Armor Plates with Umbos from the “Treasure” of Things in the Tigirek-3 Cave (North-Western Altai)

A collection of archaeological objects accidentally discovered in one of the caves in the vicinity of the village of Tigirek (the Altai Moutains) is studied. A detailed description of the form and design of defensive weapons and accompanying tools is provided. The idea of them is supplemented by the given dimensions, graphic drawings and photographs. Particular attention is paid to rare elements of armor — armor plates decorated with an umbo. Analogies to such plates and their typological development in the vastness of Eurasia are considered. A reconstruction of the fastening system for these amour parts is given. The purpose of hunting and digging tools is determined. In general, the analysis of the artifact complex allows us to include the “treasure” from Tigirek-3 in the circle of the sites of the late Turkic period and dated to the 10th –11th centuries AD. Judging by the composition and state of preservation of the items, this “treasure” contained fairly complex iron products intended for both military and hunting activities, which had already been in use. It can be assumed that it was left in the cave for a ritual purpose, for example, as an offering to gods or spirits

Archaeology · Armour · Cave · Composite material · Geography · Treasure · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · Linguistics and Cultural Studies · Materials Science · Geology