Rook rivets
Second half of X century
Iron; forging
Length: from 3 to 4,1 cm
Receipt: from the Imperial Archaeological Commission, in 1904 (excavations under the supervision of S.I.Sergeev, 1900)
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These items were used for fastening ship or boat parts (boards).
These are a rod with a round or rectangular caps and a diamond-shaped washer.
Rook rivets were found during excavation of mound # 74 in the central group of the Gnezdovo burial ground.
Researchers believe that here was buried a representative of the local nobility/aristocracy.
The burial in that mound was made by the rite of cremation in a boat. This is being proved by discovery of 234 rook rivets besides rich inventory that accompanied the deceased: weapons, garments, belt set (decorated military belt), clay figurine, women oval brooch clasp (most likely that a concubine was buried with her master. A similar burial rite is described by the Arabic author Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, who met the Russ in Bulgar).
The burial rite (burning) in a boat was well known and was widespread in Scandinavia, which gives a reason to believe that the warrior buried in the Mound # 74 was one of those who were called Varangians in the Russian chronicle.
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