Altai Population Research Articles

Burial of the final stage of culture of the early Scythian period in Northern Altai

The article deals with materials excavated from kurgan No.35 of burial & memorial Choburak-I, their introduction into the scholarly discourse and cultural & chronological interpretation. This monument includes sites of various chronological periods and lays on the right bank of the Katun River. It lays south from landa Village, Chemalsky District, the Altai Republic. The monument was researched by the archaeological expedition of the Altai State University. The above-ground structure of kurgan No. 35 is a quite large mound fringed by a crepidoma. The grave is relatively shallow and found with an intact buried body. The body lays straight on the back in the burial chamber tiled with rocks. The body heads North-West. There are few accompanying tools discovered by excavations, namely a whetstone, a bronze knife and bone arrowheads. The burial ritual is explored and analyzed. The analysis shows that the site in the focus of the research is foreign to the mountainous Altai monuments of the Early Scythian due to the range of features. Morphological features of the tools and their available equivalents indicate that kurgan No. 35 was established in the late 7th through 6th century BC. Two samples are exposed to radiocarbon analysis in different laboratories. The findings support this chronology. Based on the determined dating and layout of the site researched it can be dated back to the late Biykenskaya culture. When it comes to the cultural attribution of the site, it is necessary to refer to the debatable issues of reconstructing the history of Altai population at the turn of the early Scythian and Pazyryk periods. The existing materials analyzed allow to assume that kurgan No. 35, as well as a range of other similar burials, is associated with the new groups of people arriving from neighboring areas in the 7th century BC. The study implies the features of a few more burials of Choburak-I necropolis established in the same time. Therefore, the research assumes that the Biykenskaya culture nomads used to come in contact with the Mayemirskaya culture tribes for the Altai North-West foothills

Blade Weapons of Altai Population in Rouran Period (by the materials of the Choburak-I complex)

The article presents the study of the collection of bladed weapons, obtained during the excavations of the Rouran period burials on Choburak-I necropolis. This site is located in the Chemal district of the Altai Republic. The analyzed series of weapons includes three swords and six combat knives found in the burials of four adult men and one teenager. It has been established that the complex of long-bladed weapons is represented by single-edged blades without crosshairs and pommel, with a semi-segmental tip. The surviving combat knives with a triangular blade section are divided into two types, distinguished by a straight handle and a handle inclined towards the blade. The published collection demonstrates typical examples of weapons of the nomads of Central Asia of the 4th – 5th centuries AD. New excavation materials confirm the thesis that swords were a status category of weapons among the population of Altai during the Great Migration period. Burials with such items, investigated as part of the Choburak-I necropolis, differed in the representative composition of the inventory, and, judging by the available data, belonged to military leaders or especially distinguished professional soldiers.

CURRENT STATUS AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS YAK BREEDING IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALTAI

The yak is a late-maturing animal compared to cattle. However, the yak has precious properties in terms of endurance to harsh climatic conditions, the ability to make long transitions along inconvenient rocky mountain paths and feed all year round in the pasture, including during the winter. The local population of the Altai Republic has been breeding yaks since ancient times, as evidenced by archaeologists’ finds. Although the maximum number of yaks in the Altai Republic reached in 1990 - 18468 heads and were bred in the farms of five administrative districts, at present, the number of yaks totals only 6043 heads, and they are concentrated mainly in the farms of one municipality - the Kosh-Agachsky district. The authors propose measures for the effective development of yak breeding, increasing the number and rational use of these unique animals, considering natural and climatic conditions, land resources and the existing potential of agricultural producers in the Altai Republic. It is necessary to carry out selection and breeding work to create a highly productive breed to improve the breeding and practical qualities of the Altai population of yaks. The development of gastroecological tourism is the most promising for the Altai Republic. The need for high-quality, environmentally friendly meat, including barley, is constantly growing. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the number of yaks to develop a system at the farm level that ensures the rational use of available pasture lands. One of the critical issues is the development of State Standards (GOST) for meat and all by-products of yaks. Creating a marketing and advertising system for yak products remains an urgent problem.

РЕНТГЕНОФЛЮОРЕСЦЕНТНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ ИЗДЕЛИЙ ИЗ ЦВЕТНОГО МЕТАЛЛА ПРЕДТЮРКСКОГО ВРЕМЕНИ, ОБНАРУЖЕННЫХ НА НЕКРОПОЛЕ ЧОБУРАК-I (СЕВЕРНЫЙ АЛТАЙ)

During excavations of burial complexes in Altai, which belong to the Bulan-Koby archaeological culture, items made of non-ferrous metal were found. However, their purposeful study has not yet been undertaken, which limits the possibilities for making the necessary scientific interpretations. This article presents the results of X-ray fluorescence analysis of a small series of finds from the Choburak-I necropolis. This site is located in the Northern Altai and dates back to the preTurkic period. The obtained determinations of the chemical composition of simple decorations demonstrate the variety of recipes used in casting the initial materials. Of particular importance are the items made of brass. The presented variety of metal alloys can testify to wide contacts of the Altai population in the pre-Turkic period, as well as to the existence of local traditions of decoratiions making. It is important to continue the systematic study of similar and other finds from non-ferrous metal, which are in museum collections in Russia and abroad.

Burial of a warrior of the Rouran period from Northern Altai

The article introduces into scientific discourse cultural, chronological and social interpretation of the warrior burial, investigated during the excavations of the necropolis of the Bulan-Koby Culture of the Choburak-I funerary and ritual complex. The site is located on the right bank of the Katun River, to the south from the Elanda village of Chemal district, Altai Republic. During the research, a burial of a man with a horse and accompanying equipment, including a representative set of weapons (bow, a large number of arrows with iron tips, a sword, two combat knives), a belt decorated with numerous belt fittings, horse equipment, and other items were studied. A detailed description of the finds, including both widespread and very rare types of items, has been carried out. The indi-cated circle of analogies from the sites of the Bulan-Koby Culture of Altai, as well as complexes excavated in ad-jacent territories, allows us to determine the date of burial mound №30 to the 4th c. AD. This conclusion is con-firmed by the results of radiocarbon dating of a series of objects from the Choburak-I necropolis. The complex of elements of ritual practice indicates that the burial mound belongs to the previously identified Dialyan burial tradi-tion of the Altai population of the end of the 1st mil. BC — first half of the 1st mil. AD. This is suggested by the combination of the following features: an oval mound with a crepidoma, inhumation burial rite, northwest orienta-tion of the deceased, accompanying of the deceased by a horse laid “at the feet” of the person and its orientation with its head in the same direction as the deceased, inner grave construction in the form of a deck. The composi-tion of the grave goods allows us to conclude that the buried man was of a high social status, possibly a warrior who commanded a large unit of professional warriors, and also, possibly, the leader of a local group of pastoral-ists who left the Choburak-I necropolis. Some peculiar features of the analysed complex reflect the ideological paradigm of the Bulan-Koby population, such as placement into the grave of a broken (disassembled?) bow and a large number of arrows, covering the person’s body at the time of the burial.

УЗДЕЧНЫЕ НАБОРЫ У НАСЕЛЕНИЯ СЕВЕРНОГО АЛТАЯ ЖУЖАНСКОГО ВРЕМЕНИ (ПО МАТЕРИАЛАМ НЕКРОПОЛЯ ЧОБУРАК-I)

The article presents the results of the study of bridle sets from the Choburak-I necropolis located in the Chemal region of the Altai Republic. Details of the bridle were found in the graves of ten adults buried with a riding horse. The published collection of things included metal (mainly iron) products of various functional and decorative purposes: bits, cheek-pieces, buckles, badges, tips and distributors of belts, clasps, trench coats, fasteners, lining of the neckpiece. A morphological analysis of the indicated objects was carried out, as well as their comparison with elements of horse equipment from the complexes of the Bulan-Koby culture and sites of the Great Migration period excavated in adjacent territories. The general and special features of the manufacture of various bridle accessories by the population of Altai in the second half of the 4th–first half of the 5th centuries AD are revealed. The analyzed sources demonstrate the influence of the material traditions of the nomads of Central Asia in the second quarter of the 1st millennium AD, as well as the local heritage of the Bulan-Koby culture, on the appearance of the outfit of the riding horse of the Rouran period. It has been established that some modifications of bits, cheek-pieces, plaques and distributors also existed at the initial stages of the development of the culture of the early medieval Turks in Altai.

КАМЕННОЕ СЫРЬЕ КАК ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ФАКТОР В ПАЛЕОЛИТЕ АЛТАЯ

The article summarizes the results of many years geological and petrographic studies of lithic artifacts and raw materials sources for its production in the main Paleolithic complexes in the Altai Mountains. The work is based on the representative archaeological collections of the multi-layer sites of Karama, Ust-Karakol, Kara-Bom and caves Denisova, Kaminnaya, Okladnikova, Chagyrskaya, Strashnaya, as well as other Paleolithic sites. The geological characteristics of the study area are given, the factors that influenced the quality of raw materials are considered. Particular attention is paid to the criteria that could guide the ancient human in the selection of raw materials from pebble sources. The problem of the relationship between the petrophysical properties of one or another type of raw material and the technical and typological appearance of lithic industries is discussed. We concluded that the ancient population of Altai, starting from the Early Paleolithic, manufactured the tools using good knowledge of the raw materials specifc features and the skills of its selection.

Своеобразное погребение эпохи Великого переселения народов некрополя Карбан-I (Северный Алтай)

The article presents the results of the materials study from kurgan 11 of the Karban-I site, excavated in 1989 by the expedition of the Barnaul State Pedagogical Institute. This archaeological complex is located on the left bank of the Katun river, 1.7 km northwest of the Kuyus village of Chemal district of the Altai Republic. The key characteristics of the fixed structures (mound with an oval-shaped crepe-laying; a shallow grave pit, a burial chamber in the form of a stone box) and the method of inhumation (single position of the corpse on the back; orientation of the deceased with his head to the western sector of the horizon; the absence of an accompanying burial of a horse) indicate that that this object belongs to the Karban tradition of ritual practice of the population of Altai of the 2nd century BC – 5th century AD. Analysis of the discovered inventory (horn onlays for a bow, combat knife, typesetting belt, bone arrowheads, awl, pendants and braids made of non-ferrous metal, beads) and its comparison with materials from synchronous complexes in adjacent territories became the basis for determining the chronology of the burial within the Early Xianbei period (2nd – early 3nd centuries AD). It was established that the set of objects included items that were typical for both female and male “standard” rite of the Altai nomads of this period. It is concluded that the buried individual, most likely a male, was a representative of the prosperous stratum of the ordinary population. Judging by the availability of means of long-range and close combat including numerous equipment, he was part of a group of professional warriors. At the same time, the deceased during his lifetime occupied a rather high position in a small group of pastoralists who left the Karban-I necropolis.

FEATURES OF THE COAT OF YAKS OF THE ALTAI POPULATION

The authors studied the morphometric parameters of yak wool to determine the commodity and technological qualities of the thread of yaks from the Altai population. The research was carried out based on the yak-breeding farm of the Republic of Altai. The study’s objectives included determining the mass fraction of yak wool fractions and the physical properties of down fibres (thinness, length and density of down) of different sex and age groups of yaks of the Altai population. In addition, the authors studied the morphometric parameters of the coat of varying sex and age groups of yaks of the Altai population according to a set of characteristics using methods generally accepted in zootechnics. The weight content of the fractions was determined by analysing wool samples weighing 1 gram taken from different parts of the animal’s body (belly, flank, thigh) for down, awn and transitional hair and entertaining on an analytical balance with an accuracy of 0.0001 g. The length of wool was measured using a metal ruler with an accuracy of 1 mm. The fineness of the thread was determined on a lanometer according to the RIAH method (All-Russian Institute of Animal Husbandry). The authors established differences between the ratios of down, awn and transitional hair in different body parts. Thus, the most significant proportion of soft fibres in yak wool is noted on the side, where its content varies from 68% to 82%. Significantly less fluff is observed on the thigh from 22% to 35% and on the stomach from 11% to 30%. In male yaks, the most down is also found on the side from 67 to 73%, and the least is observed on the thigh (32–42%) and on the stomach (7–15%). In young yaks, the highest down content was noted on the thigh - 82-88%, slightly less on the side - 68-80 and on the stomach - only 24-34%. The thinnest fluff was registered in female yaks - 1.32 microns in length. The authors noticed the best indicators of length wool in male yaks, 5.23 cm. Female yaks are 5.09 cm in fibre length, and young (bulls of young yaks are 4.9 cm compared to adult male yaks. Regarding the mass of downy fibres, the highest arms were in young animals (yaks of young bulls) at - 51.03 mg / cm2 and the lowest at - 49.53 mg/cm2 in male yaks. The down of yaks of the Altai population in thickness corresponds to the 56th grade of sheep wool (semi-thin) and can be used to make high-quality knitwear.

The weapon complex of the Northern Altai population in the Xianbei period (on materials from the necropolis of Karban-I)

The paper is aimed at introducing into the scientific discourse and complex interpretation of the weapon items discovered during excavations of the sites of the Bulan-Koby archaeological culture of the Karban-I ne-cropolis. This site, which comprises a series of burial mounds of the Great Migration Period, was partially investi-gated by the expedition of Barnaul State Pedagogical Institute in 1989–1990. The complex is located on the left bank of the Katun River, 1.7 km north-west of Kuyus village, in Chemalsky District of the Altai Republic. Weapons were found in five undisturbed male burials of the Xianbei period (mounds № 9, 11, 14, 33, 39). The finds ana-lyzed include long-range and close-range weapons: five compound bows; 14 iron arrowheads; four iron combat knives; and one dagger. Morphological analysis and classification of the objects, as well as their comparison with known artefacts of the last quarter of the 1st mil. BC — the first half of the 1st mil. AD from the sites of Central, Inner, and North Asia became the basis for conclusions concerning the determination of the dating of the pro-ducts. It has been found that the complex of weapons of the nomads who built the necropolis of the Bulan-Koby Culture at the mouth of the Karban River, was aimed at efficient countering of a lightly protected enemy and was appropriate for light cavalry and infantry. It includes both the already well-known (Xiungny) and new (local) modifi-cations of the offensive weapons. In terms of its diversity and level of development, this set of weaponry was sig-nificantly inferior to the military arsenals of the Xiongnu and Xianbei periods, as well as that of the population of the Bulan-Koby Culture of the late 3rd — 5th c. AD. The body of the conclusions made permits it to assume that the considered corpus of weapons reflects the initial stage of the evolution of the armament of the Altai population in the first half of the 1st mil. AD. The published materials expand the source base for the study of warfare of the population of Northern Altai in the Xianbei period. The obtained results of the chronological interpretation of diffe-rent categories of weapons can be used to refine the periodization of the sites of the Belo-Bom stage (2nd — 1st half of the 4th c. AD) of the Bulan-Koby Culture.

Genetic Adaptation of Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) to High Altitudes

Forest trees growing in high altitude conditions offer a convenient model for studying adaptation processes. They are subject to a whole range of adverse factors that are likely to cause local adaptation and related genetic changes. Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), whose distribution covers different altitudes, makes it possible to directly compare lowland with highland populations. This paper presents for the first time the results of studying the genetic differentiation of Siberian larch populations, presumably associated with adaptation to the altitudinal gradient of climatic conditions, based on a joint analysis of altitude and six other bioclimatic variables, together with a large number of genetic markers, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), obtained from double digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq). In total, 25,143 SNPs were genotyped in 231 trees. In addition, a dataset of 761 supposedly selectively neutral SNPs was assembled by selecting SNPs located outside coding regions in the Siberian larch genome and mapped to different contigs. The analysis using four different methods (PCAdapt, LFMM, BayeScEnv and RDA) revealed 550 outlier SNPs, including 207 SNPs whose variation was significantly correlated with the variation of some of environmental factors and presumably associated with local adaptation, including 67 SNPs that correlated with altitude based on either LFMM or BayeScEnv and 23 SNPs based on both of them. Twenty SNPs were found in the coding regions of genes, and 16 of them represented non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions. They are located in genes involved in the processes of macromolecular cell metabolism and organic biosynthesis associated with reproduction and development, as well as organismal response to stress. Among these 20 SNPs, nine were possibly associated with altitude, but only one of them was identified as associated with altitude by all four methods used in the study, a nonsynonymous SNP in scaffold_31130 in position 28092, a gene encoding a cell membrane protein with uncertain function. Among the studied populations, at least two main groups (clusters), the Altai populations and all others, were significantly genetically different according to the admixture analysis based on any of the three SNP datasets as follows: 761 supposedly selectively neutral SNPs, all 25,143 SNPs and 550 adaptive SNPs. In general, according to the AMOVA results, genetic differentiation between transects or regions or between population samples was relatively low, although statistically significant, based on 761 neutral SNPs (FST = 0.036) and all 25,143 SNPs (FST = 0.017). Meanwhile, the differentiation based on 550 adaptive SNPs was much higher (FST = 0.218). The data showed a relatively weak but highly significant linear correlation between genetic and geographic distances (r = 0.206, p = 0.001).

Role and significance of the State National Dance and Song Theater "Altam" in the cultural space of the Altai Republic

The article is devoted to the consideration of issues related to the study of the role and significance of the State National Dance and Song Theater "Altam" in the cultural space of the Altai Republic. In the process of the research, special attention is paid to the methods and tools through which the theater attracts spectators and cultural and art workers. Also, specific examples describe the influence of the theater on the familiarization of the Altai population with art, as well as on the preservation and multiplication of cultural heritage.

Survey and Molecular Characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto from Livestock and Humans in the Altai Region of Xinjiang, China

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the metacestode Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.), is an important zoonotic parasite, endemic in the Altai region of China. It is a serious human health risk and causes livestock losses. To evaluate the prevalence, genetic variation, and population structure of CE, 2898 sheep and 703 cattle were examined from October 2019 to mid-February 2020 in the Altai region (Altai, Habahe, Fuhai, and Buerjin). Sheep had an infection rate of 4.52% (131/2898) and cattle had an infection rate of 4.84% (34/703). In total, 180 cyst isolates were obtained, including 131 sheep, 34 cattle, and 15 from CE human patients. The cysts were investigated using mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results showed that, among the two genotypes of E. granulosus s.s., there were 22 different haplotypes (Haps). Phylogenetic analysis and parsimony network indicated that seventeen (77.27%) Haps belonged to the sheep strain (G1 genotype) and five Haps (22.73%) belonged to the buffalo strain (G3 genotype). Hap3 was the most common haplotype (65.00%, 112/180), which belongs to the G1 genotype. Hap18−Hap22 were found in human samples, indicating that sheep and cattle reservoirs of human CE. Molecular diversity indices revealed the high levels of haplotype diversity and relatively low levels of nucleotide diversity. Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs tests displayed that the Altai population had a significant deviation from neutrality. Based on pairwise fixation index (Fst) values, a low level of genetic differentiation was found between the populations of E. granulosus s.s. isolated from different regions. The present survey findings represent an epidemiological survey of CE in the Altai region where there were two genotypes simultaneously and will provide more information on the genetic structure of E. granulosus s.s. within this region.

О бисере из «белого металла» андроновского населения: к вопросу об истоках традиции

Beads made of "white metal" are found in Altai on the one hand, in the Andronovo (Fedorovo) burial site Chekanovsky Log X, on the other hand. They are discovered at the steppe-type sites of the north of Middle Asia, where this category of adornments is quite often. Moreover, in some burials the number of beads is extremely large (300–1200 pieces). The focus in this article is given to the description of Middle Asian complexes with finds of "white metal" beads. The article mainly considers the issue of their chemical composition. According to the spectral analysis, the Middle-Asian beads consisted of copper with a high content of tin or a complex tin-based alloy. Such a composition gave the items a silvery color. It is suggested that such beads were used by the Middle Asia people to substitute silver, more expensive and rare metal. It is assumed that not the beads themselves were valued, but the clothes skillfully embroidered with them. The author concludes that the tradition to use clothes embroidered with beads emerged in the steppe-type sites of Central Asia (Dashti-Kozi, Muminabad burial sites, etc.) due to contacts with the local farmers. But farmers preferred to make beads from stone instead. The tradition to use clothes embroidered with beads of semi-precious gems arises among them probably as a result of contacts with civilizations of the Near East. Such clothes appeared among steppe herders of Middle Asia not to simple copy farmers’ images. They mastered metallurgy and metalworking early enough and preferred metal in making jewelry, including beads. The finds of “white metal” beads in the Chekanovsky Log X burial site is another confirmation of the previously expressed point of view that the Andronovo population of Altai formed under the influence of migration impulses from the southern regions, including Middle Asia.

ДЕРЕВООБРАБОТКА У РУССКИХ АЛТАЯ В КОНЦЕ XIX - НАЧАЛЕ ХХ В

The article on the basis of statistical collections of the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. gives a brief description of the woodworking of the Russian population of Altai. The main types of chemical and mechanical processing of wood are distinguished, which had a fairly clear localization on the territory of the Altai district, associated with the natural and geographical factor. The fact of the relationship between the spread of fsheries and the infux of immigrants is confrmed, while the fsheries that were associated with the activities of mining in Altai and had a longer history are mentioned

Отражение художественной жизни Сибири в публикациях Г. Н. Потанина по вопросам искусства

The article analyzes the literary and journalistic activities of the key pre-revolutionary period for the city of Tomsk, the ideologist of Siberian regionalism, ethnographer and public figure Grigory Nikolaevich Potanin, concerning the regional aspect of artistic life. The materials of pre-revolutionary periodicals are used as sources. The author sets himself the task of identifying the features of G. N. Potanin ideas on Siberian regionalism (a local variant of regionalism) in texts on issues of art. It is noted that in his texts Grigory Potanin is trying to systematize the artistic heritage of Siberia, singles out the names of famous painters who came from the region, analyzes the creative heritage of Vasily Surikov. Grigory Potanin insists on the need to create art galleries in the region and regularly hold exhibitions of paintings, graphics and sculpture in order to increase the level of artistic taste among the population, and as a result, general education. The author also mentions that Grigory Potanin pays attention to the work of not only professional artists, but also masters of arts and crafts, urging the motifs drawn from local flora and fauna in ornaments. Being an ethnographer, Grigory Potanin does not miss the opportunity to talk about the life of the indigenous population of Altai on the examples of a number of paintings and graphic works by local artists, such as Grigory Gurkin, Lidia Bazanova and others. Accordingly, the great importance of Grigory Potanin contributes to the development of the local intelligentsia in Tomsk, largely linking the factors influencing this process with the establishment of higher educational institutions in the city. The ideologist of regionalism considers it necessary to culturally bring the commonalty and the intelligentsia closer together and zealously experiences the outflow of the intelligentsia from the city. It can be stated that the ideas expressed by Grigory Potanin on the pages of the Tomsk press had a huge impact on his contemporaries. Perhaps, in other historical circumstances, the regional ideology could take deeper roots in Siberia. Today we can only respect the literary heritage of Grigory Potanin and keep the memory of him as a man who sincerely loved his native land and sought to enrich it culturally.

КУЛЬТОВЫЙ КОМПЛЕКС, СВЯЗАННЫЙ С ОБРЯДОМ "ТАЙЫЛГА" НА НИЖНЕЙ КАТУНИ

The article is devoted to the characteristics of a complex of horse bones (skull, cervical vertebrae, metacarpal bones, buried in a deep pit on the right bank of the Katun River in the village of Rybalka of the Mayminsky district of the Altai Republic. In the destroyed cultural layer around the pit with horse bones, various objects (coins, jewelry, horse harness parts) of the second half of the 19th century were found. These finds could have accompanied such a burial of animal bones, in the format of rituals performed at the ferry, where the remains of the sacrificial horse were buried. The composition of animal bones from this complex has obvious parallels with the Tayylga ritual, traditional for the indigenous population of Altai. According to ethnographic data, this practice has been recorded since the second half of the XIX century and up to the present time.

ЭЛЕМЕНТЫ ПОЯСОВ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ СЕВЕРНОГО АЛТАЯ ЖУЖАНСКОГО ВРЕМЕНИ (ПО МАТЕРИАЛАМ НЕКРОПОЛЯ ЧОБУРАК-I)

The article presents the results of studying the collection of belt sets from the burials of the Bulan-Koby culture necropolis of Choburak-I, completely excavated by the expedition of Altai State University. This site is located in the Chemal district of the Altai Republic, on the right bank of the Katun river. The published materials come from eleven undisturbed objects. The analyzed series is represented by iron objects: 17 buckles, 90 plaques, four tips, one distributor, five “blocks”, 14 fasteners. They find numerous analogies in the burial complexes of the Bulan-Koby culture of Altai in the 2nd – 5th centuries AD. A comparative study of the morphological features of the preserved metal parts made it possible to determine their relative chronology within the designated period. The study of the mutual occurrence of fixed categories of equipment became the basis for identifying several types of typesetting belts found in six burials. It has been established that the difference in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the belt sets is not related to the age and social status of the deceased men and, apparently, reflects the personal preferences of their owners. Belts from the graves of women, a teenager and a child were equipped with a minimum number of elements. The considered products demonstrate the variability in the design of belts by the population of the Northern Altai in the Rouran period. Archaeological data from the excavations of the Choburak-I site confirm the previously identified trends in the evolution of the equipment of the population of Altai at the turn of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

МИГРАЦИОННЫЕ ПРОЦЕССЫ НА АЛТАЕ В 1917–1926 ГОДАХ: ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЙ ПОТЕНЦИАЛ СТАТИСТИЧЕСКИХ ИСТОЧНИКОВ

The study presents an attempt to assess the information potential of official publications of central and regional statistical institutional bodies in the early 20th century for studying migration processes in Altai. The aim of the research is to generate the information system on the historical statistics of Altai of the second half of the 19th century – the first third of the 20th century. The modern historiography of migration processes in the early 20th century is full of theoretical and practical concepts of resettlement in the early Soviet period. Nevertheless, the issues of population dynamics in Altai and the role of migration processes in the early Soviet period remain relevant. The official publications of the central and provincial statistical institutional bodies, materials of the population censuses of 1916–1917, 1920, 1923, and 1926, publications of the Altai Provincial Statistical Bureau are among the sources for studying migration processes in Altai in 1917–1926. The authors state that official statistical materials, despite certain difficulties in comparing and analyzing data, allow them to trace the main trends, as well as the role and significance of migration processes for Altai. The dynamic ranks in terms of the population of counties and cities for 1917–1923, made by the Altai Provincial Statistical Bureau, as well as data from population censuses of 1917, 1920, 1923, and 1926, are the most informative sources. Special characteristics of migrations in Altai compared to similar Siberian processes are revealed in the paper. The authors conclude that, by 1926, migrations of the early Soviet period played a key role in the formation of the Altai population.

Pottery vessels from a collective burial in the mound of the Pazyryk Culture (Northern Altai)

In one of the barrows examined in 2007 at the site of Choburak-II (the territory of the Northern Altai), an in-trusive, and not quite ordinary, a collective burial of people was found. Accompanying burials of two horses were also recorded there and a variety of artefacts was found (a fragment of a stone grain grinder, elements of horse harness, miniature knives made of non-ferrous metal, a dagger, a chisel, a quiver hook, fragments of gold foil from clothing decoration and other items). The recovered materials made it possible to attribute the excavated burial site to the Pazyryk Culture and to carry out its dating, including the radiocarbon method. In this publication, a special attention is given to the pottery finds. Two vessels appeared to be severely damaged, and to determine their parameters it was necessary to use the bespoke technique of computer-aided restoration based on photo-grammetry and aimed at obtaining the most probable shape of these ancient containers. In this respect, an algo-rithm, being tested by the authors, of modern demonstration in publications of the category of products in question was implemented. Based on the reconstructions performed in the paper, the restored dimensions of the pottery vessels are given, as well as their closest analogies. The third pot (of a closed jar shape with well-marked han-dles) was found intact. It reflects a different cultural tradition. Such products are very rare in the Altai Mountains. However, they are found in the neighboring and somewhat remote territories. This circumstance influenced the in-terpretation of the recorded situation. Pottery ware is an important archaeological source. Unfortunately, it has not yet become a separate research area in the study of the Pazyryk Culture. It is hoped that the developments of the authors of the paper will contribute to the research. The specific nature of this additional burial of the deceased person is noted. The investigated archaeological site to a certain extent may reflect the processes of interaction of the Pazyryk popula-tion with their northern neighbors. The body of the considered data complements the content and features of the culture of the Altai population of the Scythian-Saka period.