Tamgi signs in the culture of Volga Bulgar: new opening

Abstract

The article explores new unique artifacts from the era of Volga Bulgaria, a medieval state that existed on the Middle Volga. This is a fragment of a karmic vessel from the ancient settlement near the modern village Rechnoe and silver ring with a niello from Bilyarsk hillfort in the Alekseevsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan. They have preserved ancient signs, the purpose of which still remains a mystery to scientists. The marks were put on the products at the final stage of their production. This was most likely done by craftsmen who made these items. A fragment of the vessel originated from a residential building, which functioned at the end of the eleventh century, as it was established as a result of excavations. The vessel was used for cooking and because of this, its external surface was covered with soot. Signs were located at the top of the vessel in two lines, one under the other. Unfortunately, some of these signs were lost. The most expressive signs in the form of the letter "A", completing the top and bottom lines. They are often found on the ceramics of the Volga Bulgars. The author claims that these signs were not related to what could be stored in a vessel or to its function. This was impossible to do, since the marks were put even before the vessel was fired and the potter could not have foreseen his future.

The second item is a silver ring with a wide flat shield. On its front side there is an ornament of their stylized plant shoots, typical of the Volga Bulgars. On the reverse side with a thin instrument marks are stamped. Due to lack of space, signs are very closely spaced. One character was moved to another line. Signs were made by a jeweler before the completion of work on the product. They were made with the consent of the customer or at his request. Dated ring XII century. The materials presented in the article make it possible to consider in a new way questions about the purpose of such signs and their origin.