Cult objects in material and spiritual culture of the medieval population of the Kuznetsk hollow

In the article numerous artefacts are investigated in orderto answer the question of their place in the religious outlook and beliefs. The information about finds of medieval cult objects in theKuznetsk Basin is generalized. Great art expressiveness of these objects made in the form of different pendants of precious metals ismentioned. The material and the form of these objects are supposed to be connected and subjected to their spiritual meaning. The statementthat cult objects are simple accessories or decorations is considered to be doubtful. The function of decoration is supposed to besecondary, and their main function was to show the semantic value meant by people when manufacturing these objects. The investigatedartefacts were classified. The semantic value of the classified cult objects is studied. Bronze pendants imitating solar signs are calledsolar amulets. In Early and Late Middle Ages they functioned as amulets for Saratov archaeological culture bearers, who buried theirrelatives in the ceremony of cremation. Bronze and silver amulets presented as fragments of mirror known in Shandinskaya archaeologicalculture of Late Middle Ages had similar functions. Bronze open-worked heart-shaped cast pendants reflected the fact of the mergingof the human and plant, underlined the cyclic character of human life. They were connected with the family tree cult. These objectswere found only in girls and womens graves in Late Middle Ages in Shandinskaya archaeological culture. Bronze and silver heartshapedcast pendants were fragments of necklaces of beads and pseudo-noise-producing pendants, meant to protect the family wealth.Bone and horn amulets were to carry out the protective function; they were connected with the hope for a good hunt. The zoomorphicmetal amulets had a similar function, but their connection to religion and totem cult cannot be excluded. Bronze pendants showing aflying bird are interpreted as a means used by a soul of a dead to travel to another world. Bronze noise-producing pendants were meantto make noise during the rituals in order to keep off the evil and call for kind spirits or deity. These objects were meant to decorate theshamans clothes, hats and tambourines and were used as talismans by ordinary people. In the conclusion, it may be said that cult objectstook their specific place in the real world of the medieval culture of the Kuznetsk Basin, had great semantic value, protected peopleevery day and accompanied them to another world after death.

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