Hephthalite Coin from an Early Medieval Burial at Gorny-10, Northern Altai

2022 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 100-108
Author(s):  
N. N. Seregin ◽  
V. V. Tishin ◽  
N. F. Stepanova

We describe a silver coin found in one of the burials at Gorny-10 cemetery in northern Altai, excavated by expeditions from the Altai State University in 2000–2003. The coin was discovered in a destroyed burial of children (No. 46) along with other informative artifacts, which are rather uncommon in such burials. Judging by horse harness and ornaments, the assemblage falls in the interval from the late 6th to early 8th century AD. The coin is an imitation of the drachm of the Sasanian shah Pērōz I to classify as type or emission 287, according to R. Göbl, that is one of the most common types of Hephthalite coins. The elemental concentration of the specimen has a high content of silver and no gold. The specimen has no analogs in North or Central Asia. It could have been brought to the forest-steppe Altai by Türks, who conquered the Hephthalite Empire in the fi rst decades of the late 6th century AD.

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-77
Author(s):  
N. P. Matveeva

The study focuses on the Kushnarenkovo-type ceramics from sites in the Cis-Urals and those from sites of the Bakalskaya culture in Western Siberia (300–800 AD). This type was first described in the 1960s as an indicator of major migrations relating to Magyar origins. The analysis of forms, technology, and decoration makes it possible to identify imported ware from local replicas of the Aral ceramics. Certain vessels from the Dzhetyasar cemeteries Altynasar-4, Bedaikasar-2, Kosasar-2 and -3, and Tompakasar, owned by museums, can be attributed to the Bakalskaya culture, whereas others were prototypes for replicas manufactured in the forest-steppe zone. The statistical analysis of the burial rite of contemporaneous Uralian and Western Siberian cultures reveals no features correlating with Kushnarenkovo vessels. These facts, along with the analysis of decorated utensils, coins, prestigious ornaments, and belt sets, evidence intense caravan trade between the Urals, Western Siberia, and Kazakhstan. Rather than an indicator of a specific culture, then, the Kushnarenkovo ceramics indicate a subculture of upper social strata, served by itinerant craftsmen or by manufacturers at trade factories.


Author(s):  
Yoo In Young ◽  

Sogdia is one of the oldest cultural centers not only in Uzbekistan but also in Central Asia. The development of the history of the oasis is extremely rich in historical and cultural monuments of different stages of development. We have recognized the richness of historical and cultural monuments of Zarafshan and Kashkadarya oasis because of archeological excavations in the region. The article deals with the archeological excavations carried out by researchers of the Samarkand Institute of Archeology and researchers of Samarkand State University in the early medieval monuments of Central Sughd.


Author(s):  
N. P. Matveeva ◽  

Рассматривается керамика кушнаренковского типа с памятников Приуралья и бакальской культуры Западной Сибири IV-VIII вв. Она выделена исследователями в 60-х гг. ХХ в. как показатель крупных миграционных процессов, связанных с этногенезом мадьяр. Анализ форм, технологии производства и декора керамики данного типа позволил выявить импортные изделия и местные подражания посуде из Приаралья. В музейных коллекциях керамики из джетыасарских могильников Алтынасар-4, Бедаикасар-2, Косасар-2 и -3, Томпакасар обнаружены сосуды, относящиеся к бакальской культуре, а также образцы, по которым изготавливались подражания в лесостепной зоне. Учтен результат сравнительно-статистического анализа погребального обряда синхронных уральских и западно-сибирских культур, согласно которому специфические характеристики для погребений с кушнаренковскими сосудами не выявлены. Эти факты вместе с художественной утварью, монетами, престижными украшениями и поясной гарнитурой рассматриваются как свидетельства активной караванной торговли в урало-западносибирско-казахстанском регионе. Предлагается не расценивать кушнаренковский таксон в качестве археологической культуры, сохранить употребление термина «кушнаренковский» для типа керамики, считать эту керамику отражением субкультуры, обслуживавшей престижное потребление, и связывать с продукцией бродячих ремесленников или производством в торговых факториях.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 18-43
Author(s):  
L. N. Mylnikova ◽  
L. S. Kobeleva ◽  
M. S. Nesterova

Purpose. We show the main directions of work of the West Siberian archaeological detachment (team) of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS, demonstrate the methods used and present the results and the possibilities of their interpretation. Results. In 2018, the West Siberian archaeological detachment celebrates the 45th anniversary of its formation. The long-term head of the team is academician V. I. Molodin. All studies are carried out within the framework of a multidisciplinary approach starting from the search for archaeological objects (sites Tartas-1, Vengerovo-2, -2A, -6, Staryi Tartas-5, Ust’-Tartas-1,-2; Chicha-1, Vengerovo-6 and others) to their laboratory investigation. We widely apply a range of analytical methods in all of our activities including almost all stages of research: from the search for archaeological sites to their processing in close cooperation with various scientists. We collaborate with specialists from the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; the Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk National Research State University, Novosibirsk, Russia; the Center of Collective Use (CCU) “Geochronology of Cenozoic”, Novosibirsk, Russia; Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; Ludwig-Maximilian Munich Institute, Munich, Germany; the Center of Archaeology of Kurt Engelhorn, Mannheim, Germany and others. Conсlusion. Studies of the West Siberian archaeological detachment, which were carried out over the recent two decades, have provided new data that develop existing points of view, clarify existing concepts or allow to build new concepts of historical and cultural processes. It is obvious that the modern paradigm of science requires participation of specialists in natural sciences at all stages of archaeological research.


Author(s):  
S. A. Vasyutin

The article deals with the evaluation of the political institutions in early medievalCentral Asia. The existing approaches to defining the governing systems of the imperial nomad unions focus on the concepts "chiefdom" and "state", but in both cases researchers have to state an absence of total compliance of the nomadic empires' governing structures to the classical attributes of chiefdom and state, thus constantly making reservations, which blur these concepts. The purpose of the work is to consider the possibility of solving this problem by using a broader "net" of terms determining different political systems and stages in their development in relation to early medieval nomadic empires. The methodological base of the article is the modern conceptions of multilinearity and diversity of the political genesis. The research has resulted in determination of a range of concepts which could better reflect the specificity of political institutions of different nomadic empires or make this evaluation more neutral but providing a clearer understanding of the complexity level of the political organization. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 788-817
Author(s):  
Étienne de la Vaissière

Abstract Census data from 8th-century Eastern Central Asian oases, combined with the measurements of the oases and data from archives discovered there, allow us to calculate estimates both of the individual oases’ populations and of their respective feeding capacities, which is to say the number of people who could be fed from the output of one hectare of agricultural land. These numbers in turn have parallels in Western Central Asia, where oasis sizes can also be calculated by examination of preserved archaeological landscapes and oasis walls. It is therefore possible to reach a rough idea of the populations dwelling in the main oases and valleys of sedentary Central Asia. As regards nomadic regions, the data are far more hypothetical, but references in certain sources to the sizes of nomad armies and rates of nomadic military levying can allow us to calculate at least the possible scales of magnitude for populations living to the north of the Tianshan.


Biruni ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
George Malagaris

Biruni constantly investigated his complex world in its natural and historical aspects. He perceived his homeland of Khwarazm in the manner of a modern physical geographer while simultaneously maintaining awareness of its underlying cultural currents and far-flung connections with distant lands. He appreciated that the notion of a region depended on cultural and political factors; indeed, the modern usage of the terms Central Asia, Middle East, and South Asia implies a multiplicity of histories, as he doubtlessly would have understood. Biruni himself frequently commented on its significance and persistently sought to interpret its underlying tendencies throughout his writing. Whether he touched on the topics of ancient Iran, late antique Hellenism, or early medieval Islam, Biruni added to the knowledge of his contemporaries, and the survival of his works has augmented our own.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document