Introduction

The study of the armament of the nomadic population of Gorny Altai in the era of the Xiongnu power dominating the Central Asian region has become possible relatively recently. Due to research conducted in the 1980s and 1990s, the Ust-Edigan, Chendek, and Sary-Bel sites were found to contain relevant sources (Khudyakov, Skobelev, and Moroz, 1990; Soenov and Ebel, 1992; Khudyakov, 1998; Soenov, 1999). The most detailed analysis of weapons was carried out on the materials of the Ust-Edigan burial ground (Khudyakov and Moroz, 1990; Khudyakov, 1997). We have an opportunity to continue our work in this direction by attracting new finds obtained during excavations in 2002-2003 of the Yaloman II burial and memorial complex in the Ongudai district of the Altai Republic (Tishkin and Gorbunov, 2002, 2003). The materials of the studied mounds allowed us to distinguish two chronological groups among them: the western (24 objects) of the II century BC-I century AD and the central (4 objects) of the second half of the IV-first half of the V century AD. These data are confirmed so far by a small series of radiocarbon dates and reflect the historical context [Tishkin and Gorbunov, 2003, p. 493; Tishkin, 2004, p.297]. The early Yaloman II complex is close to such monuments as Ust-Edigan, Sary-Bel, Chendek (eastern group), Pazyryk (mounds 23, 24, 42) in terms of details of the funeral rite and the appearance of inventory. Together, they characterize the Ust-Edigan stage of formation and development of the Bulan-Kobin culture in Gorny Altai (Tishkin and Gorbunov, 2005, p. 329).

In the western group of the Yaloman II burial ground, weapons were found in five mounds (23a, 48, 57, 61, 62). Weapons are represented by means of remote (bows and arrows) and short-range (dagger, minted model) combat, armor-plates from military shells.

Bows

The remains of composite bows were found in three burials. In the mound. 23a they are represented by a set of six horn side plates: two pairs of end plates and a pair of middle plates (Fig. 1, 1-6). The distance between the end plates was 154 cm, which indicates the overall size of the bow placed in the grave, apparently with the string removed. In the direction of all the overlays almost coincided, forming a small arc. The upper pair of end plates is made of narrow, smoothly curved plates. They have rounded heads and arched bowstring cutouts; the ends are decayed. At the lower end pads, the heads are not preserved, the endings are pointed. The inner surface of the plates is shaded completely, while the outer surface is only partially shaded. The median overlays are also fragmented, but their main parameters are restored. They are made of segmented plates, with a flat base and pointed ends. The length of the pads was approx. 20 cm, maximum width 2.6-2.8 cm; the inner surface is shaded.

In mound 62, a set of six horn side plates (two pairs of end plates and a pair of cross plates) was found.-

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Fig. 1. Armament items from mounds 23a (1 - 6), 57 (7, 8), 61 (9,10) Yaloman II monument. 1-6-horn; 7, 10-iron, bronze; 8, 9-iron.

2. Armament items from mound 62 of the Yaloman II monument. 7, 3, 4, 6 - 8 - horn; 2, 5 - tree.

Fig. 3. Median horn pads of onions.

Fig. 4. Images on onion pads.

2). The distance between the end plates was 110 cm, and they themselves lay almost perpendicular to the direction of the handle. This may indicate that the bow was placed in the grave with the bowstring on. The end plates are fragmentary; their femoral endings are mostly preserved. However, the wooden part of the upper horn of the bow with a length of 32 cm almost completely survived. Judging by its parameters, the end pads had wide pointed heads with a trapezoidal cutout for the bowstring. They were additionally attached to the kibiti with three wooden pins. The median plates are made of well-polished horn plates of segmented shape, with a flat base and pointed ends (Fig. 3). Their inner surface is covered with carved lines forming a large oblique cell. Outside, small hatching is available only along the base. The central smooth part is engraved with images of animals (Fig. 4). The length of the image is shown in Fig.

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pads 28.3 - 29 cm, maximum width 2.6 - 2.8 cm. Most of the bow handle has been preserved. Based on the features of the wooden parts, it can be assumed that the thread of this product consisted of three independent parts: a handle with shoulders and two horns, which were attached perpendicular to the shoulders (with glue and winding).

In mound 48, only fragments of two horn side plates remained from the bow: the middle one and the lower end one (Figs. 5, 2,3). Their parameters are the same as for more complete instances described above.

Complex bows from the mounds of the early Yaloman II group belong to a well-known type of such products with six side plates (two pairs of end plates and one middle one). Bows with similar details are found in the materials of the Ust-Edigan and Sary-Bel monuments (Khudyakov, 1997, p. 28; Soenov, 1999, Figures 6, 8, 14). In addition, in the burials of Ust-Edigan, Chendek and Pazyryk, bows were found, which also had a seventh pad located on the back of the handle (Khudyakov, 1997, p. 29; Soenov and Ebel, 1992, Fig. 22; Sorokin, 1977, fig. 10]. Complex bows with six or seven overlays of this arrangement first appeared among the Xiongnu in the third century BC and were later widely used by many peoples of Eurasia (Khudyakov, 1993, p. 121-122). The design of the early Bulan-Koba linings exactly corresponds to the Xiongnu copies [Konovalov, 1976, tab. III-V; Tseveendorzh, 1985, p. 79; Khudyakov and Tseveendorzh, 1990, Figs. 1-4; Davydova, 1996, tab. 12, 3, 4; 52, 4, 5; 84, 10, 11; Minyaev, 1998, Tables 57, 1; 63, 1 Erdenebaatar, Turbat, and Khudyakov, 2003, fig. 1 - 12]. The end plates are narrow, smoothly curved and have a rounded, slightly pointed or evenly cut head; the median lateral ones are segmented, with an even or concave base; the rear ones are narrow, with slightly expanded ends, shorter than the side ones. Such correspondences allow us to date the sets of overlays of the Ust-Edigan stage to the time of the greatest distribution of the Hun bows proper-III/II century BC - I century AD, although such bows were used up to the V century AD inclusive.

Arrows

War arrowheads were found in two graves. 4 copies originate from mound 48. All of them are iron, with a petiolate nozzle and a three-bladed feather of triangular outline with lowered shoulders-spikes (Fig. 5, 4 - 7; 6). The total length is 6-7 cm, the pen length is 4 - 5, the maximum width is 2.0-2.2 cm. In mound 62, one iron tip was found together with a wooden shaft (Fig. 7, 2; 8). There are oxides on the other side as well

5. Armament items from mound 48 of the Yaloman II monument. 1, 4-7-iron; 2, 3 - horn.

6. Iron dagger and arrowheads.

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7. Armament items from mound 62 of the Yaloman II monument. 1, 3, 4-wood; 2-iron, wood.

Fig. 8. Votive coinage, arrow and wooden parts of kibiti bow.

the arrow. The surviving copy is similar to the previous ones; its total length is 5.2 cm, the pen length is 4.3 cm, and the maximum width is 2.6 cm. Arrow shafts are broken off, their length is 37.5-54.0 cm, and their diameter is up to 1 cm (see Fig. 7, 4). On a small fragment of the found shaft, an "eye" for the bowstring is carved (see Figs. 7, 3). Tips with shoulder spikes, similar to the Yalomansky ones, are found at the Ust-Edigan and Sary-Bel burial grounds (Khudyakov, 1997, Fig. 2, 8, 9, 11, 13; Soenov, 1999, 15, 1-4]. From the Ust-Edigan monument come three-bladed triangular (with straight shoulders) and hexagonal tips, as well as an armor-piercing specimen with a tetrahedral (diamond-shaped) feather of a triangular outline (Khudyakov, 1997, Fig. 1, 9; 2, 10, 12, 14].

Iron three-bladed triangular tips were widely used by many nomadic and sedentary peoples of Eurasia since the turn of the IV-III centuries BC [Khazanov, 1971, p. 36-37]. Geographically, the Bulan-Koba specimens are most closely related to similar products of the Kamenskaya culture of the forest-steppe Altai of the III-II centuries BC [Mogilnikov, 1997, Fig. 46, 1, 2] and the Tesinsky stage of the Tatar culture of the Minusinsk basin of the II-I centuries BC [Khudyakov, 1986, Fig. 16, 1, 2] Arrowheads with a triangular outline of the pen and a flat base were known in subsequent periods. Special attention is drawn to triangular tips with spikes, identical to the Xiongnu specimens of the second century BC-1st century AD (Konovalov, 1976, Tables I, 8, 9; Minyaev, 1998, Tables 30, 1, 5). Later in the first century AD, such items were practically unknown, at least in the Central Asian region. Arrowheads with a hexagonal feather were found in the Xiongnu in the second century BC-first century AD and in the Sarmatians in the first century BC-first century AD [Khudyakov, 1986, Figs. 5, 7; Khazanov, 1971, Tables XIX, 32]. They are also known later. Examples closest to the armor-piercing tip are found among the Xiongnu arrows (Khudyakov, 1986, Fig.1, 22].

Dagger

The dagger found in Mound 48 is made of iron. Its blade has a keeled outline and lenticular cross-section. The stalk ends with a volute-shaped pommel. On its base is worn

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straight bar-shaped crosshair (see figs. 5, 1; 6). On the blade, the decay from the wooden scabbard was preserved,and on the handle - the wooden lining of the handle. The total length of the product is 29 cm, the blade length is 17 cm, its maximum width is 3, the thickness is 1.8 cm; the handle length is 12 cm, the average width is 1.4, the thickness is 0.8 cm; the crosshair length is 4.8 cm, the width is 2.4, the height is 1.2 cm. A dagger of a similar type was found on the Sary-Bel monument (Soenov, 1999, Figs. 13, 6). Such items are genetically traced back to the weapons of the Scythian period. Their most accurate analogues are found in the Bactrian (Yuezhi-Kushan) complexes of the third century BC - I/II century AD and among the weapons of the Sargat culture of the first century BC - I/II century AD (Pogodin, 1998, Fig. 2, 2; Litvinsky, 2001, pp. 244-248, tab.. 58, 1 - 3; 61, 12, 13]. Daggers of a different type (without crosshairs and pommels) were found in the Ust-Edigan burial ground (Khudyakov, 1997, Fig. Such weapons were known in the east among the Xiongnu in the II century BC-I century AD, and in the west - among the Sarmatians from the I century BC-1 century AD [Khazanov, 1971, pp. 20-21, Tables X, 1-3; XI, 4; Davydova, 1996, Table 9, 5].

Chisel

A wooden model of the coinage was found in mound 62. It consists of the actual coinage and the handle (see Figs. 7, 7; 8). The coinage has a rather high butt, an indistinct rectangular opening and a slightly concave pyramidal firing pin extending to the end. The minted length is 12 cm, the dimensions of the opening are 0.4 x 0.9 cm, the maximum width of the striker is 1 cm. The handle is cylindrical in shape with a cone-shaped end. Its base is clipped and decorated with a ledge with hangers for mounting the coinage. The length of the handle is 22 cm, the average diameter is 1 cm. Of course, the Yaloman model of minting is votive. In all its features, it copies the battle patterns of the Scythian time. In the Altai, the latest real products of this type are found on monuments of the III-II centuries BC [Mogilnikov, 1997, p. 51, Fig. 42; Kocheev, 1999, p. 75, fig. 4].

Sword

In addition to the melee weapons considered, the early Malankobin nomads were familiar with one more type of weapon. So, during the excavation of the Ust-Edigan burial ground, a fragment of a two-edged sword was found. It does not have a crosshair, and the lenticular blade in cross-section forms straight shoulders when passing into the handle. The cut ends in a rounded extension (Khudyakov, 1997, Fig. 1, 14). Examples similar to this product in their main characteristics can be found among the Sarmatian and Central Asian weapons of the I-V centuries AD [Khazanov, 1971, pp. 17-21, Tables XII, 1, 3; Kozhomberdiev and Khudyakov, 1987, Fig. 7, 1; Levina, 1996, Fig. 85 1]. For Central Asia, their appearance in the second century BC and even earlier is not excluded (Kozhomberdiev and Khudyakov, 1987, p. 89), which is probably confirmed by the discovery of a fragment of a two-edged blade and handle at the Dyrestui burial ground (Minyaev, 1998, Tables 30, 13, 14).

Carapaces

Two pairs of iron plates from carapaces were found in mounds 57 and 61 (see Fig. 1, 7 - 10; 9). They belong to the armor of lamellar structure, have an oval-rectangular shape and six through holes for fastening: two pairs of side and a pair of middle upper ones. The plates are 3.1 - 3.3 cm long, 2.7 - 2.8 cm wide, and 1.5 mm thick. Identical items come from Xiongnu monuments of the late 3rd century. They are also known among the Amur and Xianbi tribes in the II-III centuries AD (Davydova, 1995, tab. 95, 10, 19; 104, 1, 2; Rets, Yu Su-Hua, 1999, figs. 3, 3; Derevyanko, 1987, Tables VII, 2, 3, 8; VIII, 1-3; Gorbunov, 2005, Fig. 1, 1]. Two Yaloman plates had a bronze lining on the inside. Analysis of this metal showed its non-native (China, Transbaikalia, Ordos) origin (Tishkin and Khavrin, 2004, p. 305); it is possible that the first Bulan-Koba shells were imported. Interesting and the

Fig. 9. Carapace plates.

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10. The complex of weapons of the Ust-Edigan stage (II century BC-1 century AD) of the Bulan-Koba culture of Gorny Altai.

Distribution of product types by monuments: Ust-Edigan-1-9, 12-15; Chendek-1; Pazyryk-1; Yaloman II - 2 - 4, 10, 16 - 18;Sary-Bel-2-4, 11.

the fact that details of carapace protection were found in "rich" female burials. Most likely, they were something like offerings that performed protective or other functions.

Characteristics of the combat vehicle complex

New finds and already known items of weapons from the monuments of the Ust-Edigan stage of the Bulan-Koba culture allow us to characterize the complex of military equipment of the Mountain-Altai nomads of the Xiongnu era. There are two types of complex bows, four types of combat arrowheads, two types of daggers, and one type of swords, hammers, and carapaces each (Fig. 10). The species diversity of the complex is significant, but the typological diversity is very modest. Few weapons were found, which is probably due to the peculiarities of funerary traditions. Bows (18 copies) predominate numerically, followed by arrowheads (17 copies), daggers (7 copies), armor plates (4 copies). Other weapons items are still represented by single copies. The combination of combat weapons in one grave does not exceed three positions: bow-arrows - dagger, bow-arrows-sword, bow-arrows-chased.

Remote combat weapons, including three non-armor-piercing and one armor-piercing types, are clearly focused on defeating a lightly armed enemy [Khudyakov, 1997, p. 31]. The presence of large powerful bows implies firing at the maximum distance [Khudyakov, 1993, p. 111]. As melee weapons, swords and hammers could be used more successfully, especially in the presence of armor protection; daggers had an auxiliary value.

Based on the available set of weapons, it is still difficult to distinguish the branches of the armed forces, but taking into account some visual materials, we can assume the presence of lightly armed cavalry and infantry [Gorbunov, 2003, p. 90, Fig. 34, 7]. However, the presence of armor plates, of course, indicates the existence of medium-armed horsemen. The main tactic of the early Bulankobin army was to fire at the enemy from a long distance, but if necessary, its separate, most likely mounted, detachments could also participate in close combat.

Conclusion

A significant part of the considered complex of weapons of the Ust-Edigan stage was formed under the influence of the Xiongnu tradition: composite bows, three-bladed hexagonal and armor-piercing arrowheads, daggers without crosshairs and pommels, armor plates. It is possible that some weapons were originally supplied from the Xiongnu themselves, as evidenced by the analysis of protective plates. A certain influence was exerted by the traditions of the Sarmatian and, to a greater extent, the Central Asian (Early Kush) circle. This is indicated by daggers with a crosshair and pommel, and possibly a sword. Finally, the legacy of the previous Scythian era is the three-bladed triangular arrowheads and, of course, the coinage model.

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The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 29.12.05.

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