The paper presents the results of nondestructive studies of metal objects from the Chernaya Mogila (Black Grave) mound (10th century, Chernigov) from the collection of the State Historical Museum: a helmet, spearhead, sword fragment, and conglomerate of sintered weapons. In order to analyze the artifacts internal structure, assess their preservation, clarify the manufacturing technology and localize possible decorations, a complex of visualization methods was used. It includes X-ray computer tomography, synchrotron radiography, and tomography performed on the “KSRS-Kurchatov” synchrotron radiation source, and neutron tomography carried out at the IR-8 neutron source research reactor. The data obtained made it possible to reveal the design, ornamental, and technological features of the studied weapon items.

В статье рассматриваются результаты исследования фрагмента наконечника стрелы из черниговского кургана Черная могила. С помощью естественнонаучных методов (синхротронная и нейтронная томография, дифра

The most important results of tomographic studies of paleontological objects on the facilities of the National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute” are described. It is shown that the use of the synchrotron and neutron tomography makes it possible to obtain new information on the structure of fossil animals, which is of fundamental importance for taxonomy and morphological analysis of extinct fauna.

This paper analyzes the results of studies carried out at the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, using the methods of neutron and X-ray synchrotron tomography from the point of view of the preservation state of metal objects. Objects damaged by corrosion and exposure to fire were the focus of this study. To identify regions of metal preservation, the diffraction contrast on grains of metal, observed in tomographic projections, was used. The simultaneous use of neutron and synchrotron imaging is shown to be a powerful tool for identification of the constituents of an object.

В статье рассматриваются вложения в 14 закрытых древнерусских крестах-энколпионах, обнаруженных на селищах Суздальского Ополья и в Новгороде. Вложения изучались с применением современных методов нейтронной томографии, оптической микроскопии, инфракрасной микроскопии, газовой хроматографии на приборной базе Национального исследовательского центра «Курчатовский институт». Полученные результаты свидетельствуют, что традиция вложений была вариативна, установленных правил отбора реликвий для вложения в ковчежцы не существовало. В качестве вложений использовались частицы дерева и ткани, нити, волос, для сохранения реликвий и герметизации створок широко применялась воскомастичная смесь. Вложения могли теряться и возобновляться, когда энколпионы находились в обиходе. Несмотря на производство крестов как стандартизированных изделий, вложенные в них реликвии были индивидуальны. Лабораторное изучение энколпионов подтверждает функциональное использование их как реликвариев в отдаленных областях средневековой христианской ойкумены, широкое распространение общехристианского почитания «движимых святынь» в Северо-Восточной Руси в XII–XIII вв. The paper reviews fragments of relics and materials from 14 closed Medieval Russia reliquary crosses found at unfortified settlements of Suzdal Opolye and in Novgorod. These fragments were studied with the use of modern methods of neutron tomography, optical microscopy, infrared microscopy, gas chromatography in the laboratories of the The Kurchatov Institute’ National Research Center. The results obtained reveal that the tradition of inserting relics was not rigid, there were no established rules for selecting holy relics for reliquary crosses. Besides physical remains such as human bones and hair, parts of wood and cloth were inserted as well; a mixture of wax and mastic resin was used to seal cross compartments. Inserted relics could be lost and replaced when reliquary crosses were in use. Despite production of crosses as standardized items, relics inserted in them were individual. The laboratory studies of these reliquary crosses confirm their functional use as reliquaries in remote areas of the Medieval Christian oecumene as well as veneration of these ‘portable’ sacred objects in the northeastern parts of Medieval Russia in the twelfth–thirteenth centuries which was typical for the entire Christian World.