In 2000, the archaeological expedition of the Arkaim Reserve (headed by Dmitry Gennadievich Zdanovich) explored the burial ground Stepnoye VII (Stepnoye village, Chelyabinsk region). The Stepnoye VII burial ground is located on the left bank of the Uy River, 300–400 meters east of the village fence surrounding Stepnoye.
The cross-shaped pendant presented in the exhibition was found in burial 6. Numerous ornaments were found with the remains of the buried: round bronze patterned plaques, hemispherical plaques, cross-shaped pendants, pendants made of animal teeth, a dog astragalus with a drilled through hole, and clusters of paste beads.
Bronze pendants from burials Nos. 6 and 31 are solid-cast cross-shaped jewelry. They have a flat back side and cones of 2–2.5 centimeters high at the ends and in the middle. The upper edge has a through round eyelet (diameter 0.2 centimeters) for hanging or sewing. The size of the pieces is about 2 by 2 centimeters.
The cross-shaped pendants are made of pewter bronze; the white metal has a soft matte luster. Such pendants are the only (except for torcs) type of solid-cast jewelry. They were not subjected to further processing (rolling, forging, chasing). The pendants are made of an unusual-looking but very fragile metal alloy, so the pieces are practically unbendable and easy to break.
Cross-shaped pendants are most often found in so-called necklaces, which are not necklaces in the direct sense of the word, because they are fixed only in the front, on the chest of the buried. In these cases, the jewelry is arranged in two or three rows and includes beads, cross-shaped, goggle-shaped pendants, and fang charms. In some cases, cross-shaped pendants are attached to the headdress.
Bibs were made of leather and could have a rounded or subtriangular shape. They were tied around the neck with a cord. There was no single standard for the arrangement of jewelry on the apron, all compositions are unique.
Aprons were part of maiden and women’s costume, but are frequently found on younger children as well.
