Funeral constructions of turks in Mongolia (2nd half of I thousand ad )

The article considers the results of systematization and the analysis of funeral constructions of early medieval Turks investigated in Mongolia. The author uses all known materials of the excavation which have being carried out by the Mongolian and foreign archaeologists since the second quarter of the 20 century up to the present. Emphasis is made on features of the land and intra sepulchral constructions recorded during studying of necropolises in the 2nd half of I thousand. The author discusses the problems of interpretation of inlet graves, and also burials in a grave niche. Difficulties of interpretation of the non-numerous rocky objects, on a number of indicators correlated to the culture of early medieval Turks are shown. The main approach used in the article is a comparative analysis of the funeral complexes in the territory of Mongolia with more numerous materials of research in Altai-Sayan region.Taking into account the revealed character of funeral constructions, and also the specifics of ritual and accompanying tools which are not presented in the article, there are all grounds to consider burials of early medieval Turks of Mongolia and the Altai-Sayan region within one community. It could be related to “east” Turkic peoples, known by written sources. Small number of such sites in Mongolia, considering the number of the objects investigated in the Altai Mountain, Tuva and Minusinsk Depression, can be explained with the lack of purposeful excavation of Turkic burials and low degree of study of the designated territory in general

Ancient history · Archaeology · China · Excavation · Geography · Inner mongolia · Linguistics · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History · Linguistics and Cultural Studies · Philosophy