Abstract
The recently excavated burial grounds of Ala-Tey of the 2nd-1st centuries BCE, located in the basin of the Ulug-Khem (Yenisei) River, at the entrance to the Sayan Canyon of the Yenisei, belong to the archaeological monuments on the territory of the Republic of Tuva (Central Asia) and are associated with the Xiongnu culture. The part of preserved inlays and the base of buckles were investigated using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. By Raman spectroscopy in the buckle base, amorphous carbon was identified. The investigation also revealed the mineral contribution in the FTIR spectra of buckles plates such as kaolinite (Al2O3·2SiO2·2H2O) and quartz (SiO2) in addition to the absorbance bands of some organic components. Buckles inlays mineral composition was identified via Raman spectroscopy. Two different types of blue-green minerals were found: turquoise (CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O) and muscovite (KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH)2). According to the Raman spectroscopy data all red inlays contain α-quartz and inclusions of hematite. The red inlay transparency is associated with the presence of moganite (polymorphic monoclinic modification of SiO2). The white inlay material consists of aragonite (CaCO3). The results of the study are relevant for better understanding of Xiongnu belt buckles materials and choosing appropriate strategies of its conservation.
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