Published: 2025-09-16

Study of the origin of amber from the kolts discovered in the early medieval cemetery in Sypniewo using Raman spectroscopy

Mariusz Błoński , Barbara Łydżba-Kopczyńska
Kwartalnik Historii Kultury Materialnej
Section: Studies and Materials
DOI https://doi.org/10.23858/KHKM73.2025.1.003

Abstract

The article presents the results of physicochemical tests of amber used to decorate kolts from a woman's grave in the cemetery in Sypniewo in north-eastern Mazovia. Kolts are women's head decorations typical of the goldsmithery of Kievan Rus in the period from the 11th to the 13th. They are rare finds in Poland; apart from the three kolts from Sypniewo, seven other pieces were discovered. Two of them from Sypniewo had amber discs decorating them.  Amber accour within quaternary sediments in Sypniwo area (Kurpie region) and in Sypniewo itself, so it is probable that local raw material was used to decorate the Kolts. Comparative studies of amber from one disc with amber from Kurpie and other regions of Poland (Podlasie, Pomerania) using Raman spectroscopy showed a high similarity of their spectral features, which is characteristic of Baltic succinite. The manufacturer of the examined ornaments could have been a goldsmith who came from Kievan Rus and used local amber to decorate the ornaments.

Keywords:

kolts, amber, Raman spectroscopy, Kurpie region, Kievan Rus

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Błoński, M., & Łydżba-Kopczyńska, B. (2025). Study of the origin of amber from the kolts discovered in the early medieval cemetery in Sypniewo using Raman spectroscopy. Kwartalnik Historii Kultury Materialnej, 73(1), 63–86. https://doi.org/10.23858/KHKM73.2025.1.003

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