Restoration of ceramics from the archaeological complex at Doghee-Baary II

The burial ground at Doghee-Baary II, located 8 km from the city of Kyzyl in Siberia, has been studied since 1989. Twenty barrows have been already excavated. The majority of them date from the 6th-5th centuries B.C. The barrows in the southern part of the burial ground may be assigned to a more recent period - 3 rd-1st centuries B.C. Here archaeologists have found articles which are typical of Late Scythian artifacts of Tuva (ceramics, art objects) and Hunnish culture (ceramics, arms). Under field conditions attempts were made to perform a preliminary sorting of the ceramics found, but further work could be carried out at the necessary level only in laboratory conditions.

In 2004, the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Works of Applied Art directed by A.I. Bantikov received 425 fragments of ceramics from the excavation. Many of them were coated in a crust of hard salts which concealed the genuine surface; almost all of the ceramics contained chloride salts, which are damaging to them. It was necessary to perform restoration before further scientific processing and photographing could take place. In the Sector of Restoration of Porcelain, Ceramics and Glass this work was undertaken by restorer T.V. Shlykova under the direction of art restorer A.I. Pozdnyak.

The ceramics were freed of salt and the surface was cleansed of accumulated layers and strengthened. The lengthier and more labour-intensive part of the work was identifying fragments and gluing them together. For example, a burnished Scythian vessel with moulded decoration was assembled from 101 fragments. After this stage was completed, nine vessels in various degrees of preservation presented themselves: a large Hunnish vase and eight Scythian vessels. Several different types of Scythian vessels were identified: a pot-like shape (seven pieces) and a jar-like vessel (one piece).

The Hunnish vase merits separate mention (74 fragments, assumed to have been 90-100 cm high). In the end, the restorers managed to recreate part of the upper portion of the vessel and base of the neck. Judging by the many similar vessels known, the vase should have been originally grey in colour. However, some of its fragments are of terracotta colour. During restoration a successful attempt was made to attach the red and grey elements to one another. In this way it became clear that the vase was initially broken and then burned; moreover, some of the fragments appeared to be resistant to the fire.

At the end of the restoration work, three exhibition-quality vessels were obtained, as well as parts of six vessels that were incomplete. A small vessel with moulded decoration had the smallest percentage of lost parts; it is notable for its high artistic value - the simplicity and laconism of the form and its harmony with the decoration, all of which lends monumental character to the vessel.

Area in the environs of the town of Kyzyl in Siberia
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Ceramic vessels from Scythian barrows
After restoration
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Scythian vessel with decoration
After restoration
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Scythian burnished vessel
After restoration
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Scythian pot
After restoration
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Fragment of the Scythian burnished vessel
After restoration
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Fragment of a Hunnish vase
After restoration
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