comb for combing flax and wool, and two rectangular gold inserts for bracelets. The materials of this artifact are stored in the National Museum of the RB. Their storage is funded and supported by SPC funds for the protection and use of immovable objects of cultural heritage of the RB; Kuganaksky T. (7th century BC — 1st century AD), discovered in 1869 by local residents of Selo Pokrovskoye of Sterlitamaksky Uyezd of Ufa Gub. (now Derevnya Pokrovka of Sterlitamaksky Raion) on the right bank of the Kuganak River and turned over to the Ufa Gub. Museum (now the National Museum). 13 items total are being preserved. There are bronze objects of religious purposes, an Iranian bowl, 4 mirrors, a round plaque with an image of a mythological animal, plates (amulets) in the form of paws of a bear, in the form of a rhombus, a running animal resembling a lizard, and in the form of a trapezium decorated with a composition made of 2 trees, anthropomorphic images and 2 figure of animals (lizards) above them and others; Milovsky T. (late 2nd millennium BC) belongs to the Log‑Frame culture. Discovered in 1872 near Derevnya Milovka of Ufimsky Uyezd of Ufa Gub. (now Ufimsky Raion). Consists of 8 bronze objects: 6 sickles with rings for fitting on the handle, a narrow‑bladed ax and chisels. The materials are stored in the State History Museum (Moscow) and the National Museum of the RB; Nizhnekhozyatovsky T. (14th century), discovered in 1931 by local residents during plowing, near Derevnya Nizhnehozyatovo of Chishminsky Raion. Consists of 8 iron items: 2 axes, plowshares, a cutter, a sickle, a hoe and 2 scythes. The artifact testifies to the spread of plow farming in the Ural region during the Golden Horde period. The materials are stored in the National Museum of the RB.